Choosing the right selective herbicide for Bermuda grass helps protect desirable warm-season turf while eliminating troublesome grassy and broadleaf weeds. This guide highlights five top products, their key ingredients, and how they perform on Bermuda grass and related landscapes. You’ll find practical considerations for application timing, safety on ornamentals, and how each product handles common Bermudagrass invaders like crabgrass and nutsedge. Use the brief product table below to compare options at a glance.
| Product | Brand | Active Ingredient (approx.) | Application Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syngenta Fusilade II | Syngenta | Fluazifop-P-butyl | Selective weed control in turf & landscapes | Fast acting, rainfast within an hour |
| BASF Pylex | BASF | Topramezone | Selective post-emergence for grasses & broadleaf weeds | Wide turf compatibility; follow mixing guidelines |
| Monterey Grass Getter | Monterey | Sethoxydim | Over-the-top control in ornamentals and beds | Kills grassy weeds; not for lawns |
| Ornamec Over-The-Top | PBI / Gordon | Unknown (commercial formulation) | Over-the-top grass suppression in ornamentals | Rapid action; suitable for ornamentals |
| Atticus Empero | Atticus | Halosulfuron-methyl | Nutsedge suppression in established turf | Root system reach; gentle on many grasses |
Syngenta Fusilade II Herbicide For Turf And Nurseries
Fusilade II provides broad-spectrum control of perennial and annual grass weeds in turf and landscape settings without harming ornamentals. Its 24.5% Fluazifop-P-butyl active ingredient offers targeted grass weed suppression, with the remainder composed of other ingredients to improve coverage. The product’s post-emergent action helps maintain clean turf with rapid rainfast properties—within about an hour after exposure to moisture. This makes it suitable for nurseries, sports fields, and landscaped areas where quick knockdown is desired and ornamentals must remain unaffected.
Key considerations include ensuring use on established turf and following label directions for mixing and tank sizes. Because Fusilade II targets grasses, it is essential to avoid spreading onto desirable broadleaf ornamentals where not recommended. Its fast rainfast property supports flexible scheduling around weather, helping reduce downtime between applications. Overall, Fusilade II is a strong option when Bermudagrass areas need selective grass weed control without harming ornamentals in mixed beds and landscapes.
BASF Pylex Herbicide For Selective Post-Emergence Control
Pylex provides selective post-emergence control of both grasses and broadleaf weeds in established turf. Its formulated 29.7% topramezone content offers systemic activity via foliar and root uptake, delivering effective suppression with careful application. This product is designed for turfgrass applications and works well on established Bermuda lawns, especially when a precise, localized weed control plan is needed.
When using Pylex, follow mixing guidelines and equipment requirements to ensure uniform coverage and minimize risk to desirable grasses. It is important to assess the weed spectrum and confirm compatibility with your turf species before proceeding. Pylex is a strong choice for turf managers seeking a targeted post-emergence solution for mixed weed challenges in Bermuda grass environments.
Monterey Grass Getter: Selective Grass Weed Control
Grass Getter targets grassy weeds in landscapes including bedding plants, ornamentals, ground covers, shrubs, and vegetables. It kills most annual and many perennial grasses, including Bermudagrass and crabgrass, while allowing application over listed ornamentals. Important caveats: it is not intended for use on lawn areas; rather, it provides a controlled, over-the-top approach when you need to manage grassy invaders among ornamentals.
Use Grass Getter when you need to suppress grasses in non-lawn beds or garden spaces adjacent to Bermuda turf. This product offers a practical solution for mixed plantings where over-the-top treatment is advantageous, but it requires careful site assessment to avoid unintended injury to sensitive ornamentals. For Bermuda turf, consider compatibility and target weeds carefully to ensure it aligns with your landscape goals.
Ornamec Over-The-Top Grass Herbicide
Ornamec is formulated for over-the-top application to suppress unwanted grasses while protecting ornamentals. It offers rapid action, with visible results typically within 48 hours and full control in 1-3 weeks. The product is premixed with Aqua-Zorb CA surfactant to improve absorption and performance, expanding its suitability for ornamental landscapes and beds alongside Bermuda turf. This approach can be advantageous for landscape managers seeking a targeted over-the-top solution for mixed plantings.
