Post-Emergent Herbicides for Bermuda Lawns

For Bermuda lawns only · Broadleaf and grassy weeds you can see now

BMP Bermuda

You’ve used the broadleaf weed ID guide to identify the weed in your Bermuda lawn (including its germination and seed timing), and you’ve confirmed it’s visible now.

Here’s how to treat it.

Always read and follow the product label. The label is your trusted source for rates and directions.

Separate guides for St. Augustine, Zoysia, and fescue lawns are coming soon.

Section 1

Broadleaf Weeds in Bermuda

8 Steps to Better Broadleaf Control

Selective vs. Non-Selective

Selective herbicides kill broadleaf weeds and leave your Bermuda alone.

Non-selective herbicides kill everything they touch, including your grass.

For broadleaf weeds in Bermuda, you want a selective herbicide.

Mode of Action

Mode of action is how the chemical moves through the plant.

Mode of action depends on what herbicide we use.

Treat Weeds While They’re Young

Spray weeds while they are young and tender, not after they are mature. Young weeds are much easier to control.

Mixing a One-Gallon Sprayer

Add a half gallon of fresh, good-quality water first.
Add the exact herbicide dose listed on the label.
Put the lid on and shake well.
Add the remaining water.

Always Add a Surfactant

A surfactant breaks the surface tension of water. That lets the spray spread out across the leaf instead of beading up and rolling off.

Spraying Technique

Hold the wand 12 to 18 inches off the ground and aim for about an 8-inch, dinner-plate-sized spray pattern.

See a stream? It’s too heavy. Even a selective herbicide can discolor or hurt Bermuda when it’s applied too heavily.

Spray in the Morning

Spray in the morning, not the afternoon. At dawn the plant is drinking from its roots, which helps pull the herbicide into the plant.

Don’t Mow Right Before Spraying

Mow Saturday, spray Wednesday.

The goal is maximum leaf tissue on the plant, and keeping the herbicide on the plant as long as possible before the next mow.

Then return to your regular MWF (Mow, Water, Feed) routine and mow again.

Mowing is the single most important part of MWF, always with a very sharp blade.

Section 2

Grassy Weeds in Bermuda

Grassy post-emergent herbicides are used to control grassy weeds that are already visible above the soil. They do not prevent weeds and do not replace a pre-emergent program.

What Control Depends On

Turf species
Whether the grassy weed is annual or perennial
Growth stage
Temperature and turf health

Match the Weed to the Level

Good: young annual grasses
Better: mature annual grasses
Best: perennial grasses and resistant weeds

Correct identification comes before product choice.

Perennial Grasses Take Time

Perennial grassy weeds are not quick fixes. Control takes time, repeat applications, and strong turf competition.

Common Reasons Control Fails

Waiting too long to spray
Misidentifying annual vs. perennial grasses
Skipping adjuvants
Spraying stressed turf
Poor mowing and irrigation practices

Need Help With Your Weeds?

Stop by BES-TEX or give us a call. We’re glad to help you pick the right product and get it on right.

Call 325.653.1300