Does Tenacity Kill Nutsedge?
Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is challenging to control, especially when it takes hold in your lawn. Dealing with it requires a solution that completely destroys its foliage and roots, ensuring it does not survive into the next growing season. Fortunately, Tenacity Turf Herbicide offers a powerful remedy, swiftly killing nutsedge within a short timeframe.
Tenacity effectively tackles yellow nutsedge. Apply a mixture of Tenacity and a surfactant to destroy its foliage and hinder food production by photosynthesis. Within three weeks, the nutsedge will die.
However, Tenacity is not compatible with all types of lawn grass. If sprayed on grass that is not compatible, it can also kill the grass itself.
Below I’ve explained everything you need to know about effectively using Tenacity to eliminate nutsedge while not posing any risk to your lawn.
Does Tenacity kill nutsedge?
Yes, Tenacity is effective in killing nutsedge. However, it specifically targets and controls yellow nutsedge and may not be effective against other nutsedge species, such as Purple nutsedge.
The active ingredient in Tenacity is Mesotrione, which bleaches the leaves of yellow nutsedge and other grassy weeds, killing them in the process. Chlorophyll cells in the leaves are destroyed, leaving the weed white and unable to manufacture its own food. After that, the nutsedge plant will stop growing and die after about 3 to five weeks.
Moreover, Tenacity is a systemic herbicide, a property that makes it able to be absorbed by the entire plant through the translocation process. This exposure destroys the roots, preventing nutsedge from surviving into the next growing season.
Ultimately, the herbicide works well as a long-term nutsedge control option.
How to kill nutsedge with Tenacity
Tenacity effectively controls nutsedge in lawns, but can also harm turfgrass if used incorrectly. Mesotrione can kill desired grass alongside the weeds if applied in excess.
Here’s how to use Tenacity to kill nutsedge:
- Add one teaspoon of Tenacity to 2 gallons of water in a spraying pump and mix well. This should cover about 1000 sqft of spray space.
- Add two teaspoons of a high-quality non-ionic surfactant to the mixture. This helps the herbicide adhere to the nutsedge and enhance its effectiveness. I recommend using the Southern Ag Non-Ionic Surfactant for Herbicides.
- Spray the mixture lightly onto the nutsedge, ensuring not to soak the ground.
- After spraying, avoid any disturbances in the area and give it about 3 hours of dry time before any rain or irrigation occurs.
- Observe the treated area for the next two months. If any nutsedge persists or regrows, reapply the herbicide following the guidelines above.
Caution: Avoid using Tenacity on wet grass, as this can increase the risk of injury to your lawn. For best results, spray the area when the air temperature range is about 50-80℃.
How long does it take for Tenacity to kill Nutsedge?
Tenacity turf herbicide starts to work on weeds upon contact. Yellow nutsedge will begin to turn white and die after approximately 5 to 7 days of application. This is a sign that the herbicide is working and killing nutgrass to the root.
The whitening effect will continue, and it will take approximately two to three weeks for the Tenacity to kill the entire nutsedge population.
Precautions
When using Tenacity, it is important to consider the safety of your lawn. Understanding which types of lawns are compatible with Tenacity and which ones are not is essential since you might also be killing your well-established lawn unknowingly.
Tenacity is safe for use on the following turf grasses: tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), and mature fine fescue turf (Festuca arundinacea).
A study by Peter Landschoot, Ph.D., a Penn State Extension Professor of Turfgrass Science, showcased remarkable outcomes in eliminating yellow nutsedge from a Kentucky bluegrass lawn through a single application of Tenacity. The Kentucky bluegrass lawn was discolored but returned to its original green lush after a month.
Tenacity is not considered safe for use on bermudagrass, bentgrass, poa annu, Kikuyu grass, and zoysiagrass lawns. The herbicidal properties of Tenacity can harm or even kill these specific turfgrass varieties. They have different sensitivities and responses to the active ingredient present in Tenacity.
Aside from compatibility checks, it is important to note that Tenacity may cause temporary whitening of the turf grass it is applied. This discoloration usually wears off after about 3-4 weeks.
To minimize the risk of your turf grass being discolored for a long period, I recommend applying Tenacity lightly to avoid overapplying the product.
Tenacity alternatives for nutsedge control
Tenacity has the advantage of being a reliable herbicide that will kill nutsedge in your lawn effectively. However, some people might not want to risk their lawn being discolored due to using Tenacity to kill nutsedge.
For such a case, here are other Tenacity alternatives for nutsedge control:
- Sedgehammer herbicide
- Image® kills Nutsedge Concentrate
- Bonide Sedge Ender
- Ortho® Nutsedge Killer Ready-To-Spray
- Blindside Herbicide WDG FMC
- Certainty
NOTE: Like Tenacity, these herbicides are not safe to use on all turfgrasses. Therefore, before using any, check if it is compatible with your lawn grass.
In addition to the chemical alternatives mentioned above, it is possible to kill nutsedge naturally without subjecting your lawn to the risks associated with chemical use.
What other grassy weeds does Tenacity kill?
According to the Tenacity product label, Tenacity can also kill other common grassy weeds, such as crabgrass (Digitaria), goosegrass (Eleusine), foxtail (Setaria), and barnyard grass (Echinochloa).
These troublesome grassy weeds can invade lawns and compete with desired grass species, affecting the overall health and appearance of the turf. With Tenacity, you have a powerful tool at your disposal to combat these grassy weeds and restore the vibrancy of your lawn.
