Tenacity has been crummy on clover for me. It has done well on nimblewill and nutsedge. I have seen temporary turf whitening in my own lawn that looks just like your pics. It will grow out fine. Your clover probably won't die either.

Another option is the"grass" you sprayed may not be what you think.

 

It looks like fine fescue from the images. Tenacity does hurt fine fescue. Time should heal the issue.

 

Bleaching is normal and your grass should be fine. The label clearly calls this out.

Pro Tip: Don't use Tenacity on common broadleaf weeds There is an endemic in 2021 with several members using Tenacity as their go-to herbicide of choice. You would have been/will be better off with a 4 way mix of Weed B Gon (2,4-D, Dicamba, MCPP) and Weed B Gon CCO (Triclopyr). These two products will take care of any common broadleaf weed issues.

Tenacity should really be left for seeding projects and for stunting Poa A.

 

Bleaching is normal and your grass should be fine. The label clearly calls this out.

Pro Tip: Don't use Tenacity on common broadleaf weeds There is an endemic in 2021 with several members using Tenacity as their go-to herbicide of choice. You would have been/will be better off with a 4 way mix of Weed B Gon (2,4-D, Dicamba, MCPP) and Weed B Gon CCO (Triclopyr). These two products will take care of any common broadleaf weed issues.

Tenacity should really be left for seeding projects and for stunting Poa A.

I'd add nimblewill to the list of limited things tenacity is good for. I've gotten very good results on that weed.

Agree it is sucky for many broadleaf weeds. I only use it on those when I have sprayed all my nimblewill and still have a bit left in the tank.

 

That's pretty much what a lawn might look like after spraying Tenacity.... I don't think you did anything wrong. If the visual appearance is bothering you, just give it time (anywhere from a few weeks to a month, probably, for 100% reversion to normal appearance).

One of the most effective herbicides for clover is triclopyr, which is widely available at hardware stores and Amazon... Ortho's "Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis" killer (which I believe only comes as a concentrate that must be mixed) is one option. Another option is "Ortho Tough Brush/Poison Ivy Killer," which is ready-to-spray and contains only triclopyr as the active ingredient (be vigilant if/when you might purchase these, as that company has a million (so to speak) variations of the latter product, some of which (at one time anyway) contain glyphosate and/or other herbicides that will kill grass as well... you do NOT want to get one of those with the intention of applying the product on your lawn). **Important: most triclopyr products such as those described contain version of the chemical that is EXTREMELY toxic to your eyes; goggles are a MUST when using such products (and really eye protection is always a must anyway, but especially important with those).

Tenacity isn't that great as a single app at the recommended rates... it basically works by inhibiting enzyme activity of a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of carotenoids (which are plant chemicals that help protect chlorophyll from photo-degradation... hence plants turn white). The issue is that plants are able to (to varying degrees) metabolize the chemical and inactivate it. Overall, it's mechanism of action--all things considered--isn't necessarily the best at permanently getting rid of any given weed (I'm not saying it doesn't/can't work, but there are some issues with it and--as many preach here--it has its place, but really only in a few specific applications as opposed to being a "do-all" product).

 

You have great advise here. I learnt this recently that quinclorac (stuff you use for crabgrass) has excellent activity again white clover).

I am using it this year. It is the best thing for hitting 2 of the weeds that are worse during this time-clover and crabgrass.

 

Wow, thanks for the helpful answers!! Great to know this isn't an uncommon experience (I assumed bleaching=certain death), and I will try these herbicide recommendations next time.

It looks like fine fescue from the images. Tenacity does hurt fine fescue.

Another option is the "grass" you sprayed may not be what you think.

Thanks, I wondered about this. I'm not sure how to know what grasses I've got for sure. An image search for "fine fescue" looks like something I may have in one side area.

 

Tenacity worked for some things on my Bermuda/weed lawn last year. Didn't seem to bother the clover a bit!

 

You have great advise here. I learnt this recently that quinclorac (stuff you use for crabgrass) has excellent activity again white clover).

I am using it this year. It is the best thing for hitting 2 of the weeds that are worse during this time-clover and crabgrass.

I can attest to quiclorac/Drive XLR8 on clover too. I've mixed it with 2, 4D and it has decimated nearly every weed/clover I've sprayed it on within 1 application, including spotted spurge. There's only been a couple times where I needed to apply a second round.

But yes, Tenacity has bleached my fescue, though it rebounded in 4-6 weeks.

 

I did an application of WBG CCO followed by WBG CCO & WBG w/ CG control about 2 weeks apart. I have almost no clover left. My neighbors, by comparison, had less than I did 3 weeks ago and now how clover farms.

I did notice that there was not a ton of clover killed off after the first application. A few days after the second application everything was dying. Not sure if it was timing, or if the Quiclorac in the WBG w/ CG control worked better for me.

 

Since I took a while to post this question, and just mowed today, I can already post a follow-up. It's been three weeks since I first sprayed the Tenacity. There is damage throughout my yard - pretty heartbreaking after all the time and money I've spent on it.

Anything I can do for it? Or just wait and fix the spots in the fall?

Thanks again!

 

Wait and fix the spots in the fall. Not much you can do now heading into summer.

Like others have said, I would only use tenacity as a tank mix partner for weed control as that's where it really shines. If you're battling clover, tank mix it with Triclopyr and a non-ionic surfactant and you'll be good to go. Might take two applications a few weeks apart, but it'll do the job.

Also keep an eye on temps when applying tenacity. The warmer the daytime temps, the harder it will be on desirable grass as far as bleaching and damage.

 

It's been three weeks since I first sprayed the Tenacity. There is damage throughout my yard - pretty heartbreaking after all the time and money I've spent on it.

Anything I can do for it? Or just wait and fix the spots in the fall?

I feel your pain. Last September I ended up using Tenacity and killed an acre of a full reno right after it got thick and pretty. But the weed pressure was insane. (Thus, Tenacity).

This year you can still see the resulting damage. Weed pressure switched to different species.

 

Your brown areas will heal with time. I still have a few areas from glyphosate I used over the winter. I must have really went heavy. The spots are about 4 inches in diameter and just starting to grown in. Lawns take time to get right. The one thing I have learned about spot spraying over the years of doing it myself is to be very light with the spray. The small sprayer I use applies a mist that is hard to see after I spray. I do not saturate the weed, it does not need it. Like a cold, you only need to be near someone to have a chance to contract it. Very little application and wait. If after a few weeks it needs more apply again. Don't try to kill everything 100% dead in one go if it needs more than a little work to remove. I use selective chemicals that are not meant to kill bermuda but it yellows in a bit everywhere I spray even with a light application so true its not dead but is stunted. Hang in there.

 

Thanks again for all the great tips!

 

That's not bad at all. Will most likely fill in on its own by late Summer if watered correctly and given a light fertilizer app in August.

You could have had Bentgrass in those patches, and the Tenacity did what it's supposed to as one possibility.