Specticle on St. Aug/centipede

[Spraytek]

Has anyone used Specticle on St. Augustine and Centipede? What rate did you use and what kind of results are you getting? I've heard horror stories about golf courses on sandy soils absolutely smoking some Bermuda due to severe root pruning. I've talk with two superintendents in my area (we have heavy clay soils) and they can't say enough good things about it. The problem is that they are dealing with Bermuda and most of my clients have St. Augustine. I want to use it this fall, but I'm a little worried about being the guinea pig in my area.

[RAlmaroad]

I had to look this up as I'm totally unfamiliar with the AI in it for use on Centipede. May I ask why you would use this in lieu of Celsius or another well documented herbicide that will take care of most of the weeds that this product shows? Most of the pros would run a test before using on a customer's lawn. When Dismiss came out, I ran it beside other herbicides all summer before even considering it for Centipede and St. Augustine.

[Spraytek]

Specticle is a pre-, whereas Celsius is a post-. I do use Celsius, but the superintendents I was talking about are seeing up to 8 months of control from a single app, in a 9 1/2-10 month growing season. Also, Specticle isn't supposed to have much mobility, which I like. Basically, I'm looking to cut out some post apps to save money and keep from putting more herbicides into the soil. As for doing some testing, I agree; however, if you price Specticle, you will see why I'm asking if anyone else has already used it.
One of the superintendents said a about the only weeds they have now are a few random areas of dallisgrass that are off the beaten path, and goosegrass in compacted areas that result from patron traffic during their tournament. The other super said that the only place he has weeds is where the boom was lifted to go around an obstacle that was to narrow for the breakaway.

[greendoctor]

Specticle? HOLY SHIZ! Bayer has rates for application to centipede and St Augustine which are half of what is for bermuda. There are explicit warnings about what effect this product has on the roots of turfgrass. Bayer even had to remove the labeling for seashore paspalum. Indicating it is only to be used if removal is desired. With centipede and St Augustine, the last thing I want to ever interfere with is the root tack down from the surface stolons. Those are the life blood of those grasses. There are no underground rhizomes or a deep central root system.

I find that the best defense against weeds in St Augustine is to do nothing that will negatively affect the rooting or overall turf density. Starvation, low mowing, water rationing, and usage of root pruning herbicides falls under that flag. The only thing I use Specticle for is to stop grass from growing under trees and shrubs. Warm season grasses trying to encroach on sprayed soil fail to root. Their stolons float on the soil surface where it is easy to cut it off with an edger. Without Specticle, it is no problem for grasses to put roots down and become established. Good under shrubs, on lawn where you want maximum rooting? I have seen it used on bermuda sports fields mowed at 1" or higher. Turf density was noticeably affected compared to grass treated with non root pruners. The label rate of Specticle caused the St Augustine to send runners that were not rooted down. May I ask exactly what kind of weeds you are trying to prevent/control?