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Leafy Spurge

Official Control Program

Description

Introduced perennial from Europe. Reproduces by seed and underground rootstocks. The creeping rootstocks give rise to roots and shoots every few inches. Plants are bright green, 2/3 to 2 feet high, in bunches from wide-spreading roots, with milky juice. Stems are branched at top, very stiff and woody when mature. Leaves oblong, scattered, except the whorl of lanceolate or oblanceolate bractlike leaves at the base of the umbel. Flowers very small, greenish-yellow or with brownish spots, have a dark line down one side and a yellowish appendage at the pint of attachment, seeds are borne in a three-lobed capsule (3 seeds per pod). Flowers May to September and seeds June to August.

Prevention of Spread of Leafy Spurge

The occurrence of new infestations of leafy spurge can be reduced by planting weed free seed, feeding livestock materials free of leafy spurge seed and cleaning equipment before leaving infested fields. Close attention should be placed on any feed or seed materials imported from the northern and north western states. Quick identification and destruction of leafy spurge plants is essential to prevent its spread.

Leafy Spurge Control Practices

Control of leafy spurge shall mean preventing production of viable seed and destroying the plant's ability to reproduce by vegetative means.

Cultural Control Practices

Cultivate every two weeks from the beginning of spring growth to August 1 and every three weeks thereafter until fall. Intensive cultivation between harvest and sowing of winter wheat or rye will reduce the stand of leafy spurge. Leafy spurge roots are easily transplanted. Clean the equipment before moving from the infested area to prevent spreading the infestation.

Herbicides Approved for Controlling Leafy Spurge

The following herbicides may be used for cost-share with landowners. Other products labeled and registered for use on this noxious weed in Kansas may be used in accordance with label directions but are not available for cost-share.

2,4-D LV Ester. Apply during the true flowering stage in the spring and again in the fall to the regrowth. Follow label directions and precautions.

Picloram (Tordon). Restricted use pesticide. Do not apply to cropland. Follow label directions and precautions.

Picloram + 2,4-D (Tordon + 2,4-D). Restricted use pes- ticide. Apply Picloram + 2,4-D during the true flowering stage in the spring to rangeland, permanent grass pastures and non- cropland. Follow label directions and precautions.

Fosamine (Krenite S) - Apply during the true flower stage to non cropland and near aquatic sites. Follow label directions and precautions.

Biological Control practices

There are no biological control practices approved for leafy spurge control at this time. A potential nation wide leafy spurge biological control program is being considered by the USDA. Kansas will consider participation is such a program if it is implemented.