Plateau Herbicide For Prairie Grass Management

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

This emulsifiable concentrate formulation can be applied using various methods to control a broad spectrum of pest plants and annual grasses. Plateau has even been 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

You will need a sprayer either for small-scale or large-scale applications.

When applying around the home or on 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 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 treatment 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 in feet, then multiply them together (length X width = square footage). For acreage, divide the square footage 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. of Plateau Herbicide per acre in at least 5 or more gallons of water. For ground spot treatments, the rate is 0.3 to 1.9 oz. of product 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 water, add the proper amount of product, and then pour in the remaining half. Ensure that the product is thoroughly agitated in the tank before application. It would be best to add the nonionic surfactant when you add the Plateau Herbicide to the mixture. Thoroughly mix the product in water, then add the adjuvant.
• Step 3: Apply the product to the desired area, spraying the target weed until it is 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 to pastures, rangelands, Federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land, and noncropland areas, including those that may be grazed or cut for hay. 

Examples of non-cropland 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 ditch banks, 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 bromegrass, wheatgrass, wildtype common Kentucky bluegrass, native prairie grass, wildflowers, crown vetch, other grasses, and certain legumes. This product can also be used for weed control during the establishment of native prairie grasses and other grasses. As well as for conifer plantation site preparation. 

Do not apply this product to residential lawns. 

When to Apply

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

It may also 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

Plateau Herbicide is safe to use around children and pets when applied according to the product label instructions. Always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when mixing and applying this product.

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

Keep people and pets out of treated areas until the spray completely dries. 

Special Considerations

Use higher rates on heavier soils and lower rates on sandy soils and drier sites. In most cases, this product must be mixed with an adjuvant, so read the label for proper instructions 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 may occur with applications during the growing season. The yellowing will usually disappear in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on weather conditions.