Accidental Scotts Bonus S on Bermudagrass: Damage Assessment and Recovery

I mistakenly applied Scotts Bonus S (atrazine-based) on my bermudagrass lawn at triple the labeled rate. The product is for St. Augustinegrass only. What damage should I expect, and can I fix it?

What Bonus S Does to Bermudagrass

Atrazine is a photosystem II inhibitor. On sensitive species like bermudagrass, it causes yellowing, stunting, and potential death—especially at 3× rate. Scotts explicitly warns against use on bermudagrass. Damage may appear within days to weeks: chlorosis, thinning, dead patches.

Immediate Steps

• Water heavily. Irrigate deeply daily for 3–5 days to leach herbicide from the root zone. Atrazine is somewhat mobile in soil; dilution helps.
• Do not fertilize. Additional nitrogen stresses compromised grass.
• Mow high. Leave maximum leaf area for photosynthesis.
• Monitor. Recovery depends on cultivar, soil, and how much herbicide reached roots.

Long-Term Outlook

Bermudagrass spreads aggressively via rhizomes and stolons. If crowns survive, it will fill in over weeks to months. Severely killed areas may need plugging or sprigging. Contact Scotts technical support (1-800-543-8873) for product-specific guidance.

Lesson: always verify the label matches your grass type before applying any weed-and-feed.