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Harrisville, Pa

Maybe you'll might know the answer to this question. I am going to spray 2-4d on my lawn but I am concerned about the patch. Do you know how far away from the patch I have to spray it so as not to affect the plants? Also could I get away with it when the plants are in the hoop houses?

5/6/2011 2:51:39 PM

Wisconsin

Do not use 2-4D anywhere near a pumpkin patch! I swear...just the smell of it in the air will take out a pumpkin plant! I may be a little paranoid....but be careful!

5/6/2011 2:58:08 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

A blast from the past......

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=294079

5/6/2011 3:04:13 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I control lawn weeds in the front yard down hill from the patch only. Granular only- spray drift will end your season.

5/6/2011 4:48:46 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

The thing you have to remember about 2-4D is that it has a half-life. This means that after some period of time (weeks or months!) half of the chemical is gone and the other half is still present. So lets say that you treat your lawn. Then when you walk across your lawn to go to your patch, you're tracking that chemical into the patch!

Or, lets say you mow your lawn, and then take those clippings to the garden or patch. That will decimate your garden.

I've had neighbors who really drenched their lawn a few years back with 2-4D. We have flower beds that border their yard... they grew NOTHING that year. Not even three months later! My pumpkin plants, 200 feet away, were impacted.

The half-life is estimated to be 20 to 200 days, depending on the "quality" of the chemical. I don't want anything to do with it.

5/6/2011 5:57:08 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=84981
this is what happens when 2-4D gets in your hoop house.

5/6/2011 10:57:42 PM

Williamsburg,KY

2-4D, gets on your shoes and you take it into your home, it gets on your pets feet. It lasts for a very long time just like Cliff says. I wouldnt use it, weeds in the lawn are green, just mow them.

5/7/2011 10:24:58 AM

Massillon, Ohio

i lost a whole season to the stuff. DONT DO IT! [or in our case beg your neighbors to spray it BEFORE the plants go in]

5/7/2011 4:06:32 PM

Harrisville, Pa

Thanks everyone for the input, I am not going to spray. I guess I will have to live with dandy lions and clover in the lawn. I just wish I wouldn't of bought trimec first. Good luck to you all this year.

5/7/2011 10:11:06 PM

Middle TN

This thread is scaring me to death. I JUST heard my neighbor talking about this today. Im hoping I can talk him out of using it but so far its not looking good.

5/7/2011 11:42:59 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tammy, after reading yer latest diary posts, along w/this post...maybe a 2nd trip to talke w/ yer neighbor is needed!!! Maybe suggest the granular, instead of spraying!! Peace, Wayne

5/8/2011 12:17:35 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Also be careful if you have a compost pile...do not accept grass clippings from your neighbors. Unless they know any weed and feed used on the lawn will have a residual on the clippings through out the season.

5/8/2011 8:27:23 AM

Middle TN

My hubby is gonna talk to him today. We're gonna try to convince him the granular would be better for everyone. He has young grandkids, maybe I could offer him a big pumpkin to sweeten the deal!

5/8/2011 10:22:25 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

:) do whatcha gotta do...(maybe a print out of the truth about 2-4D's longevity & toxicity would help) Tammy, Here's hoping yer hubby is big, bear type of guy, and can put a serious :( face on when politely requesting help!!! LOL Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

5/8/2011 12:22:00 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

There is a way... perhaps,... take this as it's intended. There is a Fertilome product called Weed Free Zone. It's formulated to work a colder temperatures. It also works very fast. A day or two after application, you can see the weeds turning brown. So, this could be used in March or early April. Right now, it's too late for even this stuff!

Anyway, one of the biggest problems is spraying everything. That's what a lot of people do, and a lawn care company will do this as well, just spray the chemical full strength over the whole lawn. There is no need for this! Just spot treat the weeds. Just get a tank sprayer, and hit each one for just long enough to get that one weed.

Well like I say, this time of year is already getting late to do even this, but if you or someone in your house simply must spray the weeds, save yourself some money and minimize your damage by spot treating only.

5/8/2011 4:03:51 PM