Two basic types of herbicides kill mature bermudagrass (wire grass):
- Grass-selective herbicides that only eradicate plants in the grass family (Poaceae)
- Nonselective herbicides that destroy most plant species
Some of the best grass selective herbicides include Grass Getter with the active ingredient sethoxydim, Ornamec and Grass-B-Gon with fluazifop, and Envoy with clethodim. Apply in early spring when growth is less than 6 inches in length and then again before regrowth reaches 6 inches again. Product labels dictate the total amount that can be used per year per area.
Apply nonselective herbicide like Roundup with glyphosate in late summer to bermudagrass that hasn’t been mowed for at least 2 to 3 weeks. Wait 7 days after application before mowing your lawn.
If treating bermudagrass yourself fails, call a local lawncare specialist. Tribute Total is a new herbicide on the market used for post-emergent treatment of the stubborn grass.