appearance either in the backyard or the front lawn. This type of grass is economical to grow, demands less attention in terms of care, and is tolerable to harsh climatic conditions. These attributes make it the most preferred grass for lawns.
All its accolades notwithstanding, centipede grass has one persistent foe that threatens its growth, magnificence, and, ultimately, its survival. Weeds! This calls for the application of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to exterminate these weeds. Lucky for gardeners, this articles discusses crucial points regarding herbicides including;
- The top 5 herbicides for centipede grass
- Pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides
- Herbicide application calendar for centipede grass
- How to effectively apply herbicides on your sod
The Top Five Herbicides for Centipede Grass
| Parameter | Ortho | Scotts WeedEx | Quali-Pro | The Andersons | Ortho Nutsedge Killer |
| Formulation | Liquid | Solid granules | Granular | Solid granules | Liquid |
| Application time (Season) | Spring, Summer, and Fall | Early spring and Fall | Spring and Fall | Early spring/Fall | All year long when weeds are >3 inches |
| Product Mass (pounds) | 2 and 8.33 | 10 | 5 | 18 | 2.35 |
| Coverage (Area in sq ft) | 16,000 and 64,000 | 5,000 | 145,000 | 5,800 | 5,000 |
| Types of weeds it kills | 250+ | Inhibits germination of multiple types of weeds | Prevents a wide range of weeds from germinating | Restricts the sprouting of multiple types of weeds | 50+ |
Ortho – Best Herbicide for Centipede Grass
Ortho is the fastest way to obliterate weed from your garden. With less than 24 hours turnaround time, this herbicide kills the herbs from the roots preventing it from regerminating. Equipped with a 1-gallon bottle of this herbicide, dandelions, clovers, and 250 other kinds of grass have no habitation in your greenery.
Its other advantage is its selectivity; it only acts on weeds leaving the centipedegrass perfectly healthy and green. Spraying enables you to target the weeds and only apply the herbicide where it is needed. Ortho is recommended for most grasses except floratam.
It becomes rainproof an hour after application making it irresistible to wash off by running water and is packed with a wand for accurately targeted application.
Pros
- Hastened weed removal
- Kills weeds from the roots preventing regrowth
- Kills over 250 species of weeds
- Resistant to wash off by water
Cons
- Not applicable to all grass species
Scotts WeedEX – Best Herbicide for Centipede Grass Used in Spring
Scotts WeedEX is ranked among the best pre-emergent herbicides for centipedegrass. It stops the weeds in their tracks before emerging among centipedegrass. This product effectively eliminates the menace of crabgrass when applied as spring commences and protects your lawn for the entire season.
Its’ weed destroying power extends to other herbs like oxalis, spurge, and the other broadleaf herbs. Gardeners are also free to use Scotts during the fall to prevent perennial weeds like poa annua and henbit. There is no discriminating in terms of grass types when it comes to Scotts except for dichondra and bentgrass.
Pros
- The best solution for crabgrass
- Protects the field all season long
- Friendly to centipede grass
- Can be applied with fertilizer and other herbicides
Cons
- Mechanized application process hence increasing the cost
Quali-Pro – Best Crabgrass Herbicide for Centipede Grass
Quali-Pro has 65% of prodiamone as the active ingredient, which aids in achieving its function of extirpating weeds. Similar to The Andersons, it is a pre-emergent. It inhibits the germination of a wide range of herbs. They include; foxtail, knotweed, chickweed, and crabgrass.
This product has been recommended as the best herbicide against crabgrass in centipede sods by consumers. The manufacturer ascertains its usage on landscapes, sports turfs, trees, and even golf courses. The perfect time for its application is in spring and fall.
These granules should be evenly spread on the turf for effective pest control; otherwise, the weeds will grow in patches in areas without the herbicide.
Pros
- Safe for potted plants
- Can be used alongside other herbicides
- Long shelf life
- Has vast field application
Cons
- Unsafe for pets and humans
The Andersons – Best Pre-emergent Herbicide for Centipede Grass
Barricade granular is a pre-emergent herbicide – this implies that it kills the weeds before they grow by inhibiting their germination. Therefore, it should be applied when anticipating the germination of the plants in early spring. This weed killer is supplied in a cheap 18 pounds packet, which covers 5,800 square feet.
