Yellow Foxtail (Setaria pumila): Identification & Selective Herbicide Matrix
Quick Agronomic Summary
Quinclorac (Drive XLR8) at 0.75 lb ai/A or Fenoxaprop (Acclaim Extra) kills Yellow Foxtail between 60°F and 85°F.
- Diagnostic Marker 1: Dense, bushy, cylindrical 'foxtail' seedheads with yellow to golden-brown bristles
- Diagnostic Marker 2: Long, soft hairs on the upper surface of the leaf blade near the base
- Diagnostic Marker 3: Stems often distinctly flattened and reddish-purple at the soil line
What herbicide kills Yellow Foxtail in grass?
Quinclorac (Drive XLR8) at 0.75 lb ai/A or Fenoxaprop (Acclaim Extra) kills Yellow Foxtail between 60°F and 85°F.
Pair Quinclorac with MSO surfactant. Mesotrione (Tenacity) also provides post-emergent control in cool-season lawns.
When should you treat Yellow Foxtail?
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.
EPA-Registered Herbicides Labeled for Yellow Foxtail
The table below compares all selective herbicides in our database that control Yellow Foxtail, including active ingredient groups, application temperature limits (°F), and surfactant requirements.
| Brand Name & EPA Reg. | Active Ingredient & WSSA Group | Temp Window (°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 |
Turfgrass Compatibility Matrix for Yellow Foxtail Herbicides
Always verify that your chosen herbicide is safe for your specific lawn grass before broadcast spraying:
| Herbicide | KBG | Tall Fescue | Ryegrass | Bermuda | St. Aug | Zoysia | Centipede | Bahia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive XLR8 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID | SAFE | AVOID | AVOID |
| Acclaim Extra | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID | AVOID | SAFE | AVOID | AVOID |
| Pylex Herbicide | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | AVOID | AVOID | DAMAGE RISK | SAFE | AVOID |
| Barricade 4FL (Prodiamine 65 WDG) | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE |
How to Distinguish Yellow Foxtail from Lookalike Weeds
| Lookalike Species | Key Botanical & Diagnostic Difference |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass | Foxtail has a thick bottle-brush cylindrical spike, whereas Crabgrass has finger-like spikes radiating from a common axis. |