Post Emergent Herbicide for Broadleaf Weeds: 5 Proven Picks

Your lawn looks great until you spot them. Clover spreading across the backyard. Dandelions popping up near the mailbox. Chickweed taking over the thin spots. Broadleaf weeds show up fast and make your grass look patchy and unkempt. Pulling them by hand gets old quick, and they grow back within weeks. You need something stronger that actually works.

This guide walks you through five proven post-emergent herbicides that kill broadleaf weeds in Texas lawns. You'll learn what products work best for your grass type, how to mix and apply them safely, and when professional treatment makes more sense than DIY. We'll cover fast acting options, tough weed specialists, and what works specifically for St. Augustine and centipede grass. By the end, you'll know exactly which herbicide to buy and how to use it without damaging your lawn.

1. Denton Lawn Care broadleaf weed control

Denton Lawn Care handles broadleaf weed problems in Leander and surrounding Texas areas with a year-round treatment program that targets weeds at every growth stage. Their team applies post emergent herbicide for broadleaf weeds alongside pre-emergent treatments and fertilization to keep your lawn green and weed-free without the guesswork. You get a custom plan based on your grass type, soil condition, and which weeds keep showing up in your yard.

Why broadleaf weeds are so stubborn in Texas yards

Texas heat and clay soil create perfect conditions for clover, dandelions, and chickweed to thrive year-round. Your lawn faces two growing seasons for many broadleaf weeds, with fall germination hitting hard when temperatures drop below 70 degrees. The compacted clay holds moisture near the surface, which helps shallow-rooted weeds establish faster than your grass can fill in bare spots.

How Denton Lawn Care builds a weed control plan

The team starts with a lawn consultation to identify which weeds you have and what's causing them to spread. They test your soil pH and check for drainage problems or bare patches that let weeds take hold. Your custom plan includes herbicide selection, application timing, and soil amendments that address the root causes instead of just killing visible weeds.

"Professional weed control works because it treats your entire lawn system, not just the weeds you can see."

Herbicides and application methods used by the team

Denton Lawn Care uses selective broadleaf herbicides that kill weeds without harming bermuda, St. Augustine, or zoysia grass. Their technicians apply liquid treatments with calibrated sprayers for even coverage and proper mixing ratios. They combine post-emergent products with surfactants and pre-emergent barriers during scheduled visits throughout the growing season.

Visit frequency service areas and pricing expectations

You can expect six to eight treatments per year depending on your lawn size and weed pressure. Denton Lawn Care services Leander, Cedar Park, and nearby Austin communities with customized plans. Their pricing varies based on square footage and service level, but most residential programs start around standard lawn care rates for the area.

When a professional program beats DIY herbicides

Hiring Denton Lawn Care makes sense when you've tried store-bought products without lasting results or when you don't have time to spray every four to six weeks. Professional treatment wins if you're dealing with multiple weed types that need different herbicides or if you've damaged your grass with incorrect mixing ratios in the past.

2. Three way 2 4 D broadleaf herbicide concentrates

Three way concentrates combine three active ingredients in one bottle to knock out the widest range of broadleaf weeds with a single application. You mix them with water in a pump sprayer and get professional-level control without buying multiple products or making complicated tank mixes.

What a three way herbicide is made of

These concentrates blend 2,4-D, dicamba, and mecoprop (MCPP) to attack different parts of the weed plant at the same time. The 2,4-D disrupts growth hormones in stems and leaves, dicamba moves through the entire plant system, and mecoprop targets weeds that resist the other two. Your spray covers more weed species because each ingredient handles what the others might miss.

Weeds these concentrates control well

You'll kill dandelions, clover, chickweed, henbit, dollarweed, plantain, and most common lawn weeds with these mixes. They work especially well on established weeds with deep tap roots that survive single-ingredient products. Expect visible wilting within 24 to 48 hours and complete death in seven to ten days.

Mixing ratios and spray tips for accurate coverage

Mix 0.9 to 1.5 ounces of concentrate per gallon of water for typical lawn applications. Use the lower rate for young weeds and the higher rate for mature plants. Add a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% to help the spray stick to waxy leaf surfaces and increase absorption.

"Accurate mixing prevents grass damage and ensures you kill weeds without wasting product on multiple applications."

Grass types and situations where they are safe

Three way herbicides work safely on bermuda, zoysia, fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass when you follow label rates. Avoid spraying St. Augustine, centipede, or carpet grass because dicamba can cause yellowing and stunted growth in these sensitive varieties.

Common problems and how to troubleshoot them

Grass discoloration happens when you spray in temperatures above 85 degrees or apply too much concentrate per gallon. Incomplete weed kill usually means you sprayed when weeds were stressed by drought or you didn't add surfactant. Wait two weeks between applications if weeds survive the first treatment.

3. SpeedZone type fast acting lawn herbicides

SpeedZone formulations kill broadleaf weeds in 24 to 48 hours faster than standard three-way herbicides because they use ester forms of active ingredients that absorb through leaf surfaces quickly. You'll see clover, dandelions, and spurge start wilting by the next morning and complete death within a week. These products work as a post emergent herbicide for broadleaf weeds when you need results before guests arrive or before selling your home.

