Effect of Timing of Spring Applications of Herbicides on Quality of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Turf

Oxadiazon [2-tert-butyl-4(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-δ2-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-5-one] applied to dormant bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers. ‘Tifway’ ♯ CYNDA] retarded early foliar growth more than other herbicides evaluated. When bensulide [O,O-diisopropyl phosphorodithioateS-ester withN-(2-mercaptoethyl)benzenesulfonamide] treatments were delayed until after bermudagrass initiated spring growth, foliar growth and quality were generally lower than when the treatments were applied to dormant turf. Retardation of early foliar bermudagrass growth by 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] + mecoprop {2-[(4-chloro-o-tolyl)oxy] propionic acid} + dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) was generally the same whether applied to dormant or semidormant turf. This combination of herbicides reduced the quality and density of bermudagrass when applied to growing but not to dormant turf. Atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] did not retard bermudagrass growth or affect density whether applied to dormant or semidormant turf, but turf quality was slightly lower when atrazine was applied to semidormant turf.