Alternatives to Surflan

The availability of Surflan will be limited over the next 1-2 years. Surflan is commonly used in newly planted orchards for residual control of small seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses. There are a couple alternative products growers can use. Prowl is registered for use in non-bearing orchards and is very similar to Surflan. Both are DNA herbicides and control similar weeds. However they differ in how soon after application rainfall is needed for optimum performance. In order for Prowl to be as effective as Surflan, rainfall is need within 7 days of application. While rainfall soon after application is preferred, Surflan can wait on rain for 2 weeks without causing a significant reduction in herbicide performance. Another alternative to Surflan is Solicam. Solicam is weaker on pigweed and common lambsquarters than Surflan. However, Solicam provides excellent control of spurge, common chickweed, Carolina geranium and annual grass weeds. It suppresses bermudagrass, johnsongrass, and nutsedge (yellow and purple). Solicam may be directed around apple trees after planting once soil has settled. However, Solicam cannot be used around peach trees until 6 months after transplanting.

In established orchards Surflan is sometimes tank mixed with simazine for extended preemergence grass control. An alternative, comparable treatment would be Solicam tank mixed with simazine or Karmex. Another excellent treatment, although more expensive, is Karmex in combination with Sinbar. Karmex with Sinbar provides excellent broadspectrum, long term residual control.