Best nutsedge weed killer

Nutsedge, also called nut grass, is a tough summer weed that’s hard to get rid of. Even though it seems to die in winter, its strong roots stay alive underground. The most common type is yellow nutsedge, but there’s also purple nutsedge.

For every plant you see, there could be up to 18 more hiding underground roots, ready to grow next year. It’s a bright yellow-green color and looks like tall grass, but it grows much faster. After mowing, nutsedge quickly stands out by growing taller than your lawn.

To tackle nut grass, check out the 5 best nutsedge weed killer.

And Many Others: Certainty provides control for a wide range of other broadleaf weeds that can invade lawns and turfgrass areas including Chickweed, Henbit, Thistle, and Plantain.

Here’s a detailed comparison of SedgeHammer Plus, Tenacity Herbicide, Certainty Herbicide, Ortho Nutsedge Killer, and Empero Herbicide:

SedgeHammer Plus

  • Active Ingredient: Halosulfuron-methyl
  • Targets: Purple nutsedge, yellow nutsedge, and certain broadleaf weeds.
  • Application: Post-emergence control in various turf types like St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass, and Kentucky Bluegrass.
  • Features: Includes a built-in surfactant for better absorption. Safe around children and pets once dry.
  • Pros: Highly selective, does not harm turfgrass or ornamentals.
  • Cons: Requires careful application to avoid stress on turf and nutsedges for best results​​.

Tenacity Herbicide

  • Active Ingredient: Mesotrione
  • Targets: Broadleaf weeds and grasses, including crabgrass, ground ivy, and yellow nutsedge.
  • Application: Both pre-emergence and post-emergence; can be used in cool and warm-season turfgrasses.
  • Features: Absorbed by roots and shoots, offers residual control for several weeks.
  • Pros: Versatile, controls a wide range of weeds.
  • Cons: May cause temporary bleaching of turfgrass​​.

Certainty Herbicide

  • Active Ingredient: Sulfosulfuron
  • Targets: Broadleaf weeds, grassy weeds, and sedges, including yellow nutsedge.
  • Application: Post-emergence in warm-season turfgrasses like zoysiagrass and Bermudagrass.
  • Features: Effective in both commercial and residential areas.
  • Pros: Strong control over a variety of weeds, minimal damage to turfgrass.
  • Cons: Limited to use in warm-season grasses, not suitable for cool-season grasses​​.

Ortho Nutsedge Killer

  • Active Ingredient: Sulfentrazone
  • Targets: Nutsedge, chickweed, spurge, and clover.
  • Application: Ready-to-use formula, suitable for both cool and warm-season grasses.
  • Features: Effective on weeds less than three inches high.
  • Pros: Convenient for small areas, easily found in local stores.
  • Cons: Takes several weeks to see full results​​.

Empero Herbicide

  • Active Ingredient: Halosulfuron-methyl
  • Targets: Purple and yellow nutsedge, as well as certain broadleaf weeds.
  • Application: Post-emergence, suitable for a wide range of turf types.
  • Features: Provides targeted control without harming turfgrass.
  • Pros: Cost-effective, precise control.
  • Cons: Requires mixing and careful application for optimal results​​.

Key Differences

  • SedgeHammer Plus and Empero are very similar in their use of Halosulfuron-methyl and their focus on nutsedge, but SedgeHammer Plus includes a surfactant for easier application.
  • Tenacity offers both pre-emergence and post-emergence control, making it versatile for different weed types and growth stages.
  • Certainty is specifically effective in warm-season grasses, making it less versatile but highly effective in its niche.
  • Ortho Nutsedge Weed Killer is user-friendly and ready-to-use, though slower to show results compared to more concentrated herbicides.

Each product has its unique strengths and best use cases, depending on your specific types of lawn weeds that you want to control.