An organic herbicide carrier could help reduce misapplication and environmental pollution associated with spray application of herbicides. Pellets prepared from landscape leaves that were dried, ground, and pelletized were evaluated as a preemergence herbicide carrier for container-grown ornamental plants. Isoxaben, pendimethalin, and prodiamine at rates of 1.12, 2.25, and 2.25 kg ai/ha, respectively, with either water or landscape leaf-waste pellets as a carrier were applied to chrysanthemum ‘Lisa’, spirea ‘Neon Flash’, and wintercreeper ‘Coloratus’. Common groundsel, common purslane, and giant foxtail were seeded following herbicide application. Leaf-waste pellets as a carrier produced equivalent efficacy and phytotoxicity ratings to conventional spray application of pendimethalin and prodiamine on both chrysanthemum and wintercreeper. The leaf-waste pellets were not an effective carrier for the application of isoxaben alone. The pellets had inconsistent effects on spirea phytotoxicity and growth.
Nomenclature: Isoxaben, pendimethalin, prodiamine, common groundsel, Senecio vulgaris L. #3 SENVU, common purslane, Portulaca oleracea L. # POROL, giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herrm. # SETFA, chrysanthemum, Dendranthema × grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitam. ‘Lisa’, spirea, Spiraea japonica L.f. ‘Neon Flash’, wintercreeper, Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz. ‘Coloratus’.
Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment.
