COARSE FESCUE KILLER FOR LAWNS
Kill Coarse Fescue Without Killing the Desirable Grass
Coarse tall fescue is a thick-bladed perennial grass that usually grows in clumps in the middle of a lawn. Until 2024, tall fescue was not selectively controllable and could only be killed with a non-selective spray like Glyphosate. Fortunately, there is a now an option to kill the coarse bladed grasses without killing the desirable grasses with a product called Tenacity.
How to Control Coarse Tall Fescue
The process is back-to-back-to-back applications using a special weed control called Tenacity. We have found that we can achieve a 50-90%+ control rate. Higher control rates occur on the grasses that look more like field grasses. The lesser control rates occur on grasses that look more like turf grasses. Basically, if the coarse grasses are a hybrid of coarse grass and turf grass the control rate will decrease.
These three applications are done about 7-12 days apart. Tenacity for control of coarse tall fescue and brome grass will post-emergently control these grasses including the root system via a spot treatment application. The active ingredient in Tenacity, Mesotrione, will restrict photosynthesis by inhibiting a plant enzyme called HPPD. It also prevents carotenoid formation in susceptible plants. Without this carotenoid formation, chlorophyll and cell membranes are destroyed, and the grass will turn white or bleached with resulting death of the plant. After the application is absorbed by the plant, the white blades will appear in 2-3 weeks.
Coarse Fescue Growing In a Lawn in Boulder
Click on image to enlarge.
Coarse Fescue Killer that Works
- Because there are hundreds of varieties, we can’t guarantee control of all fescues and other grasses, but we have found that the closer the grass looks to a field grass the better control we get.
- This spray is only used as a spot treatment for clumps of grasses in an existing lawn, but not a lawn full of these grasses.
- Coarse fescue is a thick-bladed perennial grass that is dark green, very drought tolerant, and grows in the lawn all year long.
- Brome grass / pasture grasses are lighter colored thick-bladed grasses that are often seen in native areas and pastures. When they move into a lawn they can be seen all year long.
Coarse tall fescues / brome grasses / pasture grasses can be selectively controlled with back-to-back-to-back applications using a special application technique and a product called Tenacity.
If you have coarse tall fescue, brome or pasture grasses growing in your Boulder or Fort Collins area lawn, call Organo-Lawn today and schedule an application to kill those grasses.
Coarse Tall Fescue Growing In a Lawn in Fort Collins
Application Season:
Anytime that the grass is actively growing. This can be as early as April to the end of September.
Tenacity Information
Coarse Fescue and Brome treatment Information Sheets
Tenacity herbicide is registered with the EPA by BASF, EPA reg. #100-1267. This post-emergent coarse fescue treatment is also registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Schedule a Coarse Fescue Clump Treatment
If you have any questions about what Tenacity post-emergent coarse fescue killer can do for your lawn, Call Organo-Lawn today to schedule coarse fescue application at (303) 499-2000 in Boulder or (970) 225-9425 in Fort Collins.