There are so many different types of weeds and herbicide options that it can often be difficult to know what product to use to remove them. In this blog, we will look at all you need to know about applying herbicides to your lawn.
When using any product on your lawn, always ensure you read the label instructions to see its suitability for your lawn type.
What Herbicide Should I Use?
When selecting an herbicide for your lawn, it is important to ensure the herbicide will treat the weed you want to remove. If you are unsure of what weed type you have growing in your lawn, check out our Ultimate Weed Guide Blog.
Treating Broadleaf Weeds
Broadleaf weeds are one of the most common weed types that can grow in our lawns. As the name suggests, they will usually have a broad and flat leaf, often with flowers that is easy to identify in your lawn. These weeds will come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some broadleaf weeds like clover will have oval shaped leaves, whereas others like Capeweed and Thistles can have a more jaggered leaf. Broadleaf weeds generally won’t have a woody stem and are not grassy weeds.
Some common types of broadleaf weeds are Bindii, Capeweed, Clover, Chickweed, Creeping Oxalis, Cudweed, Dandelion, Fleabane and Lambs Tongue just to name a few.
Bromoxynil – Treatment for common broadleaf weeds
Bromoxynil is safe on most common lawn types including Couch, Bent, Kikuyu, Fescue, Buffalo, Zoysia and Rye. Both Amgrow Bin Die and All Purpose Weed Control are Bromoxynil herbicide options.
Dicamba – Treatment for common broadleaf weeds
Dicamba based products are not safe for use on Buffalo lawns, but they are suitable for Couch, Kikuyu, Zoysia, Fescue, and Rye. Amgrow Multiweed and Kamba M are Dicamba based herbicide options.
Treating Sedge Weeds
Sedge weeds will commonly have thin, strappy, and waxy grass like leaves. They will usually grow faster than the rest of your lawn and will have an extensive underground bulb system at their roots. Because of these bulbs, it is not recommended to remove these by hand. The most common sedge weeds that are found in lawns are Nutgrass and Mullumbimby Couch.
Halosulfuron-Methyl – Treatment for Sedge Weeds like Nutgrass
When treating Nutgrass and Mullumbimby Couch, you will need to look for an herbicide with the active ingredient, Halosulfuron-Methyl. Halosulfuron-Methy based products are safe for use on most common turf types including Buffalo, Couch, Kikuyu, Zoysia, QLD Blue Couch, Bent Grass, and Tall Fescue. A herbicide like Sedge Control is ideal.
How to Remove Winter Grass
Winter Grass is another common weed type that grows throughout the cooler months. This weed will grow in a tuft with soft drooping leaves. Once the plant has matured, it will grow white seed heads.
Endothal – Treatment for Winter Grass
Endothal is a selective herbicide used in Amgrow Winter Grass Killer. This is safe for use on Couch, Blue Couch, Zoysia, and Buffalo. This is not safe for use on Kikuyu, Fescue or Rye lawns.
Propyzamide – Treatment for Winter Grass
Propyzamide is another selective herbicide option for removing Winter Grass. This active is used in Munns Winter Grass Killer. This is safe for use on Kikuyu, Buffalo, and Couch. This is not safe for use on Fescue, Rye, Bluegrass or Bentgrass.
Applying Herbicides to Your Lawn
When applying herbicides to your lawn, always ensure you are following all label instructions for the product you are using. To avoid over application of the product, ensure you are applying the correct amount over your whole area. Avoid heavy application over areas where weeds are growing and spray evenly over the designated area.
Pre-Emergent Herbicides
Pre-emergents are a great way to get your lawn ahead of the game and prevent seasonal weeds before they appear. These herbicides work by targeting the weed seedlings while they are germinating in the soil, stopping them before they even appear! They are especially great to use if you have continually faced the same seasonal weed, like Winter Grass, growing in your lawn year after year.
When it comes to using pre-emergents, we recommend Oxafert and Oxafert Plus. These products are safe for use on most common turf types, excluding Santa Ana Couch and cool-season grasses like Rye and Fescue. Oxafert will help prevent Winter Grass, Summer Grass, Crabgrass, and Creeping Oxalis from invading your lawn.
For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here.
