Which herbicide is best for treating strawberries and how to get rid of weeds?

Using herbicides for strawberries allows for excellent results in growing the plant. They help control weeds, which promotes better crop development. These products come in a variety of forms, allowing gardeners to choose the best option. Effective home remedies can be used instead of chemicals.

What is a herbicide and what are its benefits?

Herbicides are specialized substances that can kill all weeds within two weeks. Their undoubted advantage is their low cost and economy.

The use of herbicides allows us to achieve the following results:

• eliminate several hundred species of weeds;
• improve plant development and increase yield parameters;
• prevent the development of strawberry diseases.

Types of herbicides

These products have either a general or selective effect. The first category helps control hair growth, while the second has a selective effect.

Selective herbicides are used for strawberries because they help control weeds. They come in powder or emulsion form and are mixed with water in specific proportions.

The use of herbicides helps reduce the number of weeds, strengthen strawberry bushes and increase yields.

How to protect strawberries from weeds

Herbicides come in a variety of forms. When used correctly, these products accumulate in the soil, reducing weed damage.

Processing agents

Today, there are many known treatments for strawberry plantings, which can achieve good results.

Chemicals

The following products are used to treat strawberry beds:

• Default;
• Tornado;
• Rap;
• Torch;
• Dominator;
• Roundup.

This is far from a complete list of effective treatments. They suppress the growth of many weeds, destroying both the above-ground and underground parts of plants.

It's important to remember that herbicides are unable to kill embryos within seeds. Therefore, weeds reappear after a certain period of time.

Folk recipes

Those who don't want to use chemicals can treat their garden beds with folk remedies. These can help stop weed growth. Effective substances include the following:

• infusion of walnut leaves;
• bleach solution;
• iodine solution;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• celandine infusion;
• baking soda solution;
• potassium permanganate solution.

Concentrated solutions are recommended for spraying on weeds. It's best to treat plants no taller than 10-12 centimeters. Young plants will be burned, which will slow their growth.

How to apply herbicides correctly?

To apply herbicides correctly, follow these recommendations:

• select the composition taking into account the type of weeds;
• adhere to the deadlines for making contributions;
• avoid exceeding the dosage;
• cover the strawberries with film;
• Observe personal safety rules by using protective equipment.

Strawberries should not be sprayed during bud formation, flowering, fruit formation, or harvest. To choose the right herbicide, consult the instructions for the herbicide.

Timing and technology of garden bed cultivation

Weed control is recommended once per season. This method is environmentally friendly and reduces weeding costs. Crops are not affected by moisture or nutrient deficiencies.

Pre-spraying of the soil

Herbicides should be applied for the first time in early spring, when the average temperature is 5 degrees Celsius. This treatment, combined with mulching, provides reliable weed control.

Treatment in the first month after planting

Active weed growth occurs immediately after strawberry planting. Therefore, it's a good idea to treat the beds with Dactal during this period. This product effectively controls weeds, especially grasses.

To completely eliminate parasitic plants, it's worth using a combination of chemicals. For this, we recommend using the following substances per liter of water:

• Phendimifan;
• Desmedipham;
• Etofumesate.

Summer period

There are several chemical combinations that can be used in summer. These include Poast + PAB, Select + Fusilade, and Poast + Prism. These substances help kill annual or perennial weeds.

To control annual grasses, use Clopyralid. It penetrates weeds through the foliage. Use 300 grams of the product per liter of water. Use 0.5 milliliters of the product per square meter of planting.

To kill common crops such as chamomile or dandelion, use Lontrel 300-D. Use 5 milliliters of the product per liter of water. For each 100 square meters of land, 5 liters of the product are required.

In the autumn period

With the arrival of autumn, herbicides containing Lenacil can be used. This powerful herbicide is applied before weeds emerge. Do not loosen the soil for three weeks after application.

It is strictly forbidden to exceed the permitted dose.

What to do in case of overdose

To avoid overdosing, strictly follow the instructions. Spread the product evenly. It is not recommended to apply additional sprays to areas where weeds are concentrated. If re-spraying is necessary, apply the product directly to areas where unwanted growth is present.

When diluting and using herbicides, wear protective equipment for your skin and respiratory system. Keep children and animals away from the garden beds for the first 24 hours after use.

Other ways to protect strawberries from weeds

To avoid using chemicals, you can use other methods to protect your crops from weeds.

Film

Weed control can be achieved with a film. It helps prevent grass from spreading. There are different types of material, each with different properties.

Black film helps warm the soil and improve crop yields. Light-colored material is less effective at warming the soil. In any case, growing crops under film helps prevent widespread weed growth.

Effective microorganisms

When cultivating crops, gardeners often use preparations containing beneficial microorganisms. However, loosening the soil is not recommended. This method has many advantages:

• safety;
• low cost;
• excellent performance.

To control weeds using this method, in the fall, cultivate the bare soil area where you plan to grow strawberries. To do this, loosen the soil and thoroughly water it with a solution containing special microorganisms.

The product contains a large number of lactic acid bacteria, which lead to the death of the roots of weeds.

It's best to perform a double treatment, done in the fall and spring.

Green manure

If you plan to plant a plant in a new location, it's a good idea to use green manure to effectively clear the area. It should be planted in late fall or early spring. Afterward, the plants should be mown down and incorporated into the soil.

The use of green manure has many advantages:

• effective weed control;
• change in soil structure;
• enrichment of soil with oxygen;
• normalization of soil acidity.

Various plants can be used as green manure, as long as they have strong roots.

Mulching

This is the simplest and most accessible method of weed control. The mulch layer should consist of sawdust, straw, pine needles, and dry grass. To achieve this, spread the materials in an even layer over the beds.

Mulching has many additional effects:

• retains moisture for a long time;
• normalizes the soil structure;
• optimizes acidity parameters;
• prevents the formation of rot;
• Provides protection to strawberries from parasites.

The use of herbicides can achieve a number of positive effects. Their primary purpose is to control weeds. Furthermore, proper application improves strawberry development and increases yield.