5 Best Selective Herbicides For Bermuda Grass Control Old Farmers Trust
Discover 5 farmer-trusted selective herbicides to control invasive Bermuda grass. Learn how to target this tough weed without harming your desired lawn.
You’ve spent weeks preparing a new garden bed, only to see thin, wiry runners of Bermuda grass snake their way in from the lawn. It’s a familiar and frustrating sight for anyone trying to cultivate a piece of land. Winning the battle against this tenacious grass isn’t about working harder; it’s about working smarter with the right tools for the job.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Understanding the Challenge of Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass isn’t like most common weeds you can pull by hand. Its survival strategy is based on a two-pronged attack: underground rhizomes and above-ground stolons. This network of runners means that pulling the visible part of the plant often leaves the root system intact, ready to sprout again with a vengeance.
This aggressive growth habit is why non-selective herbicides like glyphosate, while effective, are often a poor choice for established areas. Killing the Bermuda also means killing everything around it, creating a barren patch that the Bermuda is often the first to recolonize. The real solution lies in selective herbicides—chemicals designed to target specific types of plants while leaving others unharmed.
Choosing the right selective herbicide is entirely dependent on where the Bermuda grass is growing. A product that works wonders in a fescue lawn could decimate a vegetable garden, and a chemical safe for ornamental beds might be useless in a Zoysia lawn. Understanding the specific situation is the first and most important step.
Ornamec 170: For Garden & Ornamental Beds
When Bermuda grass invades your flower beds and ornamental plantings, Ornamec 170 is a go-to solution. It’s what’s known as an "over-the-top" grass killer. This means you can spray it directly over a long list of established broadleaf plants, shrubs, and trees without harming them, while it specifically targets and kills the unwanted grass.
The active ingredient, Fluazifop-P-butyl, works by inhibiting an enzyme found only in grasses. This is why it can be so selective. After application, the Bermuda grass will stop growing, slowly turn yellow, and die off over a period of one to three weeks. It’s not an instant kill, which is a good thing—it shows the chemical is working its way through the entire plant, including the rhizomes.
The key to success with Ornamec is patience and proper application. It works best when the Bermuda is young and actively growing, not when it’s stressed from drought or heat. Always mix it with the recommended surfactant (a sticking agent) to help the product adhere to the waxy blades of the grass, ensuring maximum absorption.
Fusilade II: A Pro-Grade Bermuda Solution
Think of Fusilade II as the more potent cousin to Ornamec. It contains the same active ingredient (Fluazifop-P-butyl) but is often available in a higher concentration and is a favorite among landscape professionals for its consistent results. For a hobby farmer dealing with a severe infestation in large ornamental areas, stepping up to Fusilade II can be a worthwhile investment.
Because of its strength, reading the label is non-negotiable. While it is safe for an extensive list of ornamentals, there are some exceptions. You must verify that your specific plants are tolerant before you spray. This is a tool that demands precision, not guesswork.
Fusilade II is particularly effective for site preparation. If you’re clearing a large, overgrown area that you plan to convert into garden beds, it can selectively remove the Bermuda and other grasses without leaving long-lasting residual effects in the soil that would harm future plantings. It’s a powerful tool for reclaiming ground from invasive grasses.
Turflon Ester Ultra: For Use in Fescue Lawns
Seeing Bermuda grass creep into a lush, cool-season lawn like tall fescue is disheartening. Here, the challenge is killing one type of grass without harming another. Turflon Ester Ultra, with the active ingredient Triclopyr, is specifically formulated for this difficult task.
Triclopyr works by suppressing the Bermuda grass, gradually weakening it over time and allowing the more desirable fescue to dominate. This is not a one-and-done solution. It requires multiple applications throughout the growing season, typically starting in the spring as the Bermuda greens up. The goal is suppression and eventual elimination through competition.
The tradeoff is that you may see some temporary discoloration in your fescue, but it will typically recover. The key is to apply it at the right temperature—not during the peak heat of summer—and to follow a program. Combine the chemical application with good lawn care practices, like mowing high and watering deeply, to give your fescue every advantage.
Certainty: For Zoysia & Other Warm-Season Turf
What if your problem is Bermuda grass invading another warm-season turf, like Zoysia or Centipede? This is one of the toughest selective control challenges. Certainty Herbicide (active ingredient: Sulfosulfuron) is one of the few products that can effectively target Bermuda grass within these other desirable warm-season lawns.
Certainty works by being more effective on Bermuda than it is on Zoysia or other labeled turf types. As with Turflon Ester in fescue, this is a multi-application process that requires patience. You apply it at a specific rate that damages the Bermuda while causing only minimal, temporary yellowing to the Zoysia. Over the course of a season or two, the Bermuda is significantly reduced.
This is an advanced application that requires careful measurement and timing. It’s a prime example of why reading and following the label is paramount. Used correctly, it can save a Zoysia lawn from a Bermuda takeover. Used incorrectly, it can cause unintended damage.
Poast Herbicide: A Classic for Vegetable Plots
For the vegetable gardener, Poast Herbicide is an indispensable tool. Its active ingredient, Sethoxydim, is a grass-specific killer that is safe to use over the top of a vast number of broadleaf vegetables, fruits, and herbs. This means you can spray a patch of beans, potatoes, or tomatoes that has been overrun with Bermuda grass and kill the grass without harming your crop.
The list of tolerant plants is extensive, but you must always check the label for your specific crop. More importantly, the label will specify the Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI), which is the number of days you must wait between spraying and harvesting. This is a critical food safety measure.
Poast is most effective on young, actively growing grasses. It’s an excellent tool for cleaning up rows after your vegetables have become established. For a hobby farmer with limited time for weeding, a carefully timed application of Poast can be the difference between a productive garden and one choked out by grass.
Proper Mixing, Application, and Safety Tips
Using these products effectively and safely comes down to a few core principles. First, always read and follow the entire label. It contains critical information on mixing rates, compatible plants, and required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Second, most of these herbicides require the use of a non-ionic surfactant or crop oil concentrate. This is a sticking agent that helps the chemical break the surface tension of water and cling to the waxy leaf of the Bermuda grass. Without it, your application will be far less effective as the product will simply bead up and roll off.
Finally, think about application strategy.
- Timing: Spray when the target grass is actively growing and not stressed by heat or drought, typically in the morning after the dew has dried.
- Equipment: Use a dedicated sprayer for herbicides that is clearly labeled to avoid accidental application of weed killer to sensitive plants.
- Safety: At a minimum, wear chemical-resistant gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection. Your health is more important than any weed.
Beyond Spraying: Long-Term Bermuda Management
Chemicals are a powerful tool, but they are not a complete strategy. The most successful long-term control of Bermuda grass involves integrating chemical use with smart cultural practices. The goal is to create an environment where Bermuda grass struggles to compete.
In garden and ornamental beds, this means using deep layers of mulch (wood chips or straw) to smother new growth and prevent seeds from germinating. Installing a deep physical barrier, like metal or heavy plastic edging that goes down at least 6-8 inches, can also stop the runners from invading from adjacent lawn areas.
In lawns, the best defense is a healthy, dense stand of the desired turf. This means mowing at the correct height for your grass type, watering deeply but infrequently to encourage deep roots, and fertilizing appropriately. A thick lawn leaves no room for Bermuda to get a foothold. Herbicides can help you get there, but good stewardship will keep you there.
Ultimately, controlling Bermuda grass is a long-term commitment, not a single event. By choosing the right selective herbicide for your specific situation and combining it with sound land management practices, you can reclaim your beds and lawns from this persistent invader.
