Drive: A new post-emergent herbicide for crabgrass
and other turfgrass weeds
John Stier, Turfgrass extension specialist

Drive 75DF is a newly labeled herbicide for use on cool-season turfgrasses in residential and non-residential settings.  It is produced by BASF Corporation as a dry flowable formulation with 75% active ingredient.  Drive is to be used for post-emergence control of crabgrass, barnyardgrass, black medic, clover, dandelion, annual foxtail species, and speedwells (common, slender, thymeleaf). This is one of the few products available for post-emergent control of crabgrass in turf.  Best results are obtained when applied prior to crabgrass tillering, though research is underway to determine efficacy on mature crabgrass. The application rate for Drive is 1 lb per acre in a minimum 20 gal water.  The approximate cost is $90/acre. Use methylated seed oil (MSO) or crop oil concentrate (COC) for consistent results (1.5 and 2.0 pints per acre, respectively). For spot treatments, thoroughly wet the target foliage using 0.367 oz. of Drive 75DF per 1000 ft² dissolved in a minimum of 0.5 gal water.  Drive can be applied through standard spray equipment systems but is not labeled for application by irrigation or aerial applications.

Drive is safe to use on established cool-season grasses except monostands of fine fescue and on golf course greens and collars.  Drive can be applied to mixed stands containing fine fescue and to bentgrass tees and fairways which make it useful for controlling speedwell in these sites.  It can be applied prior to and after seeding cool-season grasses, but cannot be applied to Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass turf for 4 weeks following germination.  Use chelated iron or sprayable nitrogen fertilizers to avoid the yellowing that may result from Drive application on annual bluegrass turf.  Drive may be tankmixed with a number of additional herbicides as listed on the label.  Conduct a jar test prior to mixing with products not specifically listed on the label to check for incompatibility before mixing in the spray tank.