Drive XLR8 Herbicide Crabgrass Killer - Questions & Answers

Yes, Drive XLR8 Herbicide Crabgrass Killer is safe for Bermuda grass, Kentucky bluegrass, buffalo grass, fescue, ryegrass, and zoysiagrass. It is not for use on St. Augustine, centipede, bahiagrass, bentgrass or dichondra, or fine fescue (unless the fine fescue is a seed blend). 

Drive XLR8 is a great post emergent for actively growing crabgrass. For best results, a methylated seed oil surfactant like Duo Stick should be tank mixed for better coverage and faster burndown. A second application may be required for control of crabgrass. 

 View our How to Get Rid of Crabgrass Guide for more information. 

Drive XLR8 Herbicide Crabgrass Killer is not labeled to be used on Centipede lawns therefore would injure the new centipede seedlings that are germinating and growing. You will want to wait until after the 2nd mowing of the newly seeded Centipede before making any post emergent applications. 

An alternative product recommendation would be Blindside Herbicide WDG as it is safe for Centipede and Zoysia turfgrasses and labeled for crabgrass and other grassy and broadleaf weeds. 

Apply at the mix rate of 0.15 - 0.23 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. (6.5 - 10 oz. per acre) when temperatures are between 65 to 85 degrees. 

Drive XLR8 Herbicide Crabgrass Killer should be effective on white, hop, and red clovers at the labeled rate. If the clover is a different variety, or if it one of this varieties but the plants are no longer actively growing, then you will see limited results. You may need a second application or to wait until the weeds are growing again to get good results from the herbicide. We recommend waiting at least 10-14 days to see results from post-emergent herbicides. If you are still not seeing desirable results, then I would consider a more true broadleaf herbicide such as Fertilome Weed Free Zone.

As you probably know, Centipedegrass is a very sensitive species of turf so many products that eliminate the crabgrass and other weeds can also cause damage to your lawn. Hi Yield Atrazine is safe to be used on Centipede and it will suppress Crabgrass but may not completely eliminate it. It will also control a large variety of other broadleaf weeds. Tenacity is a great pre and post emergent herbicide that will control crabgrass along with many other types of weeds without harming your centipede lawn. Make sure to read the Tenacity label very carefully and mix exactly what is recommended as this is a strong product and mis-using it can cause temporary turf injury. When applying tenacity it is highly recommended to use a temporary turf colorant like Turf Mark Blue to allow you to see where you are spraying. Overlapping your application of Tenacity can cause temporary whitening of the lawn as well, but the color will return in 3-4 weeks at most. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

You can use a grass killer such as Fusilade to kill grassy weeds around the ice plant groundcover:

This product will be best used around established ornamentals and ground covers (do not use in desirable turfgrass).

For broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, there are not any selective herbicides to kill the weeds but not potentially harm the ground cover, so we recommend spot treating carefully using a non-selective product like GlyPhoSel Pro

You can also use pre-emergent herbicide going forward in spring and/or fall to prevent weed growth. Snapshot is our most popular choice for use around ornamentals and groundcovers.

Drive XLR8 Herbicide Crabgrass Killer could be mixed with Resolute 65 WDG as long as you follow the instructions on both product labels.  However, if you are already seeing weeds it is too late for any pre-emergent to be effective.

Per the product label it is not recommend to use a dish detergent with Drive XLR8. When using Drive XLR8, it is recommended that you use a methylated seed oil to apply the product with. Our Dyneamic surfactant has methylated seed oil and is recommended to apply with Drive XLR8.

If you were wanting to use the drive for crabgrass and other broad leaf post emergent weed control across the entire 8-10 acres as a broadcast spray, you would need roughly 4 half gallons of the product. The first thing you need to know when using an herbicide such as Drive XLR8 Herbicide is that the exact amount of water you dilute it with is not important. It is only important to make sure you are using the correct amount of product per 1,000 sq ft of lawn. Use too much and you risk damaging your lawn, use too little and you will not get adequate results. You will need to use 1.45 oz per 1,000 sq ft . To decide how much water you want to use, you should mark a 1,000 sq ft area, fill your sprayer with water ONLY, and start walking and spraying just as if you were doing the actual application of herbicide. When you are done walking and spraying the 1,000 sq ft area note how much water it took you to spray that area, and that is the amount you will want to mix 1.45 oz of product with for each 1,000 sq ft area that needs to be treated. You will need to make sure treated areas are irrigated with at least 1/2 inch of water (either by rainfall or by sprinkler) following the application. 

The Drive XLR8 is not labeled for use in any area where edibles plan to be grown. We do carry the Monterey Vegetable and Ornamental Weeder for pre-emergent control of weeds before planting. You can use either a roundup type product to spot treat anything that has already come up, or if you have just weedy grasses coming up you can use something like Fertilome Over the Top II.

With the type of grass you are seeding with (Kentucky Bluegrass) according to the chart on the label you may either apply Drive XLR8 7 days prior to seeding or 28 days post seeding.