PGMS Member Area > PGMS Knowledge Center

By Scott Guiser
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Bucks County

Grounds managers use many tools. In the battle against weeds it pays to be armed with information. Below are several outstanding references that provide information about weed identification and management. Since herbicides are useful and constantly changing, staying current with the latest product and labels is important, too.

Weeds of the Northeast States - Publishing Associates/Cornell University Press

This 400-page book is a practical guide to the identification of common and economically important weeds of the Northeastern U.S. It includes easy-to-use keys and short-cut identification tables. Color pictures of 299 common weeds are shown. If you plan to own only one weed text for field identification of common landscape weeds in the eastern U.S. ...this should be it. Contact Cornell University Press at 607-277-2211

Weeds of the West - University of Wyoming Agricultural Extension

Grounds managers in western states will find this reference most useful. Weeds of the West is an extensive (640 pages), easy-to-use guide written by seven extension specialists and published by Wyoming Agricultural Extension. 900 color photographs show more than 350 weed species occurring in 12 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Available from many sources; description used above from amazon.com where the book is listed.

Color Atlas of Turfgrass Weeds - Sleeping Bear Press

This 269-page publication was written by folks at Clemson, Auburn, North Carolina State, University of Florida and University of Georgia so it has a Southern weed emphasis. Great color pictures, complete but simple descriptions, and up-to-date control strategies make this an excellent reference for both weed identification and control. Contact Sleeping Bear Press at http://www.sleepingbearpress.com or 800-487-2323.


Turf and Ornamental Reference for Plant Protection Products - C&P Press

Each year, C & P Press compiles a book that contains labels and MSDS sheets for almost every pesticide used in turf and ornamentals. This is very useful if you would like to review a label before purchasing the product. There is no substitute for the actual label if you have questions about crop clearance, use precautions, rates and other product details. It also contains manufacturers’ phone numbers, storage and transport information, posting and notification requirement, worker protection information and regulatory contacts. This is often referred to as the “Blue Book” (it’s blue). Get more info at www.cppress.com and call 1-800-544-7377 for ordering information.

Weed Control Manual - Meister Publishing Company

Each year, Meister Publishing produces a handy 500-page manual that gives short descriptions of herbicide products arranged by crop use. Most of the publication deals with agronomic crops, fruits and vegetables, but there are about 50 pages devoted to turf and ornamentals. It contains weed efficacy charts, a chapter on nozzle selection, Worker Protection Standard information and a few color weed photos. Contact Meister Publishing at 1-800-572-7740 or www.meisterpro.com.

Herbicide Handbook - Weed Science Society of America

Hardcore herbicide readers will be excited as they turn each page of the herbicide handbook. It gives intimate details of your favorite compounds from acetochlor to vernolate. This publication provides information such as: herbicide behavior in soils, herbicide behavior in plants, toxicological properties, solubility, chemical family and uses. This publication is updated periodically by the Weed Science Society. A 1998 supplement updates the 1994 edition. Contact Weed Science Society of America at 1-800-627-0932 or am&m@allenpress.com.

Controlling Weeds in Nursery and Landscape Plantings - Penn State Cooperative Extension

This 44-page publication from Penn State is a comprehensive guide to weed control in nurseries and landscapes. It includes short herbicide profiles and tables listing herbicides and the weeds they control. Weed control in landscapes, seedbeds, liner beds, container grown ornamentals and herbaceous plants is provided. Trade name / chemical name cross reference is included. Contact local county extension offices, Penn State’s Publications Distribution Center, 112 Ag Admin. Bldg. University Park, PA 16802, or Scott Guiser, sxg6@psu.edu

Weed Web sites:

Want to see a label or MSDS for any pesticide? Try www.cdms.net. This site will lead you to more than 1500 products labels from 85 manufacturers. Nothing beats reading the entire label and this site gets you to them quickly and easily.

Want to look at weed images? Try the Northeast Weed Science Society Web site: http://www.ppws.vt.edu/newss/weedid.htm. It will link you to many sites that contain weed images and more information about weed control.