Binomial Name: (Rumex crispus)
Curly Dock is a perennial broadleaf angiosperm in the family ” Polygonaceae ” and Genus” Rumex”. It often invades high-moisture areas, and its’ invasion is usually associated with wetlands and standing water in low-lying areas. It grows throughout the US, and infestation may be present up to the altitude of 8200 feet. Curly Dock represents itself strong competitor of crops, orchards, and turfgrasses when it grows out of its natural habitat. Heavy ingestion can be poisonous for both humans and livestock.
Origin and Distribution
Curly Dock is native to Western Asia and Europe, which has rapidly naturalized the temperate regions in North America and southern South America. Where it comes in the list of serious invasive species. Whereas, both Arkansas and Iowa place it in the noxious weeds list. It can be seen growing in marshes on disturbed soils along roadsides, parks, lawns, abandoned yards, and places of less human interference.
Identifying Curly Dock
Seedlings' colors vary from green in summer to red in winter. The first true leaves are eggs to a football shape arranged alternately to one another in a rosette arrangement. Curly dock grows to erect up to 3 feet or even taller. Leaves are without hairs, and stem nodes are swollen near the base. The fruiting stems are unbranched that die back in summer, exhibiting rusty brown color. New leaves appear in late autumn. Flowers are pale green that can be seen throughout the year. Fruit overlapped with a papery and winged membrane. The fruit is triangular and reddish-brown.
Lifecycle, Growth Pattern, and Propagation
Papery and winged membranous seed is readily dispersed by water and wind. Additionally, it sticks to the feathers of the visiting birds, which is another source for seed dispersal. Under optimal conditions, one Curly Dock plant could produce up to 60,000 seeds. Some of the seeds germinate in the same years, while non-germinating seeds can remain viable for 3-years. The average life of a Curly Dock plant varies between 4-5 years, depending on growing conditions. Seeds start germination during late spring that continues until early fall, producing several seedlings during this time. Perennial Curly Dock emerges in mid-spring from a taproot. Flowering occurs during the months of peak summer, and it could flower twice in a calendar year.
Amazing Facts About Curly Dock
Curly Dock-Prevention and Control
Cultural Control
Since Curly Dock can survive more than 2 or 3 years, it is advisable to work on the health and vigor of your planting stuff, including turfgrasses and garden plants. Curly Dock usually survives in thin turf stands that both lack in fertilization and planting density. First, choose an adapted turf variety and focus on fertilization and watering. Mowing is also helpful in early spring and late autumn. If you can curiously maintain turfgrasses, Curly Dock is not an issue.
Chemical Control
Control using Pre-Emergent Herbicides
ITS Supply Torocity 4SC 40% Mesotrione
For Use on turfgrasses, Torocity containing 40% Mesotrione is a wise choice. It works both as a pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicide. The addition of non-ionic surfactants can improve the control of Curly Dock and several other broadleaf weeds. It's not recommended for fine fescue. For post-emergence control, it requires repeating spray applications after 2 to 3 weeks. Torocity absorbs through plants' roots and foliage together to leave them dead.
Better apply over turfgrasses when they’re moved at least twice after germination for better post-emergence Curly Dock control. Add one level teaspoon in 2 gallons of water with one teaspoon of a liquid dish wash for speedy control.
Control using Post-Emergent Herbicides
Spectracide Weed & Feed 20-0-0, Ready-to-Spray, 32-Ounce
A brilliant combination of 3 herbicides that all together exhibit different modes of action: leaves and roots absorption, and nutrients supply. It contains 2,4-D (3.25%), Mecoprop-P (1.63%), and Dichlorprop-p (1.61%) that are excellent broadleaf herbicides. Spectracide also adds a 20:0:0 fertilizer formula which indicates the presence of Nitrogen (20%) in a mixture. Always apply on Curly Dock and all other broadleaf weeds once they germinate and contain 4-5 leaves, at least. Otherwise, the Nitrogen can trigger weeds growth that becomes difficult to control later. Once the foliage is developed, it will kill weeds and dominate turfgrasses growth over the unwanted weeds.
Spectracide comes in a 32-ounce pack that covers between 650 to 700 square meters of weed-infested area. Only connect a garden hose with the bottle and spray on targeted weeds.
Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer
Applicable on all turfgrasses except Floratam, Ortho Weedclear is quick, and one could notice leaves yellowing in few hours. This ready-to-use mixture contains Dicamba, 2,4-D, Mecoprop-p, and Sulfentrazone in very minute quantities, and there is no need to mix them in water separately. For spraying on Curly Dock and other broadleaf weeds, they attached a trigger that is helpful for spot spraying. Dicamba and 2,4-D provide over 90% control on Curly Dock while other ingredients help to suppress the germination from the seed.
if the mixture doesn't come with a ready-to-use concentrate with trigger, you may add 2 ounces of Ortho Weedclear in 1 gallon of water for mist spraying.
Southern Ag 13502 Lawn Weed Killer with TRIMEC Herbicide
This lawn weed killers’ chemistry is similar to Ortho WeedClear except for Sulfentrazone. Its mode of action and performance is similar to Ortho WeedClear. However, it is not ready to use, and the gardeners need to mix 1.5 ounces of product in one gallon of water to target both Southern and Northern turfgrasses. The improved southern grasses may turn yellow after its application better avoid them. The active ingredients ratio is much bigger than the previous one, and it contains 2,4-D, Mecoprop-p, and Dicamba in the ratio of 3.05%, 5.30%, and 1.29%, respectively.
- For use on 9 turf types
- Controls a wide range of lawn weeds
- A patented combination of 3 proven weed killers
Learn How to control and get rid of other weeds in our complete Yard Weeding Guide.