Choosing the Right Herbicide Based on Time of Year in the Chicago Area

Choosing the Right Herbicide

LawnLogIQ adjusts our herbicides based on several factors, including the target weed, air temperatures, surrounding conditions, and potential damage to other plants, among others.

Amine vs Ester Herbicides - Choosing the Right Herbicide

In this post, we will help you in choosing the right herbicide and compare the advantages and considerations of ester and amine herbicide formulations to help you make the best selection (and not burn your lawn) to increase your weed control.

Popular herbicide active ingredients, such as 2,4-D, triclopyr, or dicamba, can be produced in different formulations to impart specific features to the finished product, including increased uptake in plants or ease of application. These formulations can make the active ingredient more available for use across a wider variety of settings than if it had been offered as a single formulation type.

This is where ester and amine formulations come in. In lawn care, we often see these in liquid post-emergent herbicide formulations. Ester herbicides are produced by adding alcohol to the active ingredients, while Amine herbicides contain the amine salts of the active ingredients.

Both the ester and amine herbicide formulations have properties that make them more suitable for specific different use cases.

Ester Herbicides

Ideal Herbicides for Cool-Season Weed Control

Ester herbicides typically provide better weed control when applied during cooler temperatures. They provide excellent weed control—usually better than amine herbicides—during the cooler spring months of March, April, and early May.

As temperatures increase, ester herbicides tend to evaporate more easily than amine formulations. This volatility can cause drift onto desirable plants, causing unintended damage.

In warmer weather, under strong sunlight and heat, some ester formulations can cause injury to desirable turf, resulting in lawn burning. It's essential always to follow the product label for any temperature application restrictions to prevent turf injury when using ester herbicides during the summer months.

The ester formulation also enhances the ability of active ingredients to penetrate the waxy cuticle of plant leaves, allowing for faster absorption and more efficient weed control. Esters are not water soluble--meaning they do not mix well with water. Many of the finished herbicide products are oil-based emulsifiable concentrates, which allow them to dissolve into water. This characteristic allows the herbicide to be absorbed more readily into the plant's waxy leaves.

Due to their rapid action and efficacy, ester herbicides are commonly used to control broadleaf weeds in lawns. They can be used on stubborn and hard-to-kill weeds such as clover, plantain, dandelions, and other broadleaf weeds. Ester herbicides tend to have a more pungent odor, which may be a consideration depending on the application site.

Being mindful of temperature considerations, Ester Herbicides can be an excellent option for treating hard-to-kill weeds in cooler temperatures.

Amine Herbicides

Amines - Best Herbicides for Use in Hot Weather

One of the most popular types of this herbicide formulation is 2,4-D Amine, where you may see the active ingredient listed as Dimethylamine Salt of 2,4-D.

Amine herbicides are more water soluble than esters, meaning they mix in water, but do not penetrate the waxy cuticle on plants as well as ester herbicides. This means that amines will generally have a slower absorption rate into the plant through the waxy leaf surface; however, they usually exhibit better root uptake.

Amines are also well-suited for use in areas where you want to protect adjacent plants, such as near desirable ornamentals or in landscaped areas. Amine herbicides tend to be less volatile than ester herbicides, meaning they have a lower risk of vaporizing and drifting onto nearby plants. This reduces the risk of unintentionally damaging nearby desirable plants.

This lower volatility also means that Amine herbicides can be applied over a greater range of temperatures, making them suitable for use in different seasons. In the warmer months, amine herbicides provide the same level of weed control as ester formulations, but with less volatility.

Amine herbicides are highly effective in controlling a wide range of weeds, including broadleaf weeds. Amine herbicides also tend to have a lower odor than Ester herbicides, which may be a consideration for some applications.

So there you have it. Read the label, understand the temperature limitations, and use Amine herbicides if you want a very low chance of lawn burn throughout the season. However, note that your weed control may slow down slightly.

If you have tough weeds, and it's spring or fall, and temperatures are still cool? Follow the label recommendation for an ester.

LawnLogIQ adjusts our herbicides based on several factors, including the target weed, air temperatures, surrounding conditions, and potential damage to other plants, among others.

Contact us for a lawn evaluation today in the Chicago suburbs of Bartlett, Carol Stream, West Chicago, Addison, Elgin, and more!

contactus@lawnlogiq.com

847-220-4680