Given its focus on ornamentals, always confirm compatibility with your bedded plants and avoid drift onto sensitive species. Ornamec provides a practical option for controlling grassy weeds in ornamental settings adjacent to Bermuda turf, enabling clean edges and well-maintained borders without harming the turf itself.
Atticus Empero Nutsedge Killer For Established Lawns
Empero contains a high concentration of halosulfuron-methyl (75%), targeting tough nutsedge infestations common in lawns and landscape turf. It moves through the root zone for comprehensive top-to-bottom control, and is suitable for nearly any established warm- or cool-season turf, including Bermuda grass. This makes Empero a robust option for nutgrass management in Bermuda turf settings where nutsedge is a frequent problem.
When applying Empero, consider the severity of the nutsedge population, turf health, and surrounding ornamentals. Proper timing and calibration ensure effective suppression while minimizing impact on desirable grasses. Empero provides a reliable approach for nutsedge control in established Bermuda lawns and landscape areas where sustained weed suppression is needed.
Hi-Yield Grass Killer Postemergence
Hi-Yield Grass Killer is a selective post-emergent herbicide that targets grass growth while safe to use around vegetables, gardens, trees, shrubs, and ornamentals when applied as directed. It helps stop the growth of weed grasses within a short timeframe, providing an option for targeted grass suppression in mixed plantings. This product can be a fit for Bermuda systems where over-the-top or adjacent ornamental areas require grass-specific control without broad-spectrum impact on desirable plants.
As with other selective herbicides, follow label instructions for rate and timing to optimize results and protect non-target plants. Hi-Yield offers a practical choice for gardeners seeking a straightforward post-emergence solution to manage grasses in non-lawn sections of Bermuda landscapes.
Monterey Spurge Power For Broadleaf Weeds
Spurge Power offers effective broadleaf weed control, including dandelions, oxalis, clover, and other common lawn nuisances. It is suitable for warm and cool-season lawns, including Bermuda grass, and provides flexibility for treating both early and established weeds. While primarily a broadleaf option, it complements selective grass herbicides by addressing broadleaf invaders that can compete with Bermuda turf.
For Bermuda lawn management, Spurge Power is best used as part of a broader weed-control plan that addresses both grasses and broadleaf weeds. Assess the weed spectrum in your landscape to determine whether combining a grass-selective product with a broadleaf herbicide yields the most comprehensive results.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations For Bermuda Grass
- Weed spectrum: Identify the dominant weeds in your Bermuda lawn (grass invaders like crabgrass, nutsedge, or broadleaf weeds) and select a product with proven efficacy against those species.
- Application timing: Post-emergence products work best when weeds are actively growing. Pre-emergence options protect future weed sprouts but may not provide immediate control.
- Turf and ornamentals safety: If your landscape includes ornamentals or beds adjacent to Bermuda turf, choose products labeled for safe use around ornamentals or those with selective turf action only.
- Over-the-top vs. in-turfic applications: Over-the-top products are designed to target weeds without harming ornamentals, but require careful drift control. In-turf applications focus on established turf but may limit ornamental use.
- Mixing and equipment: Follow label directions for mixing ratios, carrier volumes, and spray equipment. Use appropriate nozzles and calibrate sprayers to avoid drift and ensure uniform coverage.
- Rainfast and weather: Consider products with rainfast times to minimize wash-off and to maintain efficacy after rain events. Flexible scheduling can improve weed control outcomes in unpredictable weather.
- Long-term management: Combine selective herbicides with proper mowing height, irrigation, and cultural practices to maintain healthy Bermuda turf and reduce weed pressure over time.
In practice, selecting a single product may not address all weed challenges in Bermuda grass. A combination approach—targeting grassy weeds with a grass-selective herbicide and addressing broadleaf weeds with a complementary broadleaf herbicide—often yields the best overall turf health. Always refer to the product label for specific usage instructions, safety precautions, and compatibility with Bermuda grass varieties in your region.