Did a quick search before posting, sorry if a common topic.

Trying to clear some new growth (<2 ft) blueberry juniper, and every AgriLife article I've found said Tordon 22k was the answer.

Does anyone know if this can this be purchased without an applicators license? Is there something better?

You've got to be very careful with that stuff. The runoff can kill trees you don't want to.

Tordon (picloram) is a Restricted Use herbicide. Top left of the label.

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/agrian-cg-fs1-production/pdfs/Tordon_22K_Label1u.pdf

I believe they make a less potent mixture where a license isn't required….but I may be wrong. Thought I saw it at Tractor Supply.

Ya, the make a RTU (read to use) version of it.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tordon-rtu-1-qt

That may be a soil applied concentrate! Shooting from the hip rather than looking at "Brush Busters"….

Many years ago we did an experiment in cooperation with TAMU on the Seco Creek watershed. I seem to recall applying it with a gun like "Velpar" at evenly spaced intervals.

Pic is a RUP, except those RTU pint bottles. Extremely water soluble and will run like crazy/ leach especially in thin rocky soil or sand. Good product when used with discretion. Good Juniper, cedar, pine, *****ly pear control

Tordon RTU will kill the F out of persimmon

But I won't spill a drop near a quality, mature tree…

I will add that the picloram remains active in the soil after application. It's sort of the indiscriminate fire bombing version of weed control.

Don't spray it under a tree you can't afford to lose.

mosdefn14 said:

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Trying to clear some new growth (<2 ft) blueberry juniper, and every AgriLife article I've found said Tordon 22k was the answer.

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It is very effective on juniper, particularly if they are treated when they are less than 3 feet tall.

The chemical Picloram is the killing agent.

Tordon 22 contains about 20% Picloram and requires a license to purchase and apply.

Grazon P+D contains about 10% Picloram and requires a license to purchase and apply.

Tordon RTU contains about 5% Picloram and does NOT require a license to purchase and apply.

But, as I'm sure the pros here will tell you, taking Tordon RTU and quadrupling the strength to kill juniper would be an 'off label' use and not something one would want to admit to having done.

There is a reason Picloram is restricted -- it's bad ass and sticks around a while. If you're careful it's a great tool to have in your bag of tricks.

For small juniper, I imagine a foliar spray (spray all leaves) of properly-mixed Tordon 22 would knock them out.

For larger juniper, Picloram is generally applied directly to the soil in 3 or 4 spots around the drip line of the tree, usually with a needle gun or in shallow slits made by a shovel. In a direct soil application, it is applied straight (no dilution) in a quantity that depends on the size of the tree. I don't remember the formula off the top of my head, but the quantity is tiny.

Again, remember, this stuff will flat out kill desirables too, and will hang around. If you do use it, be DAMN careful.

It is important to jump on juniper early. Once it decides to move in and take over, it's a mess.