Best Effective Herbicides for Johnson Grass Control 2025
Johnson grass is a persistent and invasive weed that can be difficult to control in lawns, pastures, and turf areas. Selecting the right herbicide is key to managing this fast-spreading grass and preventing its impact on your land. Below is a summary table of top-rated herbicides specifically effective against Johnson grass that offer varied active ingredients and application methods tailored for different settings.
| Product Name | Brand | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| LUXEMBOURG- PAMOL Target 6 Plus (MSMA 48.2%) Turf Herbicide | DKLECHUI | MSMA 48.3%, used on sod farms and highway rights of way, mix at 2oz per gallon |
| Monterey – Grass Getter Selective Post Emergent Herbicide | Monterey | Kills perennial and annual grasses including Johnson grass, safe on ornamentals, systemic action |
| MANA 82000025 Concentrate Herbicide | MANA | Soil sterilant for 1 year, controls hard-to-kill Johnson grass and bindweed |
| BASF Drive XLR8 Crabgrass Killer | BASF | Water-based, post emergent, effective on various grassy weeds with up to 30-day residual |
| Gordon’s Ornamec 170 Grass Herbicide | PBI / Gordon | Selective control of annual grasses like crabgrass and foxtail, reduces injury risk to ornamentals |
LUXEMBOURG- PAMOL Target 6 Plus (MSMA 48.2%) Turf Herbicide
This herbicide contains Monosodium acid Methanearsonate (MSMA) at 48.3%, a strong post-emergent herbicide effective on Johnson grass. It is suitable for use in sod farms, cotton fields, golf courses, and highway rights of way. The recommended mix rate is 2 ounces per gallon of water for general applications. The product is intended for site-specific weed control and should be used carefully following label instructions. MSMA is noted for its fast activity on grassy weeds and can offer good suppression of Johnson grass when correctly applied.
Monterey – Grass Getter Selective Post Emergent Herbicide
Monterey Grass Getter is a selective systemic post-emergence herbicide that targets grassy weeds including Johnson grass, crabgrass, foxtail, and bermudagrass. It is safe for use around many ornamental plants, shrubs, and vegetables. This herbicide kills grass weeds by absorbing into the leaves and moving down to the roots for thorough control. It does not affect broadleaf weeds or nutsedge. Not intended for lawn use but excellent for flower beds and landscaped areas to control invasive grassy species selectively.
MANA 82000025 Concentrate Herbicide
The MANA Concentrate Herbicide is an industrial-strength weed killer that also acts as a soil sterilant, preventing plant growth for up to a year after application. This makes it effective for controlling hard-to-kill Johnson grass and bindweed in non-crop areas like driveways, rock beds, and construction sites. Its persistent action is suitable for locations where preventing regrowth is critical. The herbicide should be applied carefully around desirable vegetation to avoid damage.
BASF Drive XLR8 Crabgrass Killer
Drive XLR8 by BASF is a water-based, post-emergent herbicide that controls a wide range of grassy weeds including crabgrass and related species. Its active ingredient Quinclorac offers up to 30 days of residual control, making it effective for ongoing Johnson grass management. It is rainfast in less than an hour, allowing flexibility after application. Additionally, it targets key broadleaf weeds, making it a broad-spectrum weed control solution for turf and lawn areas.
Gordon’s Ornamec 170 Grass Herbicide
Gordon’s Ornamec 170 is formulated for maintenance of landscape beds with a focus on selective control of emerged annual grasses such as panicums, crabgrass, foxtails, and goosegrass. This herbicide reduces the risk of injury to ornamental plants while effectively managing grassy weeds. Though it targets annual grasses primarily, it can help reduce Johnson grass presence in landscaped ornamental areas without harming surrounding desirable plants.
Buying Guide for Herbicides to Control Johnson Grass
Selecting the right herbicide involves several important considerations for effective and safe control of Johnson grass:
- Type of Weed Control Needed: Decide if you need post-emergent herbicides that kill existing Johnson grass plants or pre-emergent/soil sterilants that prevent growth. Post-emergent products like MSMA and Monterey’s Grass Getter target active plants, while soil sterilants like MANA focus on long-term suppression.
- Application Site: Consider whether the herbicide will be used on lawns, pastures, golf courses, landscape beds, or industrial areas. Products safe for ornamentals (Monterey, Ornamec) suit ornamental beds, while stronger chemicals (MSMA, MANA) are for non-crop or turf-only sites.
- Active Ingredients: Glyphosate-based herbicides provide broad-spectrum control but may damage desirable plants. Quinclorac offers residual control, and MSMA is a potent selective grass killer. Understand ingredient effects and restrictions based on your site.
- Environmental Impact and Safety: Choose herbicides with prompt rainfastness if exposed to moisture, and check for toxicity or restrictions on nearby vegetation, pets, and humans. Follow label instructions precisely.
- Treatment Frequency and Residual Effect: Some herbicides provide longer residual weed control reducing reapplication needs (e.g., Drive XLR8), while others may require repeated treatments. Consider management convenience and effectiveness.
- Selective vs. Non-Selective Action: For mixed planting areas, selective herbicides like Monterey’s Grass Getter prevent damage to ornamentals, while non-selective herbicides like glyphosate kill any green vegetation they contact.
By evaluating these factors and matching herbicide attributes to your specific Johnson grass problem and site, you can optimize weed control effectiveness and maintain your turf or landscape health.