Safety of Labeled Herbicides for Broadleaf Weed Control in Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens

While most broadleaf weeds cannot survive at mowing heights used to maintain putting greens, species such as white clover (Trifolium repens), mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium vulgatum), and prostrate spurge (Euphorbia humistrata) can persist even with the use of sound management practices. Broadleaf herbicides like 2,4-D have been used on putting greens since the 1940s for weed control (1,2), but many golf course superintendents are hesitant to use broadleaf herbicides on their putting greens for fear that turfgrass injury might occur. There is a paucity of data on the safety of broadleaf herbicides on putting greens despite pesticide labels that suggest they can be used without injuring turf. The objective of this experiment was to determine the safety of postemergence broadleaf herbicides on putting green height creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) turf.