Dual Magnum for Weed Control in Pumpkins

Preparing the Soil

• Before treating the soil with Dual Magnum, prepare it for the growing season. Choose a sunny area to create a pumpkin patch. Dig out an area 4 feet long by 5 feet wide, with a depth of 2 feet. Fill the newly dug area with soil and a mixture of organic fertilizer such as peat moss, straw, compost and well-rotted manure. Till the soil to work the fertilizer into the patch.

Applications

• Mix the herbicide according to the directions on the Dual Magnum label. Carefully apply Dual Magnum to the tilled soil, observing any precautions listed on the label. Treat the entire prepared pumpkin patch, as well as a few inches of the area surrounding the patch, to prevent stray weeds from later finding their way into the patch. Treat the pumpkin patch area 30 to 45 days before planting pumpkin seeds or seedlings. Dual Magnum is taken in through plant roots and will damage pumpkins if they are planted into treated soil too soon after the herbicide is applied.

Planting Pumkins

• Once the 30- to 45-day waiting period is up, place pumpkin seedlings or seeds into the soil. The 30-day waiting period is an ideal time to start pumpkin seedlings indoors for transplanting into the patch once it is safe. Seeds placed directly into the treated soil should be planted at a depth of 2 inches. Water the plants daily, maintaining a moist but never soggy or muddy soil. Follow the directions on the seed packet for exact planting specifications for that variety.

Further Weed Control Measures

• Dual Magnum wipes the soil clean of weed activity once applied to soil. However, as the season goes on, weed seeds or weeds themselves may begin to creep into the patch and take hold. Avoid this by placing a layer of plastic or organic mulch, including bark, straw or wood chips, over the soil once the seedlings emerge. Keep an eye on the patch, removing by hand weeds that have matured or are too close to the patch. Use of these methods along with use of Dual Magnum should drastically reduce weed activity.