Selective Herbicides Safe for Zoysiagrass Lawns (2026 EPA Label Guide)
Agronomic Safety Summary for Zoysiagrass
Established Zoysiagrass bridges warm- and cool-season chemistry, safely tolerating Celsius WG, Certainty, Quinclorac, SpeedZone, TZone SE, Atrazine, SedgeHammer+, and Acclaim Extra.
While Zoysia tolerates a wide spectrum of herbicides, avoid Mesotrione (Tenacity) and Topramezone (Pylex) during active summer growth due to prolonged white foliar bleaching.
1. Herbicides Labeled SAFE for Broadcast Application on Zoysiagrass
| Brand Name & EPA Reg. | Active Ingredient & Group | Safe Temp Range (°F) | Surfactant & Mixing Notes | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive XLR8 EPA Reg. 7969-272 |
Quinclorac 18.92% Group 4 (Synthetic Auxin / Quinoline Carboxylic Acid) |
60°F – 85°F Rainfast: 1h |
Requires Methylated Seed Oil (MSO) surfactant at 1.5 tbsp (0.75 fl oz) per gallon of water for effective cuticle penetration on multi-tiller crabgrass. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| SedgeHammer+ EPA Reg. 81880-24-10163 |
Halosulfuron-methyl 5% Group 2 (ALS Inhibitor / Sulfonylurea) |
60°F – 90°F Rainfast: 4h |
SedgeHammer+ single-scoop pouches already contain a built-in non-ionic surfactant. If using bulk SedgeHammer 75WG, add 2 tsp NIS per gallon. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| SpeedZone Lawn Weed Killer EPA Reg. 2217-833 |
2,4-D 28.57%, Mecoprop-p 5.88%, Dicamba 1.71%, Carfentrazone-ethyl 0.62% Group 4 + Group 14 (Synthetic Auxins + PPO Inhibitor) |
50°F – 85°F Rainfast: 3h |
Do NOT add surfactant. Adding NIS or MSO increases ester volatility and causes severe contact burn on desirable cool-season turf. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| TZone SE EPA Reg. 2217-920 |
Triclopyr 7.72%, 2,4-D 29.36%, Dicamba 2.22%, Sulfentrazone 0.66% Group 4 + Group 14 (Pyridine Auxin + Phenoxy + PPO Inhibitor) |
50°F – 80°F Rainfast: 3h |
Do NOT mix with surfactant when temperatures exceed 75°F. In cool spring or fall conditions (55°F–70°F), 0.5 tsp NIS per gallon improves waxy leaf penetration on Wild Violet. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Celsius WG EPA Reg. 432-1507 |
Thiencarbazone-methyl 8.7%, Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium 1.9%, Dicamba 57.4% Group 2 + Group 4 (ALS Inhibitors + Benzoic Acid Auxin) |
65°F – 95°F Rainfast: 4h |
Apply with Non-Ionic Surfactant (NIS) at 1 tsp per gallon of water. Specifically engineered not to stunt warm-season turf during summer heat up to 95°F. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Certainty Turf Herbicide EPA Reg. 59639-138 |
Sulfosulfuron 75% Group 2 (ALS Inhibitor / Sulfonylurea) |
60°F – 90°F Rainfast: 3h |
Mandatory Non-Ionic Surfactant (NIS) at 1 tsp (0.25% v/v) per gallon of water. Frequently tank-mixed with Celsius WG for complete southern weed control. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Image Kills Nutsedge EPA Reg. 228-719 |
Imazaquin 3.3% Group 2 (ALS Inhibitor / Imidazolinone) |
65°F – 90°F Rainfast: 6h |
Ready-to-mix liquid formulation contains surfactant; additional NIS is not required for standard broadcast or spot treatments. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Hi-Yield Atrazine Weed Killer EPA Reg. 34911-15-7401 |
Atrazine 40.8% Group 5 (Photosystem II Inhibitor / Triazine) |
50°F – 85°F Rainfast: 6h |
Do NOT add surfactant when spraying actively growing St. Augustine or Centipede above 80°F to avoid foliar yellowing. Irrigate lightly within 48 hours for root uptake. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Acclaim Extra EPA Reg. 432-950 |
Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 6.59% Group 1 (ACCase Inhibitor) |
60°F – 85°F Rainfast: 1h |
Add Non-Ionic Surfactant (NIS) at 0.5 tsp per gallon only when targeting mature multi-tiller Goosegrass or Japanese Stiltgrass. Never tank-mix with 2,4-D (causes antagonism). | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
| Barricade 4FL (Prodiamine 65 WDG) EPA Reg. 100-1139 |
Prodiamine 40.7% (or 65% WDG) Group 3 (Microtubule Assembly Inhibitor / Dinitroaniline) |
45°F – 90°F Rainfast: 0h |
Pre-emergent soil barrier: do NOT use foliar surfactant. Must be watered in with 0.5 inches of irrigation or rainfall within 14 days of application to activate. | Check Price at DoMyOwn View on Amazon |
2. Conditional / Restricted Herbicides for Zoysiagrass (Use With Caution)
| Herbicide | Active Ingredient | Restriction Status | Agronomic Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenacity | Mesotrione 40% | DAMAGE RISK | Always apply with Non-Ionic Surfactant (NIS) at 1 tsp (5 mL) per gallon of water for post-emergent applications. Causes temporary white bleaching on susceptible weeds and turf tips. |
| Pylex Herbicide | Topramezone 29.7% | DAMAGE RISK | Must be applied with Methylated Seed Oil (MSO) at 1 to 1.5 tsp per gallon of water. Tank-mixing with Triclopyr Ester reduces white bleaching and speeds up Bermudagrass and Goosegrass mortality. |