When should you apply herbicides in a nursery environment?

Applying herbicides when weeds are actively growing but before they seed is the optimal approach because herbicides are most effective when the target weeds are in their growth phase. During this time, the weeds are taking in nutrients and actively metabolizing, which allows the herbicide to be absorbed and translocated throughout the plant, leading to more effective control.

This timing is crucial because applying herbicides after weeds have seeded can allow the weeds to produce more seeds, leading to a larger problem in the future. Conversely, applying herbicides when weeds are dormant would be ineffective because the lack of growth means the plants are not actively taking up the herbicide. This approach ensures that nursery environments are maintained without allowing weeds to proliferate and compete with desirable plants for resources.