How SpeedZone type products work so quickly

The ester formulation allows the herbicide to penetrate waxy leaf coatings that slow down other products. Four active ingredients work together to disrupt multiple plant systems at once, which speeds up visible damage and prevents weeds from recovering. Your spray becomes rainfast in one hour instead of the typical four to six hours with amine-based herbicides.

Best seasons and temperatures for using them

Apply SpeedZone products when daytime temperatures stay between 65 and 85 degrees for three to four days after spraying. Spring and fall provide ideal conditions because weeds are actively growing but temperatures don't cause grass stress. Avoid applications when your lawn faces drought stress or extreme heat above 90 degrees.

Spot spraying versus blanket spraying strategy

Spot treatment saves money and reduces chemical use when you have scattered weeds in small areas. Blanket spraying makes sense when broadleaf weeds cover more than 30% of your lawn or when you want preventive control across the entire yard. Mark treated spots with flags or stakes to avoid double applications.

Drift overlap and other mistakes to avoid

Spray on calm mornings when wind speeds stay below five miles per hour to prevent drift onto flower beds or vegetable gardens. Don't overlap spray patterns because concentrated doses cause brown patches in your grass. Wait 24 hours before mowing to let the herbicide absorb completely into weed leaves.

"Fast acting herbicides need careful application because their strength can damage grass if you apply too much or spray in wrong conditions."

4. Triclopyr herbicides for tough broadleaf weeds

Triclopyr works as a specialized post emergent herbicide for broadleaf weeds when three-way products fail on stubborn perennials with woody stems. You'll reach for triclopyr when facing clover patches that survived multiple treatments or when vines and brush invade your lawn edges. This selective herbicide moves through the entire plant system to kill roots and prevent regrowth.

Which hard to kill weeds triclopyr shines on

Triclopyr excels at killing wild violet, ground ivy, poison ivy, clover varieties, oxalis, and woody brush that resist 2,4-D based products. You'll get complete control of Virginia creeper and other perennial vines that spread through underground runners. These weeds develop thick waxy leaves and deep root systems that need systemic action to eliminate permanently.

How triclopyr fits with bermuda and other warm season grasses

Your bermuda, zoysia, and buffalograss tolerate triclopyr at labeled rates without damage because these grasses metabolize the chemical quickly. Apply triclopyr when warm season grasses are actively growing in temperatures above 70 degrees for best selectivity. Avoid using it on cool season lawns like fescue or ryegrass during their active growth periods.

Mixing with surfactant and water for better results

Mix 0.5 to 1 ounce of triclopyr per gallon of water depending on weed maturity and add methylated seed oil at 0.5% to penetrate waxy leaf surfaces. Your spray coverage improves when you use low pressure settings that create larger droplets instead of fine mist.

"Triclopyr with proper surfactant penetrates the toughest weed defenses that stop other herbicides at the leaf surface."

Trees shrubs and ornamentals to protect

Keep triclopyr spray at least 10 feet away from tree drip lines and ornamental beds because roots absorb the chemical from soil. Protect shrubs, roses, and flowering plants by avoiding drift and washing any accidental spray off leaves immediately with water.

5. Atrazine herbicides for St Augustine and centipede lawns

Atrazine stands out as one of the few herbicides that controls both broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds in St. Augustine and centipede lawns without causing damage. You'll use atrazine when your warm season grass faces mixed weed problems that need a single solution. This post emergent herbicide for broadleaf weeds also prevents new germination for weeks after application.

How atrazine controls broadleaf and grassy weeds

Atrazine blocks photosynthesis in weed leaves, which starves the plant of energy it needs to grow. Your spray kills clover, dollarweed, chickweed, henbit, and sedges that resist other selective herbicides. The chemical also provides residual pre-emergent control for four to six weeks after application by stopping new weed seeds from sprouting in treated soil.

When atrazine is right for St Augustine and centipede lawns

You'll choose atrazine when managing St. Augustine or centipede grass that can't tolerate three-way herbicides or when dealing with grassy weeds mixed with broadleaf problems. Apply it during the active growing season from April through September when your grass can recover quickly from any minor stress. Avoid atrazine on bermuda, zoysia, or cool season grasses.

Timing soil temperature and weather limits

Apply atrazine when soil temperatures reach 65 degrees or higher and stay there for at least a week. Your best results come when rain doesn't fall for 24 hours after spraying and when daytime temperatures stay between 70 and 90 degrees. Wait at least 30 days between applications.

"Atrazine timing matters more than other herbicides because temperature and moisture directly affect how grass tolerates the treatment."

Safety notes for wells flower beds and shady areas

Keep atrazine 100 feet away from wells because it moves through sandy soil and contaminates groundwater easily. Protect flower beds and vegetable gardens by avoiding drift and establishing buffer zones. Your shaded lawn areas need reduced rates or different herbicides because St. Augustine under stress absorbs too much atrazine.

Next steps for your lawn

You now know which post emergent herbicide for broadleaf weeds works best for your Texas grass and weed situation. Start by identifying your grass type and specific weeds taking over your yard, then choose the product that matches both. Mix and apply according to label directions during the right temperature window to avoid damaging your lawn while killing weeds effectively.

Professional treatment makes sense when you've struggled with DIY applications or persistent weed problems that come back every season. Denton Lawn Care builds custom weed control programs in Leander and surrounding areas that combine the right herbicides with soil improvements and fertilization. Their team handles mixing, timing, and application so your lawn stays green and weed-free year-round without the guesswork or equipment investment.