Plateau Herbicide For Prairie Grass Management

Plateau Herbicide, manufactured by BASF, is a powerful and versatile herbicide that is popular for use on roadsides, prairieland and rangelands for vegetation management.

This emulsifiable concentrate formulation can be applied using a wide variety of different methods, and can control a broad spectrum of pest plants and annual grasses. Plateau is even approved for use in federal reserves.

Plateau Herbicide is mainly used to treat bindweed, cheatgrass, Johnsongrass, leafy spurge, tall fescue and other common problem weeds.

Tools Needed:

To use Plateau Herbicide, you will need a sprayer either for small scale or large scale application. When applying around the home or in a small scale we suggest using a pump sprayer, a backpack sprayer, or a hose end sprayer. For large scale use, such as over pastures or rangeland, you can apply plateau with a spray rig or power sprayer.

This product may require the use of a nonionic surfactant, methylated seed oil (MSO), vegetable oil concentrate, silicone-based surfactant, or fertilizer/surfactant blends. 

How To Use:

• Step 1: Identify the areas you plan to apply the product to, Identify what pest plants are in the area, and measure the square footage of the area. This will determine how much product needs to be mixed and applied. To find square footage, measure the length and width of the treatment area then multiply them together (length X width = square footage). For acerage, take the square footage and divide it by one acre (square footage / 43,560 sq. ft. = acre). The application rate varies depending on where it is being sprayed and what is being treated. The general rate is 4 to 8 oz. per acre in at least 5 or more gallons of water. For ground spot treatments, the rate is 0.3 to 1.9 oz. per gallon of water. Refer to the product label for specific application rates and restrictions. Do not exceed 12 oz. of this product per acre in one year. 
• Step 2: Fill your sprayer with half the amount of water, add measured amount of Plateau Herbicide, then pour in remaining half of water. Ensure that the product is thoroughly agitated in the tank before application. You should also mix with a nonionic Surfactant such as Alligare 90 (1/2 pt. to 4 pt.). Thoroughly mix the product in water then add the adjuvant.
• Step 3: Apply the product to the desired area, spraying the target weed to wet but not to the point of runoff. Use a fan spray nozzle setting for even coverage. Reapply as needed, according to label guidelines.

Where to Apply:

Plateau Herbicide can be applied on pastures, rangelands, Federal conservation reserve program (CRP) land, noncropland areas including noncropland areas that may be grazed or cut for hay. 

Examples of noncropland areas include, but are not limited to railroad, utility, pipeline and highway rights-of-way, railroad crossings, utility plant sites, petroleum tank farms, pumping installations, non-agriculture fence rows, storage areas, non-irrigation ditchbanks, prairie sites, airports, industrial turf, golf courses, recreational and non-residential turf and other similar areas. 

This product may be used for the release of bermudagrass, bahiagrass, smooth broomegrass, wheatgrass, wildtype common Kentucky bluegrass, native prariegrass, wildflowers, crown vetch, other grasses and certain legumes. This product can also be used for weed control during the establishment of native prariegrasses and other grasses. As well as for conifer plantation site preperation. 

Do not apply this product to residential lawns. 

When to Apply:

Apply Plateau Herbicide in areas where plant pests are affecting the desired plant growth in rangelands. You can even apply when weeds are starting to crowd out your hay crops.

Plateau Herbicide may be applied in the dormant or growing season for weed control. Tolerance of desirable grass species to Plateau Herbicide may be reduced when grasses are stressed due to insect damage, disease, environmental conditions, shade, poorly drained soils or other causes. 

Do not apply this product when rainfall is forecasted 48 hours after application. Rainfall within 1 hour after Plateau Herbicide application may reduce weed control. 

Safety Information:

Always wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) anytime you handle the chemical, measure and mix the chemical, and apply the chemical. Be sure to take proper precautions to prevent the drifting of the product.

Do not cut treated area for hay within seven days after treatment. 

Keep people and pets out of treated areas until the spray has completey dried. 

Special Considerations:

Use higher rates on heavier soils and use lower rates on sandy soils and drier sites. This product needs to be mixed with an adjuvant in most cases, so read the label for proper instruction regarding your plant type and the desired application method.

When making applications around desirable trees or ornamental plants, small areas should be tested to determine the tolerance of a particular species to soil and/or foliar applications of Plateau Herbicide. 

Depending on the turf type being treated, some yellowing of turf may occur with applications during the growing season. Depending on weather conditions, yellowing will usually disappear in 2 to 4 weeks.