By Lane Tredway, Ph.D., and Lisa Beirn, Ph.D., technical services managers for Syngenta

Controlling grassy weeds is difficult as there are very few options available for post-emergent control. There are also very few options that are safe for application to cool-season grasses like fine fescues or annual bluegrass.

Manuscript^® herbicide offers a unique solution for selective control of certain grassy weeds:

1. Controls tropical signalgrass, dallisgrass and crabgrasses in bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipedegrass
   
2. Presents a new option for controlling grassy weeds, such as tall fescue, in native and low-maintenance fine fescue areas
   
3. Controls annual or perennial ryegrasses in labeled turf species, including bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass
   
4. Suppresses perennial grasses including kikuyugrass, seashore paspalum and torpedograss 

Application tips

Broadcast rates of Manuscript are recommended to control perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, bull paspalum (aka thin paspalum) and foxtails. For removing overseeded ryegrass during bermudagrass transition, a single application at 9.6 fl. oz./A is an effective option. Lower rates (2-4 fl. oz./A) can be applied to creeping bentgrass for perennial ryegrass control as outlined in this 2(ee) recommendation. For bull paspalum control, make either one application at 19.2 fl. oz./A or two applications at 9.6 fl. oz./A on a 14- to 21-day interval. 

For control of tall fescue in native and low-maintenance fine fescue stands, apply one application at 19.2 fl. oz./A following the 2(ee) recommendation. This application will also provide control of foxtails, ryegrass and barnyardgrass in these areas. Learn more about controlling weeds in fine fescue turf here. Agronomic programs for managing weeds in fine fescue native areas can be found at GreenCastOnline.com/Programs. 

Spot-treatment applications (9.6 fl. oz./10,000 ft.²) of Manuscript are only recommended for application on bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipedegrass to control tropical signalgrass, crabgrasses or dallisgrass. Two spot-treatment applications on a 14- to 21-day interval provide excellent control of these weeds with excellent safety to bermudagrass and zoysiagrass turf.

For best results, Manuscript should be applied in 40 gallons of water per acre with 0.64 fl. oz. of Adigor™ per gallon of spray solution. Target weeds should be actively growing – not under stress from drought or other factors – to maximize absorption and translocation of the active ingredient.

Watch the following video from GCSAA TV about the efficacy of Manuscript:

Manuscript was mixed with MSO at 0.5% v/v and applied twice on a 14-day interval. Source: Granada Golf Course, Coral Gables, Florida, 2014.

Tank-mixing tips

When tank mixing Manuscript with other herbicides, always start with a jar test to ensure best performance. Phenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-D and MCPP are antagonistic to Manuscript and reduce its performance. Tank mixing Manuscript with a sulfonylurea herbicide such as Monument^® 75WG herbicide is a better option for application to bermudagrass or zoysiagrass. Manuscript + Monument may have slower activity against certain grasses, but in the long run provides excellent results against labeled weeds.

In Florida, Manuscript can be tank mixed with simazine products, Tenacity^® and Pennant Magnum^® herbicides to control a broader spectrum of weeds, including goosegrass.

For more information and trial data, visit GreenCastOnline.com/Manuscript.

Syngenta hereby disclaims any liability for Third Party websites referenced herein.

All photos and videos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission.

© 2026 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 tall fescue control in fine fescue turf. Please see the Section 2(ee) recommendation to confirm that the recommendation is applicable in your state. The Section 2(ee) recommendation for Manuscript should be in the possession of the user at the time of application. Adigor™, GreenCast^®, Manuscript^®, Monument^®, Pennant Magnum^®, Tenacity^® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are property of their respective third-party owners.