Pendimethalin is one of the most widely used pre-emergent herbicides worldwide, registered for both turf and agricultural use. It provides 3-4 months of crabgrass prevention and is the active ingredient in Scotts Halts (older formulation) and many professional products. More economical than prodiamine but shorter residual.
Crabgrass, goosegrass, foxtail, annual bluegrass, barnyardgrass, spurge, chickweed, henbit, purslane, and many other annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. Also widely used as an agricultural pre-emergent in corn, soybeans, cotton, and other crops.
Pendulum 3.3 EC (BASF - professional liquid), Pendulum AquaCap (microencapsulated - reduced staining), Prowl H2O (BASF - agricultural), Scotts Halts (older formulations), Lesco Pendimethalin, various generics. Most economical pre-emergent option for large areas.
Moderate toxicity - some formulations carry a Warning signal word (particularly EC formulations). Wear gloves and eye protection during mixing. Can stain skin, clothing, and surfaces orange/yellow (similar to prodiamine). The AquaCap formulation significantly reduces staining.
Cost advantage: Pendimethalin is significantly cheaper than prodiamine or dithiopyr per acre treated. For large properties (1+ acres), the cost savings are substantial. This is why agricultural operations and golf courses often prefer pendimethalin for broad-area pre-emergent applications.
Residual comparison: Pendimethalin provides approximately 3-4 months of control versus prodiamine at 5-6 months. In northern climates where the crabgrass window is shorter, pendimethalin provides adequate single-application protection. In southern climates, a split application or switch to prodiamine is advisable.
AquaCap vs EC: Traditional pendimethalin (EC formulations) uses organic solvents and stains heavily. Pendulum AquaCap encapsulates the active ingredient in water-based micro-capsules, reducing staining by 90%+ and improving worker safety. Always choose AquaCap formulations when available.
Agricultural workhorse: Pendimethalin is one of the top 5 most-used herbicides in US agriculture. Applied pre-plant or pre-emergence in corn, soybeans, cotton, peanuts, and dozens of other crops. Over 40 million pounds are applied annually in the US.