Integrating Tribute Total Herbicide Into Warm-Season Turf Nutrition Programs

The Intersection of Soil Nutrition and Weed Pressure

Managing warm-season turfgrasses like Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass requires a dual approach: feeding the desired grass while starving the weeds. Weeds are often symptomatic of underlying soil deficiencies or compaction. Dallisgrass, for instance, thrives in wet, compacted soils with low nitrogen availability, while crabgrass exploits thin, under-fertilized canopies. Relying solely on post-emergent herbicides without correcting the soil nutrition profile is a temporary fix that guarantees recurring weed pressure.

Tribute Total herbicide is a premium, multi-active-ingredient formulation designed specifically for warm-season turf. However, its efficacy is deeply tied to the physiological health of the turf and the chemical environment of the soil and spray solution. Integrating Tribute Total into a comprehensive University of Georgia Extension recommended fertilization calendar ensures that once the weeds are eradicated, the turf has the nutritional foundation required to fill in the voids and prevent reinvasion.

Understanding the Chemistry: Active Ingredients and Mode of Action

Tribute Total is a combination of three active ingredients, all of which belong to the sulfonylurea and related chemical families. Understanding their mode of action is critical for timing applications around your fertilization schedule:

• Foramsulfuron (2.38%): An ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitor that rapidly halts cell division in grassy weeds like crabgrass and dallisgrass.
• Halosulfuron-methyl (1.19%): Highly effective against sedges (yellow and purple nutsedge) and certain broadleaves, also acting as an ALS inhibitor.
• Thiencarbazone-methyl (0.79%): Provides supplemental broadleaf control and acts as a synergist to accelerate the activity of the other two ingredients.

Because ALS inhibitors rely on active plant growth to translocate through the weed's vascular system, applying Tribute Total to weeds that are drought-stressed or nutrient-starved will result in poor control. This is where your soil nutrition program plays a vital role. Ensuring adequate soil moisture and baseline fertility keeps weeds actively growing, making them highly susceptible to the herbicide.

The Critical Role of Spray Water pH and Hard Water Cations

The most common point of failure when applying sulfonylurea herbicides is ignoring spray water chemistry. These molecules are weak acids and are highly susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis. If your spray water pH is above 7.0, the active ingredients in Tribute Total will begin to degrade in the tank before you even pull the trigger.

Spray Solution pH vs. Sulfonylurea Herbicide Half-Life

Solution pH	Approximate Half-Life	Efficacy Impact
5.0 - 6.0	Several weeks	Optimal stability and plant uptake
7.0	1 to 2 weeks	Acceptable if sprayed immediately
8.0	12 to 24 hours	Severe degradation; high risk of failure
9.0+	Less than 1 hour	Complete chemical breakdown in tank

Furthermore, hard water contains calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) cations that bind to the herbicide molecules, creating unabsorbable salts. To counteract this, turf professionals must condition the spray water using Ammonium Sulfate (AMS) at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 gallons of water, and use an acidifying buffer to drop the pH to 5.5.

Seasonal Integration: Fertilizer and Herbicide Timing

Timing your Tribute Total applications around your nitrogen and potassium schedules prevents turf phytotoxicity and maximizes weed control. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, warm-season grasses require specific nutrient timing to thrive without pushing excessive top-growth that favors weeds.

Spring Green-Up (April - May)

Avoid heavy nitrogen applications during initial spring green-up. Pushing too much nitrogen early favors cool-season weeds and annual grasses. Apply Tribute Total at 3.2 fl oz per 1,000 sq ft when soil temperatures reach 65°F to target early flushes of crabgrass and dallisgrass. Wait at least 7 days after application before applying your first granular nitrogen fertilizer (0.5 to 1.0 lb N/1,000 sq ft).

Peak Summer (June - August)

Fall Transition (September - October)

Shift your fertilization focus to Potassium (K) to promote winter hardiness and root development. Tribute Total is highly effective in early fall for cleaning up late-season dallisgrass and nutsedge before the turf goes dormant. The cooler temperatures reduce the risk of herbicide-induced turf stress, allowing for safe application even if a low-rate liquid fertilizer is included in the program.

Troubleshooting Efficacy Failures

If you have applied Tribute Total and the weeds are merely stunted rather than killed, evaluate these specific failure modes:

1. Missing the Surfactant: Tribute Total requires a high-quality Non-Ionic Surfactant (NIS) at 0.25% v/v or a Methylated Seed Oil (MSO) at 0.5% v/v. Without it, the spray droplets bead up on the waxy cuticle of mature dallisgrass, and the active ingredients cannot penetrate.
2. Mowing Too Soon: ALS inhibitors require 48 to 72 hours to translocate down to the weed's root crown. Mowing within 24 hours of application physically removes the treated leaf tissue, aborting the kill process.
3. Incorrect Turfgrass Targeting: Tribute Total is labeled strictly for Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass. Applying it to St. Augustinegrass or Centipedegrass will cause severe, potentially lethal injury to the turf, which is often misdiagnosed as a disease or fertilizer burn.

'The most expensive herbicide is the one that fails because of poor water quality. Testing your spray water pH and hardness is just as important as testing your soil for N-P-K levels.' — Turfgrass Management Best Practices

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply Tribute Total to newly sodded Bermudagrass?

No. You must wait until the new sod has fully rooted and has been mowed at least twice before applying Tribute Total. Immature root systems cannot metabolize the herbicide safely, leading to severe stunting.

Does Tribute Total require a second application?

For mature, established dallisgrass or heavy nutsedge pressure, a single application at 3.2 fl oz/1,000 sq ft will often only suppress the weed. A second application is typically required 21 to 28 days later to achieve complete control. Ensure the turf is adequately fertilized between applications to support recovery.

How does soil organic matter affect Tribute Total?

Tribute Total is primarily a foliar-absorbed post-emergent herbicide, meaning soil organic matter (OM) has minimal impact on its immediate efficacy. However, high OM soils retain moisture and nutrients better, keeping weeds actively growing and more susceptible to the foliar uptake of the herbicide.