Barricade needs activation after application either by irrigation or rainwater for the granules to dissolve and infiltrate the soil. It is a one-time application and should be applied when the soils’ temperature is approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Being pre-emergent, Barricade cannot kill already existing weeds. Also, it must be watered to be activated.
Pros
- Covers an extensive area
- Easy to apply
- Inhibits the germination of multiple types of weeds.
- Can be used to numerous application sites
Cons
- Requires watering for activation
- Cannot kill already grown weeds
Ortho Nutsedge Killer – Best Post-emergent Herbicide for Centipede Grass
Ortho Nutsedge Killer is a no-mix, ready to spray herbicide. It discerningly kills over 50 garden weeds without affecting your centipedegrass. The herbs on this product’s kill list include; nutgrass, pigweed, dandelion, and redroot. It is compatible with most of the Northern and the Southern grass types, making it the best post-emergence herbicide for centipedegrass, meaning it destroys the herbs as they grow.
Apply when weeds are approximately 3 inches long. For persistent weeds, a repeated application within a fortnight interval is recommended to achieve the best results. It can be applied throughout the entire year, irrespective of the season. As long as weeds can be sighted, employ the use of Ortho Nutsedge Killer, it is the best weed spray for centipede grass.
Unfortunately, Ortho Killer is unfriendly to flowers and other garden plants not listed on its compatibility label.
Pros
- Suitable for use all season long
- Achieves high accuracy spraying via a trigger sprayer
- Easy to use
- Kills a variety of weeds
Cons
- Unfriendly to flowers and other garden vegetation.
Buyer’s Guide
When to Use Weed Killer on Centipede Grass?
Most of the weeds start growing in early spring when the temperatures start rising. As the grass blooms, they also take advantage and camouflage, making them unnoticeable.
This is the prime time to apply a pre-emergent weed killer to stop the weeds that haven’t germinated yet. Herbs that would have already grown are supposed to be sprayed with a post-emergent herbicide.
What Weed Killer to Use in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Seasons for Centipede Grass?
Ortho and Scotts WeedEX can be applied all season long throughout the year. All the above five reviewed herbicides are commonly used during spring and fall, while Ortho extends its usage to the summer.
Which Herbicide Archives Quicker Results?
All herbicides work in record time to restore your lawn. However, Ortho herbicide has recorded an astonishingly efficient time. It is ranked the fastest in killing weeds, with its results being visible in less than 24 hours. All this is thanks to its technique of attacking the herbs’ roots, making them lose anchorage and preventing the uptake of water and minerals, leading to their eventual death.
Which Herbicide Formulation is the Best?
If the endgame is faster results, then liquid ready-to-use formulation is the best pick for you. This is so because it can be accurately administered to the affected area. Furthermore, it is readily absorbed into the soil hence reaching the affected area faster.
Solid is good but often preferred where time is not prioritized and also for administering over a large area of land.
How to determine the amount of herbicide needed for your lawn?
Most herbicides have estimated areas in square feet that they can cover. Conscious of this, all you need to do is determine the area of your sod then divide it by the approximate area covered by the herbicide of interest. The quotient will be an estimate of the amount of herbicide needed to treat your turf effectively.
FAQs
What type of pre-emergent herbicide should I use for bermuda and centipede grass?
Scotts WeedEX works effectively for both bermuda and centipedegrass.
What weed killer is safe for centipede grass?
Ortho, it kills the weeds without causing harm to the grass.
When to apply pre-emergent weed killer on centipede grass?
During the onset of the spring season.
How to kill lespedeza weed without killing centipede grass?
Use a selective centipede grass friendly post-emergent herbicide.
How to kill dollar weed in centipedegrass?
Use Ortho herbicide; it is compatible with centipedegrass.
Final Verdict
There exist multiple herbicides that work excellently on centipede grass. This article has only but reviewed the best five of them. There may be instances where the top-five won’t be able to help with the weed in your garden. Under such circumstances, conduct in-depth research and find out the best herbicide to destroy that weed. Most importantly, it must be centipedegrass tolerant.