Herbicides for Use Around Raspberries

Judgment

• Some herbicides are more sensitive to handle than others. The potential to permanently harm your soil varies with the product. Some herbicides may work better with your soil and local weather than others.

Read the Label

• For safety's sake and your own comfort, you should be aware of the toxicity ratings given to each herbicide and pesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ratings range from Class I to Class IV.

  Class I, potentially fatal if swallowed, is the most toxic and requires the prominent display of "Danger-Poison" on the label with a skull and crossbones.

  The herbicides recommended for raspberries are Class III and Class IV. Class III should carry a notation that the herbicide is harmful if absorbed through the skin, inhaled or swallowed. Class IV is nearly non-toxic.

Suggested Herbicides

• The following herbicides are appropriate for raspberries, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology. All of these herbicides are rated least hazardous to the person applying it except Paraquat, which carries the highest hazard rating:

  Dichlobenil, sold as Casoron; large potential for leaching; EPA toxicity rating of III.

  Diuron, sold as Karmex; medium potential to leach; EPA toxicity III.

  Glyphosate, sold as Roundup and other brand names; small potential to leach; EPA toxicity rating of IV. Absorbs strongly into the soil.

  Norflurazone, sold as Solicam; large potential to leach; EPA toxicity IV.

  Napropamide, sold as Devrinol; large potential to leach; EPA toxicity IV. Breaks down quickly in water.

  Oryzalin, sold as Surflan; small potential to leach; EPA toxicity IV. Does not absorb strongly into the soil. Soluble in water.

  Oxyfluorfen, sold as Goal; small potential to leach; EPA toxicity IV. Absorbs strongly into the soil. Nearly water-insoluble.

  Paraquat, sold as Gramoxone; small potential to leach, EPA toxicity II. Absorbs strongly into the soil and is slightly mobile in sand.

  Pronamede, sold as Kerb; no data on leaching potential; EPA toxicity IV. Absorbs strongly into the soil and is nearly water-insoluble.

  Sethoxydin, sold as Poast; small potential to leach; EPA toxicity III. Absorbs weakly into the soil.

  Simizine, sold as Princep; large potential to leach; EPA toxicity IV. Absorbs weakly into the soil, but is persistent. Low water solubility.

  Terbacil, sold as Sinbar; large potential to leach; EPA toxicity IV. Absorbs weakly but is highly persistent and soluble in water.

Pre- and Post-Emergent

• Herbicides are divided into those that kill weeds before the seeds germinate and those that kill weeds after they emerge from the ground and are actively growing.

  Pre-emergent herbicides are ordinarily applied in the fall or early spring.

  Post-emergent herbicides should not be applied until the leaves are large enough to accept the chemical.

EPA-Registered Herbicides

• The EPA has registered these herbicides as being environmentally safe for use around raspberry plants:

  Dichlobenil (sold as Casoron or Norosac) is especially effective against many annual weeds and quackgrass.

  Apply napropamide (sold as Devrinol) in late fall or early spring.

  Apply oryzalin (Surflan) in late fall or early spring.

  Apply sethoxydin (Poast) to actively growing grasses and weeds.