It is important when choosing a herbicide (weed killer) that you choose one for it’s intended use. Herbicides generally fall under two categories.
- Total Herbicides – These herbicides kill everything they come into contact with, both grass and broad-leaved weeds. They are not suitable for lawns, as we just want to control the weeds, not everything.
- Selective Herbicides – These herbicides target and control the broad-leaved weeds e.g. speedwell, clover, daisies, selfheal etc. in the lawn, whilst leaving the grass unharmed, which is our aim. A selective herbicide should be used for weed control in turf.
Most selective weed killers contain two of more chemicals (active ingredients), to help control a broader spectrum of turf weeds. One chemical might be effective against certain weeds and be ineffective against others. For this reason most products contain more than one ingredient, which enables them control a wider range of weeds.
The following table helps with choosing a suitable product to control the weeds causing problems in your lawn. Most common lawn weeds are covered.
Daisy Bellis perennisRecommended Herbicides (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys , ICL Esteron , Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Blaster, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar.
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Usually controlled with a single application, but sometimes a follow up treatment is required.
Dandelion Taraxacum officianaleRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Usually controlled with a single application, but sometimes a follow up treatment is required.
White Clover Trifolium repensRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer
Ease of Control: In most instances a single application should be enough to control white clover.
Red Clover Trifolium pratenseRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer
Ease of Control: Red clover is usually controlled with a single application, but sometimes a follow up treatment is required.
Lesser Trefoil or Yellow Suckling Clover Trifolium dubiumRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer
Ease of Control: Lesser Trefoil is usually controlled with a single application, but sometimes a follow up treatment is required as it can be more stubborn than other clovers.
Birds-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatusRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer
Ease of Control: Birds-foot Trefoil is usually controlled with a single application, but a follow up treatment may be required.
Slender Speedwell Veronica filiformisRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Praxys, Barclay Holster, Headland Cabadex, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate
Ease of Control: Slender speedwell is a very difficult weed to control. In almost all cases more than one application will be required, even then success may be limited.
Germander Speedwell Veronica chameadrysRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Praxys, Barclay Holster, Headland Cabadex, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate
Ease of Control: Germander speedwell is a very difficult weed to control. In almost all cases more than one application will be required, even then success may be limited.
Greater Plantain Plantago majorRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Greater plantain is not a difficult weed to control and a single application should suffice.
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolataRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Ribwort plantain is not a difficult weed to control and a single application should suffice.
Buckshorn Plantain Plantago coronopusRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Buckshorn plantain is not a difficult weed to control and a single application should suffice.
Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium vulgatumRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Mouse-ear chickweed is susceptible to most herbicides and a single application should suffice.
Common Chickweed Stellaria mediaRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Common Chickweed is very susceptible to most herbicides and a single application should suffice. This weed is normally a problem on new lawns and will disappear once regular mowing commences.
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repensRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Creeping Buttercup is susceptible to most herbicides and a single application should suffice.
Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosusRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Bulbous buttercup can be more stubborn than creeping buttercup and more than one treatment may be required.
Field Buttercup or Crowfoot Ranunculus acrisRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Field buttercup can be quite stubborn and more than one treatment may be required for effective control.
Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficariaRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear
Ease of Control: Very difficult to control. Aim to treat early, March or April when the leaves are fully developed. A follow up treatment/s will be required before his weed disappears again in May. Use a selective weed killer that contains MCPA for the best results.
Yarrow Achillia millefoliumRecommended Herbicides: ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Yarrow is a difficult weed to control. In most cases more than one application will be required. Encourage healthy turf, with good lawn care practices, to help discourage yarrow.
Selfheal Prunella vulgarisRecommended Herbicides: (Professional use) ICL Enforcer, ICL Praxys, ICL Esteron, Barclay Holster, Headland Quickfire, Headland Cabadex, Hygrass-P, Hysward-P, Bayer Longbow, Mascot Junction Turf, Mascot Greenor, Mascot Crossbar
(Non-professional use) Weedol Concentrate, Vitax lawn Clear, Resolva Lawn Weed Killer.
Ease of Control: Selfheal is not a difficult weed to control and a single application should suffice.