Weeds

Christmas tree production has developed into an intensively managed agricultural crop. Consumer demands and production costs necessitate that growers maximize the production of high quality trees in as few years as possible. Management includes the effective use of herbicides that will contribute to increased survival, more rapid annual growth, less needlecast disease problems, and generally improved foliage and tree quality. When properly used, herbicides provide benefits not only during initial establishment and growth of the tree but also through the rotation when annual shearing and eventual harvest of the trees is completed. Major weed problems include various perennial and annual grasses (quackgrass, foxtail, fall panicum, etc), annual and perennial broad-leaved weeds (hoary alyssum, ragweed, milkweed, red root pigweed, lambsquarter, velvetleaf, spotted knapweed, Canada thistle, marestail, etc.).

Weed identification and management resources from Michigan State University

Field Horsetail: A Plant As Old As Time

Published on February 2, 2024
Explore what it is about field horsetail that makes it so persistent and what the options are if it is undesirable.
Weed Control in Christmas Trees - E3237

Published on June 20, 2023
This publication is a guide to assist Christmas tree growers in the selection of weed control management options and tools.
Biology & Control of Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) in Michigan Christmas Tree Production

Published on July 12, 2022
Canada thistle is a major problem in Michigan Christmas tree production. It spreads quickly in a single season. This bulletin will help growers identify Canada thistle and develop management strategies for regulating it in their production systems.
A Mobile Guide for Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes

Published on December 10, 2020
This guide is available as a downloadable PDF that can be easily viewed on your mobile device and includes links that allow you to jump to certain pages of the guide.
A Pocket Guide for IPM Weed Identification in Christmas Tree

Published on November 11, 2015
This is an IPM guide for weed identification in Christmas trees.

Weed identification and management resources from other sources from other universities

2017 Nursery and Landscape Pest Control Guide – North Carolina State University

Weed Id Tool – University of Wisconsin

Weeds of the Northeast – Cornell University

Weed and Vegetation Management Strategies in Christmas Trees - Oregon State University

Non-chemical weed control strategies in Christmas trees - Oregon State University

Always read the label before applying any pesticide. Labels can and do change it is the responsibility of the person using this information to verify that it is correct by reading the corresponding pesticide label in its entirety before using the product.