By Lane Tredway, Ph.D., technical services manager for Syngenta 

Not all herbicides are created equal. For certain jobs, there are limited options for which herbicides can provide control. Tenacity^® and Recognition^® herbicides provide outstanding control and unique benefits when tank mixed with other products. Discover what these solutions offer.

Tenacity | Recognition

Control with Tenacity

Tenacity is a systemic herbicide for pre- and post-emergent control of grass and broadleaf weeds in several cool- and warm-season turf species. The active ingredient, mesotrione, is based on a naturally occurring compound produced by the bottlebrush plant (Callistemon citrinus). Tenacity works by inhibiting the synthesis of carotenoids in susceptible plant species. Without carotenoids, light energy and by-products of photosynthesis destroy chlorophyll and cell membranes, resulting in bleaching of leaves and plant death.

At seeding

With Tenacity, you can control weeds at the same time as you seed. Most herbicide products remove weeds from established turf, but Tenacity can also be used to prevent weeds from emerging in newly seeded or overseeded turf. When grass seed has a chance to grow without weed competition, root establishment is stronger, resulting in a healthier, denser turf stand.

It may be applied to labeled turfgrasses anytime up to, during and after seeding, but prior to seedling emergence. Tenacity is one of the few herbicides that controls weeds during the seeding process and provides pre-emergent and some post-emergent control of many weeds. View the Tenacity and Hydroseeding Information Sheet to learn more.

Tank-mix options

One of the unique features of Tenacity is its ability to synergize weed control when tank mixed with other active ingredients. Late spring and early summer are times to clean up summer annuals and perennial weeds such crabgrass, clover, dandelion and oxalis. Tenacity tank mixed with a dicot herbicide, such as triclopyr or dicamba, can enhance post-emergent control of crabgrass and dicot weeds.

Removing bentgrass

Certain grasses like bentgrass (Agrostis spp.), nimblewill (Muhlenbergia spp.) and windmillgrass (Chloris spp.) are sensitive to Tenacity. Multiple applications can selectively remove these grasses from Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass. Coupled with a re-seeding program, turf areas can be converted to the desirable turf species.

It is recommended to apply Tenacity at 4-5 oz./A on a two- to three-week interval for three applications. Seeding can occur after the second application of Tenacity. Depending on location, applications of Tenacity starting in August or early September will best coincide with a re-seeding program for optimum turf conversion.

Below is a summary of Tenacity trials from across the U.S. over several years.

Control with Recognition

Removing bermudagrass from St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass

For warm-season turf, a solution for bermudagrass control has remained elusive — until now. With Recognition + Fusilade^® II herbicide, the safener in Recognition, metcamifen, triggers certain grass species to tolerate certain herbicides, like Fusilade II, without impacting its activity on weed species like bermudagrass. This combination will also provide excellent control of goosegrass, dallisgrass, sedges and more. Click here to learn more.  

More Powerful Broadleaf Weed Control for St. Augustinegrass

Very few post-emergence herbicides are safe for application to St. Augustinegrass turf. Recognition herbicide, with its active ingredient, trifloxysulfuron, and proprietary safener, metcamifen, offers a new standard to control sedges and kyllinga plus certain grass and broadleaf weeds. Furthermore, Recognition can be tank mixed with Turflon^® Ester Ultra at 16 fl. oz./A to control dollarweed and Dichondra with a single application and improve control of tough broadleaves such as Old World diamondflower and Florida pusley. For more information see the Recognition Lawn Brochure.


For more information, contact your local Syngenta territory manager.

Performance assessments are based upon results or analysis of public information, field observations and/or internal Syngenta evaluations. Trials reflect treatment rates commonly recommended in the marketplace.

© 2024 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties and/or may have state-specific use requirements. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration and proper use. Syngenta supports a FIFRA Section 2(ee) recommendation for tank mixing Recognition and Fusilade II to remove bermudagrass from zoysiagrass. Syngenta also supports a FIFRA Section 2(ee) recommendation for tank mixing Recognition and Triclopyr to control weeds. Please see the Section 2(ee) recommendation to confirm that the recommendation is applicable in your state. The Section 2(ee) recommendation for tank mixtures with Recognition should be in the possession of the user at the time of application. Fusilade^®, Recognition^®, Tenacity^® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective third-party owners.