Bow & Arrow Herbicide

You can see the weeds. You just can't get rid of them.

Bindii coming up through the lawn every autumn. Clover spreading through the buffalo. Capeweed taking over the back corner. You pull them by hand, they come back. You try a generic weed killer from the hardware store, it either doesn't work or takes out turf along with the weeds.

Broadleaf weeds need a targeted solution. One that kills the weed without harming the turf around it.

Bow and Arrow is that product.

What it does

A triple-active post-emergent herbicide containing Clopyralid, Diflufenican, and MCPA across two mode-of-action groups. The three actives work together to deliver broader weed control, faster results, and reduced risk of resistance compared to single-active products. Applied directly to actively growing weeds, Bow and Arrow is absorbed through the leaf and translocates through the plant to the growing points, where it disrupts cell division and shuts the weed down from the inside.

One 500ml bottle treats 1,000m2 at the standard rate.

What it controls

Bindii (Soliva sessilis), White clover (Trifolium repens), Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Cat's ear (Hypochoeris radicata), Cudweed (Gnaphalium spp.), Creeping oxalis (Oxalis corniculata), and other common broadleaf weeds in Australian turf.

Safe on couch, zoysia, carpet grass, and Queensland blue couch. Safe on buffalo with one caution: some varieties including ST85 may show temporary discolouration. Test a small area first if you are unsure of your variety. Discolouration, if it occurs, is temporary and the lawn recovers. Transient discolouration may also occur on kikuyu and QLD blue couch.

Application rate

50ml per 100m2 in 2 to 5L of water. Apply using a garden or backpack sprayer. Shake the container well before use and agitate continuously during mixing.

Apply to actively growing weeds for best results. Do not apply if rain is expected within 4 hours. Do not mow for 3 to 4 days before or after treatment. Do not use lawn clippings as mulch or for composting after treatment.

Application timing

Autumn is the ideal window. Bindii and most broadleaf weeds germinate from March, and treating them while they are small delivers faster and more complete control.

Spring treatment still works and is worth doing. By September bindii is mature and setting burrs. Spraying now kills the plant before those burrs drop, which stops this year's seed going into the soil for next autumn. Leave it and you are treating the same lawn again next year from a larger seed bank.

Mature weeds take longer to die and may need a second application 4 to 6 weeks later. That is the trade-off for treating late rather than early. It is still better than not treating at all.

From September onward, spray early morning or late afternoon. MCPA can cause temporary discolouration when applied in heat or to a lawn already under stress. Water the lawn well the day before and avoid spraying above 30 degrees.

1L covers 2,000m2.

What to expect

Days 1 to 7: The actives absorb through weed foliage and move to growing points. Some yellowing or tip distortion may be visible on susceptible weeds within the first week.
Weeks 2 to 4: Visible wilting, browning, and collapse of weed plants. Smaller weeds die faster than large established ones.
Weeks 4 to 6: Complete death of treated weeds. Large established weeds may take the full 6 weeks to die back fully.
After treatment: Treated areas may show bare soil where weeds were. Surrounding turf will spread naturally to fill these gaps, faster when the lawn is on a consistent program.

Why smaller weeds die faster

Bow and Arrow is absorbed through leaf tissue and transported to growing points. Younger, smaller weeds have more active growing points relative to their size and absorb the product more completely. A small bindii plant in April responds within 2 weeks. The same plant at prickle stage in September takes longer and may need a follow-up.

Treat weeds as early as you can see them. If they are already established, treat them anyway before they set seed.

Prevent the next generation

Bow and Arrow kills existing broadleaf weeds. To stop grassy weeds like winter grass from germinating next season, pair it with Spartan pre-emergent herbicide, applied in March to April before soil temperatures drop. Treat now with Bow and Arrow, then protect next season with Spartan.

Complete the program

Bow and Arrow controls existing weeds. A thick, healthy lawn is the long-term defence against weeds returning. Dense turf leaves no room for weed seeds to establish.

View the Starter Pack: Soak, Vital and Surge for $150

View the Full Routine Bundle: all 5 products for $244

Frequently asked questions

My lawn has bindii and it is already spring. Have I missed the window?
No. Autumn is the ideal time, but spraying now still kills the plant. More importantly, it kills it before the burrs drop and add another year of seed to your soil. A mature plant takes longer to die and may need a second application, but treating late is far better than waiting until next autumn and starting from a bigger seed bank.

Will it burn my lawn in warm weather?
Bow and Arrow can cause temporary discolouration when applied in heat or to a lawn already under stress. Spray early morning or late afternoon, water the lawn well the day before, and avoid application above 30 degrees. Any discolouration is temporary and the lawn recovers.

Is Bow and Arrow safe on buffalo grass?
Yes, with one caution. Bow and Arrow is registered for buffalo. However, some varieties including ST85 may show transient discolouration. Apply a test area and wait 7 days before treating the whole lawn if you are unsure of your variety. Any discolouration is temporary.

Will it damage my lawn?
No, when applied at the correct rate. The actives target broadleaf weeds specifically. Established turf grasses process them differently and are not harmed. Apply at the label rate and avoid overlapping spray runs.

How long until I see results?
Smaller actively growing weeds show visible decline within 1 to 2 weeks. Large established weeds may take the full 6 weeks. Bindii and clover typically respond faster than larger broadleaf species.

Can I mow before applying?
Avoid mowing for 3 to 4 days before application. Mowing removes leaf area, which reduces how much product the weed can absorb. Wait until weeds have regrown some leaf material for best uptake.

How much product do I need?
At 50ml per 100m2, one 500ml bottle treats 1,000m2. For a standard suburban lawn of 300 to 400m2, one bottle covers 2 to 3 full applications.

Can I use Bow and Arrow alongside my Turf and Surf liquid products?
Do not tank-mix Bow and Arrow with other products. Apply it on its own. You can apply your Turf and Surf liquid program on a separate day with at least 24 hours between applications.

What protective equipment do I need?
Bow and Arrow is Schedule 5 with a Caution signal word. Wear chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection when handling and applying. Keep children and pets off the treated area until the spray has dried.

View the complete 12-month Turf & Surf program guide