Late summer weed control in warm- and cool-season lawns

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Late summer weed control in turf is tough because mature weeds require maximum herbicide rates, which in turn increase the chances of turfgrass damage. Plus, high temperatures and potentially droughty soils further enhance chances of poor weed control and/or turf damage. In most cases, it might make sense to wait for a month or two before attempting control. Here’s some advice:

Cultural control – maintaining a dense turf is critical for limiting weeds. If a site has constant problems with weeds or any other pest, evaluate the growing conditions for soil fertility, compaction, thatch, shade, drainage, etc., and mitigate as needed
Pay special attention to label precautions – effective summer weed control comes with some risk of injury to turf, so read and follow all label instructions
What’s your target?
- Sedges: recent research from the University of Nebraska suggests earlier summer applications are most effective and applications in August may only burn back the foliage
- Summer annuals (crabgrass, spurge, etc.)– they germinate spring through summer and may be throwing seedheads in lawns now. Similar to sedges, applications now will likely only burn back foliage
- Winter annuals –we’re just entering the season for controlling newly germinating winter annuals like annual bluegrass, common chickweed, etc. Preemergence herbicides can be used effectively now, but waiting a month or more and combining PRE herbicide plus a POST herbicide is more effective, flexible, and helps limit resistance development
- Perennials (dandelion, clover, dallisgrass, etc) - we’re also entering the season for control of perennial grasses and broadleaves, where Sept through Nov applications are most effective
Need more info? – Read and follow all label directions and contact your Envu area sales manager for assistance.

	Weed type and life cycle	Example	Preferred Envu POST herbicides	Notes
In warm-season turf	Sedges	Purple nutsedge, kyllinga	Celsius^® XTRA, Tribute^® Total	Recent research suggests earlier summer applications are more effective than waiting. Combine with Specticle^® for residual control of kyllinga’s and annual sedges
	Summer annual broadleaves	Purslane, knotweed, etc	Celsius WG, Celsius XTRA, Tribute Total	Younger weeds are easier to control and combine with Specticle for residual control
	Winter annual broadleaves	Henbit, fireweed, etc	Celsius WG, Celsius XTRA, Tribute Total	Younger weeds are easier to control and combine with Specticle for residual control. Herbicide activity is slow in cool temperatures
	Perennial broadleaves	Doveweed, dollarweed, Virginia button	Celsius WG, Celsius XTRA, Tribute Total	Older weeds will likely need additional applications and combine with Specticle for residual control
	Summer annual grasses	Crabgrass, Goosegrass	Tribute Total, Revolver^® (goosegrass), Acclaim^® Accelerate (crabgrass), Sencor^®	Younger weeds are easier to control and combine with Specticle for residual control
	Winter annual grasses	Annual bluegrass	Tribute Total, Revolver, Celsius WG (2ee)	Combine with Specticle and other herbicides for extended control and to limit resistance
	Perennial grasses	Bull paspalum, dallisgrass	Tribute Total, Revolver, Celsius WG, Celsius XTRA	Multiple applications are likely needed, fall applications prior to dormancy are most effective
In cool-season turf	Summer annual broadleaves	Purslane, knotweed, etc	Terradex™ Crabgrass & Broadleaf, Terradex™ Quick Strike	Applications to young weeds are most effective
	Winter annual broadleaves	Henbit, deadnettle, chickweed	Terradex Quick Strike, Terradex™ Power Premix,	Fall applications to young plants most effective
	Perennial broadleaves	Wild violets, clover, ground ivy, etc	Terradex Power Premix	Multiple applications are likely needed, fall applications prior to dormancy are most effective
	Summer annual grasses	Crabgrass, Goosegrass	Terradex Crabgrass & Broadleaf (crab), Acclaim Extra (goose & crab), Acclaim Accelerat (crab)	Applications to young weeds are most effective, combine with a PRE to extend control
	Winter annual grasses	Annual bluegrass	Prograss^®	Fall applications most effective

	Solution sheet - Crabgrass
	Solution sheet - Dallisgrass
	Solution sheet - Dollarweed
	Solution sheet - Doveweed
	Solution sheet - Goosegrass
	Solution sheet - Sedges
	Solution sheet - Virginia Buttonweed

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