Maintaining a lush, healthy lawn is a process. Whether you lay sod or plant grass seed, achieving a stunning lawn isn’t easy. However, when it’s all said and done, the result is worth it. Well, until weeds begin crowding your once-pristine yard.
So, now you have an extra problem on your hands: getting rid of the problematic weeds. Perhaps you decide on Tenacity but aren’t sure what the application protocol is. If that sounds like your situation, we’re here to help, so stick around.
What Is Tenacity?
Tenacity is an herbicide used to kill weeds invading your lawn, garden, or flower beds. It offers pre- and post-emergent control of various weeds, including dozens of broadleaf weed and grass species. A few of the species Tenacity takes care of include:
- Crabgrass (sometimes called watergrass)
- Yellow nutsedge (also called watergrass)
- Ground ivy
- Yellow foxtail
- Unwanted bentgrass
In order to achieve the desired results, you need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to a tee, which includes applying the herbicide during the proper time frame.
How Does It Work?
The workings of Tenacity are reasonably straightforward. While we could get scientific and explain the ins and outs of the process, we’ll keep it simple. The product features an active ingredient called Mesotrione, which suppresses weed growth by disrupting photosynthesis.
When you use Tenacity as a pre-emergent, the weeds absorb the product as they emerge from the soil. After absorption, the plants die shortly after that.
When using Tenacity as a post-emergent, the weeds absorb the product through foliar contact. Again, after the plant absorbs the solution, it dies. The plant usually dies within a few weeks, usually between two and three weeks.
In some scenarios, a second application may be necessary later on.
When Should You Spray Your Yard With Tenacity?
Fall and spring are the best times to apply Tenacity to your yard. The air temperatures are right within range at these points, so the application will be the most successful. Air temperatures should not exceed 80 degrees.
If you’re using Tenacity as a pre-emergent, apply it before the soil temperatures reach 55 degrees. When you’re using it as a post-emergent, try to apply it to the weeds when they’re young, actively growing, and healthy.
When Should I Spray Tenacity In The Spring?
Spring is one of the best times to spray Tenacity. The same rules apply – ensure the air temperatures don’t exceed 80 degrees. If you’re using it as a pre-emergent, the soil temperatures shouldn’t be higher than 55 degrees.
Generally, early spring is the best time to apply Tenacity, as the air and ground temperatures are still within range. If you wait until mid-to-late spring, you risk higher temperatures that could compromise the effectiveness of the solution.
How To Apply Tenacity Herbicide
The application process hinges on the way you use the herbicide. If you’re using Tenacity as a pre-emergent, the process looks somewhat different than the post-emergence process. The end result is the same, but getting there is different.
Application For Pre-Emergence
Tenacity is an excellent pre-emergent. You’ll need to use about 0.11 to 0.18 ounces of herbicide per gallon per 1,000 square feet, but you’ll need considerably less if you’re using it as a spot treatment. Follow the product label for specific mixing instructions.
Don’t add a non-ionic surfactant, as it’s unnecessary in pre-emergent applications. Once you apply the solution to troubled areas, water it immediately with 0.15 inches of irrigation or rainfall.
Avoid applying Tenacity to newly germinated grass plants. Wait at least 30 days after seed germination or 2-3 mowings, whichever one takes longer.
Application For Post-Emergence
The rules for applying Tenacity as a post-emergent look considerably different. Unlike the pre-emergence process, you shouldn’t water in this case. The herbicide should be rainfast within an hour of application, but you should use a non-ionic surfactant for best results.
Don’t water the area for at least six hours after applying the solution. Additionally, pick a clear day without expected rainfall. The herbicide needs plenty of time to stick, dry, and penetrate the plant. Water can disrupt this process, so try to avoid that.
The same ratio applies – use between 0.11 and 0.18 ounces of Tenacity per gallon per 1,000 square feet. Add 1 ½ teaspoons of a non-ionic surfactant. A few drops of food coloring or turf coloring agent may be helpful to mark areas you’ve already sprayed. Remember to follow the label for specific mixing and application instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Should I Spray Tenacity On My Entire Lawn?
Unless you’re renovating or reseeding your entire lawn, you should avoid applying Tenacity to the whole thing. If you need to kill only a few weeds here and there, target those areas specifically.
Tenacity works well as a spot treatment, but you technically can use it for broadcast applications (entire lawn). Broadcast applications may cause the whitening of some turf grasses, which can cause your lawn to take on an unhealthy appearance.
How Long Is Tenacity’s Shelf Life?
Tenacity herbicide lasts quite a while in its concentrated form. It’ll last 3 to 5 years as long as it’s stored in its original bottle and remains unmixed. Once you mix the solution in a pump sprayer, you should use it within 24 hours.
How Do I Mix Tenacity Herbicide?
To prepare your Tenacity herbicide, you’ll need a few things. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Tenacity
- Water
- Non-ionic surfactant
- Food coloring or turf coloring agent
It’s essential to follow the directions on the product label. You’ll mix the herbicide with water and a non-ionic surfactant, which helps the mixture cling to the plants. Food coloring or turf coloring agents are recommended to mark areas where you’ve sprayed clearly. This helps ensure you don’t layer thick coatings of the herbicide on the weeds.
However, if you’re using Tenacity as a pre-emergent, you won’t need to add the non-ionic surfactant or food coloring since the weeds haven’t emerged yet.
Will Tenacity Kill All Weeds?
No, Tenacity is a selective herbicide, which means the solution won’t kill any plant it comes into contact with. Non-selective herbicides kill anything they come into contact with, including your grass, but Tenacity isn’t one of them.
It’s essential to pay attention to the product label and only use Tenacity in the proper applications. For example, Tenacity is specifically used for certain warm-season and cool-season turfgrass species, including:
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Buffalograss
- Tall Fescue
- Fine Fescue
- Perennial Ryegrass
However, certain types of grasses are sensitive to Tenacity applications. A few of these grasses include:
- Poa annua
- Bentgrass
- Bermudagrass
- Seashore paspalum
- Zoysiagrass
- Kikuyugrass