How to Use Tenacity Herbicide for Lawn Weed Control

Tenacity weed killer is a great herbicide option for homeowners looking to treat problem weeds that are difficult to get rid of in their lawns. This highly effective weed control is a popular option for homeowners looking to treat a variety of weeds including chickweed, clover, crabgrass, dandelion, foxtail, henbit and nutsedge. Read on for more information on using this homeowner go-to for weed control.

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Tenacity Herbicide Product Overview

Manufactured by Syngenta, Tenacity is a highly effective systemic pre- and post-emergent for the selective contact and residual control of over 46 broadleaf and grassy weed species in turfgrass. The active ingredient, Mesotrione 40%, works to prevent photosynthesis from occurring in target weeds so that they cannot grow.

Systemic herbicides, including Tenacity, are absorbed and moved throughout the plant’s system as a means of killing the entire plant. Contact herbicides, on the other hand, only kill the part of the plant it comes in contact with. In other words, roots may survive and the plant may regrow. As previously stated, Tenacity works by preventing photosynthesis in plants and keeps them from growing. This product is absorbed through the roots, shoots and leaves of the plant and then distributed throughout by both the xylem and phloem translocation.

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Herbicides are either selective or non-selective. A non-selective herbicide kills all plants in comes in contact with, including your grass. A selective herbicide, like Tenacity weed killeer, will not kill all lawn types. The concentrate is specifically used for certain warm season and cool season turfgrass species listed on the product label: Kentucky bluegrass, centipedegrass, buffalograss, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue and St. Augustinegrass. DO NOT use Tenacity on bentgrass, Poa annua, kikuyugrass, zoysiagrass, seashore paspalum and bermudagrass as these turfgrasses are sensitive to Tenacity applications.

Herbicides also control weeds in one of two ways: before they germinate and emerge from the soil or after. A pre-emergent, as its name suggests, is used preventatively to keep weeds from emerging from the soil’s surface. A post-emergent herbicide is used after a weed has already established itself in your lawn. As both a pre- and post-emergent, Tenacity weed killer offers control of weeds both before they emerge from the soil’s surface and after they’ve appeared above the soil. Read more about these commonly used herbicide terms in Weed Control in Your Lawn & Garden.

Weeds Controlled with Tenacity

Tenacity offers control of over 46 broadleaf weed and grass species in turfgrasses.

For more information on different types of lawn weeds and how you can identify them, read Identifying Common Lawn Weeds.

How to Use Tenacity Weed Killer

An eight oz. bottle of Tenacity can cover one to two acres of property when broadcasting for weed control after mixing with 30 gallons of water per acre. A bottle of Tenacity will also come with a syringe for spot treatments.

Pre-Emergent Applications

Apply Tenacity at four to eight fl. oz. per acre in at least 30 gallons of water per acre prior to weed seed germination. Do not exceed five fl. oz. per acre per application to perennial ryegrass or fine fescues or mixed stands that contain greater than 50 percent perennial ryegrass and/or fine fescue. Do not exceed four fl. oz. per acre to St. Augustinegrass sod. Make application close to anticipated weed seed germination.

Post-Emergent Applications

Apply Tenacity at four to eight fl. oz. per acre in at least 30 gallons of water per acre. Apply with a nonionic surfactant like Hi-Yield Surfactant. A repeat application after two to three weeks may be required for adequate weed control.

Read the product label below for Tenacity Herbicide instructions (click to open).

Tenacity will begin working to kill weeds immediately, but you may not see a difference for two or three weeks. You may also seed some plants turn white after an application of Tenacity. Some weeds may need a follow-up application. If you are spot treating, mix 1/2 a teaspoon of Tenacity with 1 1/2 teaspoons of surfactant in one gallon of water. Surfactants are recommended to use in combination with Tenacity to increase herbicide effectiveness by reducing surface tension of water so that herbicides can penetrate the soil and kill weeds more effectively.

Read the product label thoroughly before applying. Excessive use of this product can cause a temporary burn or loss of color in your yard. It may cause nonpermanent whitening of the turfgrass foliage. These symptoms appear five to seven days after the application and may last for several weeks.

If Tenacity doesn’t control the weed you are currently experiencing, be sure to check out the rest of our herbicide products online here.