Dock (Rumex spp)
Docks are annual or perennial weeds that have thick taproots. Both Curly Dock Weed and Broadleaf Dock are common weeds of turfgrass. They have hairless leaves that often form a basal rosette, and have an erect branched flowering stem. Depending on the species, the leaves may be narrow or broad.
Docks contain oxalates and is toxic to dogs, cats and horses
Broadleaf Dock is an aggressive weed that competes with turf grass for space, light, moisture and nutrients. In well irrigated areas it can become a major problem.
The distribution map for Dock is courtesy of The Atlas of Living Australia.
After you finish reading this, you will be able to:
- Identify Docks.
- Know the habitat of the Dock weed.
- Know the best cultural and chemical options to control Dock.
Curly Dock Weed Identification.
In Australia, Curly Dock Weed usually starts to grow in the Winter, and flower and fruit by early Summer, when the above-ground branches die and turn brown.
Spring and Autumn are the main germination periods, and seeds can remain dormant for a long time. Juvenile plants overwinter as a rosette, with above ground growth being slow until the taproot has developed.
Category: Broadleaf (Dicot).
Photosynthetic Pathway: C3 Weed.
Flower: The flowers are green.
Height: 50 -130 cm tall.
Leaf length: The leaf blade is thin, egg-shaped, and around to 25 cm long. It has a blunt to pointed tip and its base is round-lobed.
Leaf width: The leaves are about 12 cm wide.
Reproduction: Broadleaf and Curly Dock weed disperse by seed. The mature fruits easily break off (from mid-Summer to Winter) when animals, machinery or humans brush against them. They can also disperse by wind.
The crown and upper taproot can also regrow from fragments left behind during soil cultivation.
Comments: Both Curly Dock and Broadleaf Dock are massive seeders, with each plant able to generate about 60,000 seeds per plant. Docis are an aggressive weed, and its deep root system depletes soil nutrients and moisture.
Habitat: Docks indicate moist to wet ground, which is poorly drained and at least occassionally waterlogging. Freshwater swamps and marshes are its common habitats. None of the species are associated with high salt soils.
For more information on weeds check out our weed ID Chart.
How to control Dock.
You can control Dock by cultural and chemical means, but successful management of this weed is best if you adopt an integrated approach.
Cultural control:
Anything that increases the ability of desirable turf grass to out compete Docks is a good thing. So deal with any soil compaction, and encourage a dense sward. Seeds of this weed need light to germinate, and so a thick, dense cover will help prevent establishment. Once this weed gets too big, say around the 5-6 leaf stage onwards, turf grass will not outcompete this weed.
Another key is to have a fertilie soil with adequate levels of N, P and K, plus the right soil pH for the grass you have. Avoiding scalping or mowing too short as this will limit any gaps in the canopy for docks to emerge. Work in Ireland actually shows that docks germinate and grow better when there are high K levels in the soil.
Single plants of Broadleaf Dock can be controlled by deep hoeing or grubbing. For larger infestations, a combination of cultivation and herbicides is effective. Slashing and mowing are not effective.
Chemical control of Dock.
The aim of control with this weed is to reduce the seedbank and keep it at a low level. On this basis the pre-emergent herbicide ProForce Battalia is worth looking at. In the USA, Specticle and Prodiamine are labelled for this weed.
Selective post emergent Curly Dock weed killers include: 2,4-D Amine, Dicamba 500, and Warhead Trio.
You will get the best results with this weed if:
- Only apply herbicdes to actively growing weeds.
- If you see seed stalks mow off the top and let it re-grow before applying any chemical.
- Allow adequate time between spraying and mowing for the herbicide to work. This is especially important if it has developed a deep taproot.
- Do not spray when the weed is under stress due to drought of cold weather.
You can use Glyphosate as a non selective option to control this weed, although herbicide resistance has been reported overseas. If you use Glyphosate and water quality is an issue then we recommend the use of ProForce Manta Ray.
