PBI-Gordon developing new herbicide SwitchBlade

PBI-Gordon Corporation has developed a new non-phenoxy, “three-way” herbicide. Soon to be branded SwitchBlade, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration for the herbicide is pending.

SwitchBlade will feature three active ingredients: halauxifen-methyl, fluroxypyr, and dicamba. Testing has shown that, when combined, these active ingredients will provide professional lawn care operators, golf course superintendents, and sod and sports turf managers with extended post-emergence control of 34 broadleaf weeds—including clover, dandelion, and plantain.

The active ingredient halauxifen-methyl is from a new class of systemic auxin herbicides, called Arylpicolinates. Rapidly absorbed by leaves and to a lesser extent the roots of sensitive plants, it mimics the plant growth hormones and disrupts the weed’s growth process.

Other features of SwitchBlade include:

--Will be able to be applied year-round when weeds are actively growing, but will be ideal for spring or fall applications in cooler conditions

--Is being proposed for use on bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, bentgrass, centipedegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass