How to Kill Yellow Foxtail in Kentucky Bluegrass Without Hurting Your Lawn
Direct Agronomic Answer
To selectively kill Yellow Foxtail in Kentucky Bluegrass without damaging your turf, apply Drive XLR8 (Quinclorac 18.92%), Acclaim Extra (Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 6.59%) when air temperatures are between 60°F and 85°F.
Pair Quinclorac with MSO surfactant. Mesotrione (Tenacity) also provides post-emergent control in cool-season lawns.
1. Labeled Safe Herbicides That Kill Yellow Foxtail in Kentucky Bluegrass
| Recommended Product | Active Ingredient & Group | Application Temp (°F) | Surfactant & Mixing Protocol | 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 |
| 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 |
| Pylex Herbicide EPA Reg. 7969-327 |
Topramezone 29.7% Group 27 (HPPD Inhibitor / Pyrazolone) |
55°F – 85°F Rainfast: 1h |
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. | 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 |
3. Optimal Seasonal Timing & Temperature Thresholds
Apply pre-emergents in spring with crabgrass timing, or spray post-emergents when tillers have 2 to 4 leaves in early summer.
Spraying before seedheads emerge prevents seed bank accumulation.
4. Diagnostic Checklist: Confirm It Is Yellow Foxtail Before Spraying
- Dense, bushy, cylindrical 'foxtail' seedheads with yellow to golden-brown bristles
- Long, soft hairs on the upper surface of the leaf blade near the base
- Stems often distinctly flattened and reddish-purple at the soil line
Not 100% sure? Use our AI Photo Weed Scanner or review the full Yellow Foxtail Botanical Profile.