Weeds in New Fescue – Controlling

Q: I have new fescue seeds growing along with small weeds. I planted the fescue seeds in early Oct. Is there anything that I can treat the lawn with that will kill the weed and not the grass at this early stage?

A: It is common for little broadleaf weeds to pop up after you plant fescue seed. The seeds were dormant in the soil from years past until the act of tilling caused them to germinate.

Any sprayable lawn weed killer can be used (Weed b Gon, BioAdvanced, Bonide, etc) on them but timing is important. Wait until you’ve had to mow at least twice before spraying. This ensures the fescue plants are rooted and growing rapidly so they can withstand chemical damage.