Comprehensive Weed Control Guide (Cool Season Turf)

So you have weeds in your lawn and you want to get rid of them, but don't know where to start? Here's a guide for controlling weeds in your turf.

Tools you'll need:

1.) Sprayer, with a fantip nozzle. Frankly I can't say enough about the Sprayer's Plus battery operated sprayers. I have a 2 gal one and love it. However some of you might not want to spend 100 bucks on a sprayer.

Cheapest option: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Scotts-2-Gal-Multi-Use-Sprayer-190499/300259167

You can also get a slightly higher quality sprayer if you don't mind pumping for between 30 - 50 bucks at the big box stores. Try to get one that you can also get a fan-tip nozzle for. On most of those between that price point you can swap out the wand or tip with a replacement wand/tip that has a fantip.

2.) Surfactant.

While baby shampoo works in a pinch, in some cases you can't/shouldn't use it with certain herbicides, and it doesn't work as well in my experience.

https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Ag-Surfactant-Herbicides-Non-Ionic/dp/B004XDHRCE (Just go ahead and buy the big bottle. It lasts forever (5 - 10 years.)

3.) General broadleaf herbicide.

This is going to be your primary method of weed control. Try to get a 3 way blend. It will typically have 2-4-D, Dicamba, and Mecoprop-p. I prefer to get the concentrate types, either dry or liquid. For general use I try to not get the ones with Quinclorac (anything that says "With Crabgrass control.")

some options: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ortho-Weed-B-Gon-32-oz-Weed-Killer-Concentrate-0420050/205697164

https://www.amazon.com/PBI-Gordon-652400-Killer-20-Ounce/dp/B001PCRKDC/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=speedzone&qid=1555855056&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-1

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Spectracide-40-oz-Weed-Stop-for-Lawns-Concentrate-Lawn-Weed-Killer-HG-96623/307431046

4.) Specialist BroadLeaf weed control.

This is going to be used on any hard to kill broad leaf weeds. This is going to be a weed control product that only contains triclopyr. Typically you can find it in Weed-b-Gon Clover and Oxilis control. However it's cheaper by the ounce at the same concentration if you can find their Woody weeds/ivy control. ( I usually find it at Ace.) This should not be your primary form of weed control.

Cheapest per application: https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/lawn-care/weed-and-vegetation-killers/72080

Easiest to find: https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/lawn-care/weed-and-vegetation-killers/7102908

5.) Grassy weed control (for lawns) This is going to be Quinclorac. Yes you can get it mixed in with your basic broad leaf, but you have a limited number of times that you can apply Quinclorac throughout the year, and I'd rather use it when I need it, rather than waste some of those applications killing Dandelions.
https://www.amazon.com/Quinclorac-Selective-Herbicide-Equivalent-quali-1014/dp/B006LAVM3W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NOELQ5QR8LBM&keywords=quinclorac&qid=1555855546&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=quinclor%2Clawngarden%2C153&sr=1-1

(one bottle of this will most likely last you 5+ years.)

6.) Tenacity. Tenacity is a must for a DIY. You are going to look at the price and shy away from it. Let me tell you right now, this product is extremely useful for controlling grassy type weeds, plus it can act as a pre-emegent that is safe for new grass. One bottle will last you a long, long time.

7.) Optional: Round Up Gel.

Now the actual guide:

So you have weeds, and you want them dead. The first thing you need to do is know your weather for a 3 day window. Weed control only works when the weeds are actively growing, so keep an eye on your highs and lows when you plan to apply.

Typically you are going to apply them 24 - 48 hours after a mow, when the highs are under 85 degrees and the lows are above 65 degrees. (freedom units.)

Around 80% of the typical broadleaf weeds will be controlled by the broad leaf weed controls listed in (3.). Typically with 1 application. For best results use it with a surfactant, a fantip nozzle, and don't apply it when you are going to get rain for at least 24 hours.

Hard to Kill: If you have a hard-to-kill broad leaf weed you will still follow the above step. However 10 - 15 days after the application you will hit it again with Herbicide (4.) again with a surfactant, and with a fantip nozzle. Check on the weeds again in 10 - 15 days, if they are still alive and not dying/dead, one more application of (3) will finish it off.

Grass type weeds: Typically most of the grass type weeds you are going to be battling is going to be Crabgrass. Quinclorac will handle that no problem. A good pre-emergent program at the spring will also help. Again you are going to want your Surfactant and fantip nozzle for the application.

For harder to kill grass weeds you are going to want to include a rotation of Tenacity similar to how the Hard to Kill section went. Tenacity takes a long time to work. You typically won't see results until day 10 or so. Wait 20 days after application to either reapply Tenacity or finish it off with Quinclorac. I have had success using this method for Bentgrass, Orchard Grass, Johnson Grass, and it worked on a small infestation of quack, though it took a few applications. It also worked on about 50% of my clumping wild Fescue.

For really hard to kill grass weeds: Round up Gel applied with a Q-tip to the blades of grass will finish off any stragglers. I'm not responsible for your neighbors thinking you are crazy though.

POA - Tenacity will work to control it, but you need to catch it early enough in the season. Typically I do a Tenacity treatment in early the spring in areas that I end up having to seed that spring. I will use the remaining Tenacity to hit any areas that -Might- be POA. Typically it's going to be areas of your turf that is a lighter green. If it's not POA or Bent, nothing will happen, if it is, in 10 - 15 days the areas you hit will turn white.

Glossary: A standard broad leaf weed is one that you can control. A hard to kill broad leaf weed is one that your Application of (3.) doesn't kill.

A grassy weed is a weed that has grass like properties. Typically long thin blades.

POA is an annual bluegrass that germinates over the winter and shows up in spring. It generally dies off in the summer leaving bare spots.

Hopefully you guys will find this guide useful.