long lasting herbicide Valdor® Flex Long Lasting Weed Control

long lasting herbicide Valdor® Flex Long Lasting Weed ControlValdor Flex Please note: packaging may vary. Product Overview Product Type Herbicide Product Name Valdor Flex MAPP No. 19033 Active Substances Diflufenican and Iodosulfuron methyl sodium Formulation Water dispersible granule Areas of Use Amenity vegetation (around), hard surfaces (railway ballast only), natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation, permeable surfaces overlying soil Amateur Professional Professional Application Window Jan Feb Mar

Valdor^® Flex

Please note: packaging may vary.

A selection of the plant species that are controlled by Valdor^® Flex are listed below (please read the label for the full species list):

Active Substance: 360g/kg diflufenican, 10g/kg iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium

Valdor^® Flex should be applied pre– or post-emergence of the plant species to be controlled. The combination of the two active substances in Valdor^® Flex means that any very young plants that are present at the time of spraying will be controlled as well as providing a residual effect for up to four months. This ensures a long lasting, weed free environment.  It controls a broad spectrum of annual and perennial broad-leaved weeds on amenity vegetation (around) natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation, permeable surfaces overlying soil, and hard surfaces (railway ballast only). It can be applied once per year at a rate of 0.5kg/ha.

If larger weeds are present, Valdor^® Flex can be applied with glyphosate or a fatty acid to achieve control of the existing vegetation.

This 500g container comes complete with a measuring cup for ease of use and is ideal for those needing to keep larger areas weed free. The 500g container is sufficient to treat 1ha.

Target Species

Valdor^® Flex gives pre– and early post-emergence weed control up to the two leaf stage of annual and perennial broadleaved plants and grasses. It will not control deep rooted perennial plants such as dandelion, thistle or nettles once they are established.

Instructions for Use

Where to use

For use on:

• Amenity vegetation (around) - Areas of bare soil around ornamental plants or intended for ornamental planting
• Natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation - Areas of soil or natural outcroppings of rock that are not intended to bear vegetation
• Permeable surfaces overlying soil - Any man-made permeable surface (excluding railway ballast) that overlies soil and is not intended to bear vegetation
• Hard surfaces (railway ballast only) - Any man-made impermeable surface that is not intended to bear vegetation

When to use

Valdor^® Flex can be applied at any time of year but is most effective when applied pre- or early post-emergence of weeds (up to the 2 leaf stage).

How to use

1. Add half the required water to the spray tank
2. Add the required amount of Valdor^® Flex to the spray tank
3. Agitate the spray tank to ensure the granules are fully dispersed
4. Top-up the spray tank with water to the required level

Additional Information

• Valdor^® Flex can be applied during cold weather but application to frozen ground should be avoided
• Do not apply to plants growing under stressful conditions as this may reduce levels of control
• Where Valdor^® Flex has been applied to sites which are subsequently to be cleared or cultivated; a period of six months should elapse between treatment and the sowing or planting of subsequent crops AND the soil should be deeply cultivated
• Avoid contact with non-target plants
• Diflufenican will build up in the soil when Valdor^® Flex or other products containing diflufenican are used in successive years
• For maximum efficacy ensure good coverage and do not cultivate or rake the area after application
• DO NOT apply over drains, or in drainage channels, gullies or similar structures for moving water

Active Substances

Diflufenican

Bio-Chemical Mode of Action: Diflufenican belongs to the inhibition of pigment synthesis group of herbicides.
Pigment inhibitors work by interfering with pigment production, leaving the chlorophyll unprotected from sunlight. As a result, the cell contents are destroyed rapidly.

Mobility: Diflufenican is a residual herbicide with xylem mobile activity which means that as susceptible plants come into contact with the active substance, it is absorbed through the leaves and roots then moves upwards through the plant within the xylem (water conducting tissues).

Application timing: Pigment inhibitors should be applied pre– or early post-emergence. If applied post-emergence, they are most effective when target plants are small.

Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium

Bio-Chemical Mode of Action: Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium belongs to the ALS (Acetolactate Synthase) Inhibitors group of herbicides.
Acetolactate synthase is an important enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids. ALS inhibitors interrupt this process causing the plant to initially become chlorotic before necrosis of plant tissues followed by whole plant death occurs.

Mobility: Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium is a residual herbicide with xylem and phloem mobile activity which means that as susceptible plants come into contact with the active substance, it is absorbed through the leaves and roots then moves to areas of new growth within the xylem (water conducting tissues) or phloem (sugar conducting tissues).

Application timing: ALS inhibitors are best applied when the weeds are actively growing. They are more effective when target plants are young and in their vegetative phases.

Putting Valdor^® Flex to the test on a heavily weeded gravel site at an international airport was a chance to find out if it would live up to expectations. Long-lasting residual control and ability to minimise resistance were two qualities we were looking for in the product, and we were very impressed by both aspects.

Herbicide resistance is becoming a real issue in the amenity sector, so the fact the product brings new chemistry to our armoury is key. We also found it was particularly clean and easy to work with. There was no foaming in the tank, so the job was swiftly completed. In this trial we combined Valdor^® Flex with glyphosate due to size of the weeds.

Alan Abel
Complete Weed Control South and Central Wales