Lawn care operators can now gain the advantage over tenacious cool-season turfgrass weeds - with the option of same-day seeding.

You thought your spray technicians were doing a fine job this season. But then you get the dreaded call. Your customer says the grass near sidewalks and boulevards is looking scrubby, and it's not up to standards.

Whether you maintain the grounds for a large business or provide lawn care to homeowners, weeds that plague cool-season turfgrasses seem to spring up from nowhere. Two of the most relentless culprits are Bermudagrass and goosegrass.

The good news: Recent herbicide discoveries - including a new active ingredient - are about to make your life as a lawn care operator a lot easier.

Formidable foes: Bermudagrass and goosegrass

Bermudagrass typically reaches the height of its growing power during midsummer. The problem arises when Bermudagrass and cool-season turf are growing together. The Bermudagrass becomes the dominant species because it can compete more successfully for light, nutrients, essential gases and water. It's one formidable foe.

If allowed to, this invasive grass will creep quickly. Patches of Bermudagrass can overtake your cool-season turf in little time, ruining the aesthetics of your carefully maintained landscape - and potentially undermining your reputation.

It's a slightly different story with goosegrass, a tenacious annual very similar to crabgrass. Goosegrass germinates later than crabgrass and has proven to be difficult to control with preemergent or postemergent herbicides. You'll find unsightly goosegrass clumps popping up in areas where soil is compacted or poorly drained.

A promising new herbicide option
Between Bermudagrass, goosegrass and the other enemies of cool-season turf - like crabgrass, nimblewill, clover and speedwell - lawn care operators have had few effective herbicide options to help them regain control of their turf. Until now.

One new herbicide developed by BASF - Pylex herbicide - is quickly becoming the standard for control of Bermudagrass and goosegrass in cool-season turf. With the active ingredient topramezone, it offers a powerful way to stop these invaders, and it won't interfere with your overseeding plans. Pylex herbicide is labeled for use on residential and commercial lawns, athletic fields, golf courses, and sod farms.

The postemergent herbicide is safe for most cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue and perennial ryegrass. In addition to unmatched control of Bermudagrass and goosegrass, Pylex herbicide controls a long list of broadleaf weeds, as well as crabgrass and nimblewill.

Weed and Seed
Pylex herbicide has shown excellent seeding flexibility, allowing seeding to occur any time during or after application. That means you or your technicians won't need to revisit a site after weed treatment for a follow-up reseeding regimen.

By applying Pylex herbicide the same day as seeding, you'll not only save multiple visits to the same site - you'll give your bottom line some breathing room, too.

Application tips
Two to three late-summer applications of Pylex herbicide, in combination with triclopyr, have been shown effective at controlling Bermudagrass and other pesky weeds on lawns, landscapes and fields. For best results, applications should be spaced three weeks apart. Pylex herbicide should be mixed with a crop oil concentrate or a methylated seed oil to improve product uptake, maximize coverage and reduce the chances of bleaching.

For goosegrass, a single application at the labeled rate provides reliable control at any growth stage.

Don't let cool-season turf invaders take control of your lawn care business. Now you've got a better way to ensure that that the grass is always greener – and weed-free - on your side of the fence.

Always read and follow label directions.
Pylex is a trademark of BASF.
©2013 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.