Remedy is a popular herbicide primarily used to control woody plants and broadleaf weeds across large areas like rangelands and permanent grass pastures. It is valued for its ability to eliminate invasive brush and broadleaf plants without damaging desirable grasses. Understanding the chemical mechanism and following precise application guidelines allows users to leverage this herbicide’s power while protecting their lawn.
How Remedy Targets Weeds, Not Grass
The selective action of Remedy is due to its active ingredient, Triclopyr, a systemic herbicide that functions as a synthetic auxin. This chemical mimics natural plant hormones that regulate growth, causing a massive hormonal imbalance in susceptible plants. This synthetic hormone is designed to target dicotyledonous plants, commonly known as broadleaf weeds, which include woody brush and many common lawn invaders.
The physiological structure of dicots makes them highly sensitive to this chemical over-stimulation. Once absorbed through the leaves, the herbicide translocates throughout the plant, stimulating uncontrolled cell division and erratic growth patterns, such as twisted stems and leaf cupping. This rapid, disorganized growth eventually destroys the plant’s vascular system, leading to its death.
Monocotyledonous plants, or grasses, have a fundamentally different internal structure and metabolic process that renders them largely resistant to Triclopyr’s effects. Grasses either do not absorb the chemical as readily or rapidly metabolize it into an inactive form before it can cause significant damage. This difference in plant biology is the basis for the herbicide’s selectivity, allowing it to remove weeds while leaving established turfgrass unharmed.
Factors That Increase the Risk of Grass Damage
While Remedy is selective, damage often occurs when environmental conditions or application methods deviate from the product’s intended use. The most common cause of injury is over-application, where excessive concentration overwhelms the grass’s natural tolerance mechanisms. Applying too much chemical can break down the selective barrier, causing even tolerant grasses to show symptoms of damage.
Newly seeded or immature turfgrass is significantly more vulnerable to injury than established, healthy lawns. Grasses that have not yet fully tillered or developed a strong secondary root system lack the resilience to withstand the chemical stress. It is recommended to wait until new grass is well-established before considering treatment.
The ester formulation of Triclopyr found in Remedy can be prone to volatility, meaning the herbicide can turn into a vapor under high temperatures. Applying the chemical during periods of extreme heat increases the risk of the vapor drifting to non-target plants, including sensitive turfgrass. Furthermore, grass already under metabolic stress from drought or disease may have a reduced capacity to detoxify the herbicide, making it more susceptible to damage.
Safe Application Practices to Protect Turf
To ensure the safety of desirable turf, always adhere to the product label instructions. Accurate calibration of spray equipment is necessary to ensure even distribution.
- Use the exact prescribed dosage regarding mixing ratios and application rates to prevent concentrations high enough to harm established grass.
- Avoid applying the herbicide during windy conditions to prevent spray drift onto nearby sensitive plants.
- Avoid applications when temperatures are excessively high, as this increases the potential for the chemical to volatilize and cause off-target damage. Apply in the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon, to mitigate this risk.
- Apply Remedy when the target broadleaf weeds are actively growing, which maximizes the herbicide’s uptake into the weed.
- Never treat newly seeded areas; wait until the young grass has developed a robust root system and vigorous growth.