Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ‘Tifway’ and ‘Tifgreen’] were vertically mowed and treated with herbicides alone or in combination at various time intervals during each of 4 yr. All vertically mowed treatments significantly reduced accumulation of thatch, but more than 3 treatments were needed each year for consistently high quality turf. Vertical mowing treatments reduced the accumulation of thatch more than any of the herbicides. Vertical mowing in February prevented a delay in early spring growth of turf. Populations of large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] in the summer and chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Cyrillo], henbit (Lamium amplexicaule L.), and brome grass (Bromus sp.) in the winter were increased from vertical mowing when herbicides were not applied for control. None of the herbicide treatments injured bermudagrass turf except oxadiazon [2-tert-butyl-4-(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-Δ2-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-5-one] when applied in the fall.