Bow and Arrow Herbicide Guide: Mix Ratio, Safety & Tips

If bindii, clover, or dandelions are taking over your lawn, you’re not alone — Bow and Arrow herbicide is a popular go-to for Australian homeowners who want selective, post-emergent broadleaf control without damaging their grass. This guide covers how to use it safely, what to mix, and where things get tricky.

Active Ingredients: Diflufenican, MCPA, Clopyralid ·
Target Weeds: Bindii, Capeweed, White Clover, Plantain ·
Application Rate: 50 mL per 100 m² ·
Grass Safety: Avoid on Kikuyu, Carpet grass, QLD Blue Couch

Six key specs at a glance: the product fits into a dedicated space in the turf-care market.

What is Bow and Arrow Herbicide Good For?

Primary target weeds controlled by Bow and Arrow

• Bindii, capeweed, cat’s ear, creeping oxalis, cudweed, plantain, white clover (Specialist Sales)

Specialist Sales, a turf supply retailer, lists these as the main broadleaf weeds the product is designed to knock out. The active trio — diflufenican, MCPA, and clopyralid — combine both contact and residual action, which makes it especially effective on weeds like bindii that flower and seed early in spring.

Turf types where it is most effective

• Safe on most established turf grasses: buffalo, couch, bent, fescue, ryegrass (Specialist Sales)
• Not recommended on Kikuyu, Carpet grass, or Queensland Blue Couch due to risk of transient discolouration

Nutrien Water Store, an industry supplier, calls Bow and Arrow “the standard for broadleaf weed control in the Australian turf industry” (Nutrien Water Store). The pattern is clear: on the right turf, it’s a precise tool, but mismatching grass varieties leads to patchy results.

The implication: if you’re on Kikuyu, test first or avoid.

How Long Does Bow and Arrow Take to Kill Weeds?

Typical time to visible results

Based on product information from Specialist Sales, visible wilting and yellowing usually appear within 7 to 14 days after application. Full control of the weed — including root death — can take 2 to 4 weeks under optimal conditions (LawnPride Australia).

Factors affecting speed of kill

• Temperature: active growth in spring/autumn gives fastest results (Mighty Goat Lawns)
• Weed age: young seedlings die faster than mature plants with established root systems
• Moisture: rain or watering within 4–6 hours can wash off the product (Mighty Goat Lawns)

What this means: speed isn’t fixed — it’s a trade-off between weather timing and weed maturity. Aim for a forecast of warm, dry days with no rain in the window.

What is the Mix Ratio for Bow and Arrow Herbicide?

Standard dilution rates

According to the product label cited by Specialist Sales, the general use rate is 5 L per hectare. For homeowners with a small backpack sprayer, the practical equivalent is 50 mL in 2–5 L of water per 100 m² (Specialist Sales). LawnPride Australia confirms the same rate: 50 mL per 100 sqm (LawnPride Australia).

Calculating correct amount for common sprayer volumes

• For a 5 L sprayer: use 25 mL of Bow and Arrow (since 50 mL covers 100 m² with 2–5 L of water)
• For a 10 L sprayer: double to 50 mL, covering roughly 200 m²
• A YouTube guide from Mighty Goat Lawns recommends multiplying 50 by your lawn area (in m²) and dividing by 100 to get mL of product (YouTube – Mighty Goat Lawns demonstration)

The implication: measuring your lawn accurately before mixing saves money and prevents overdosing, which can harm non-target grasses.

The catch: getting the ratio right protects your lawn and your wallet.

Will Bow and Arrow Kill Kikuyu?

Known effect on Kikuyu grass

Yes, it can. Specialist Sales explicitly warns that transient discolouration may occur on Kikuyu, Carpet grass, and Queensland Blue Couch (Specialist Sales). The active ingredient clopyralid is particularly tough on certain warm-season grasses.

Which grass species are sensitive

• Kikuyu, Carpet grass, Queensland Blue Couch — risk of temporary yellowing
• Some buffalo grass varieties may show more pronounced effects (test a small area first, per Specialist Sales)
• Bent grass, winter grass species, golf greens, and bowling greens: do not use (Specialist Sales)

Precautions to avoid damage

• Spot-test a small patch on your specific turf variety before full application (Specialist Sales)
• Use the exact recommended rate — higher concentration increases risk
• Apply during active growth, not when the grass is stressed from heat or drought

The trade-off: you gain strong broadleaf control, but you lose the ability to use it on the most aggressive warm-season lawn types.

Is Bow and Arrow Herbicide Good?

Pros of Bow and Arrow

• High efficacy on a wide range of common broadleaf weeds (Nutrien Water Store)
• Selective – won’t harm most cool-season and warm-season turf varieties when used correctly
• Readily available online from specialist retailers and some independent stockists

Cons and safety concerns

• Potential health concerns: a Reddit user on r/GardeningAustralia warned: “There’s evidence saying that herbicides are responsible for lower sperm count in men. Proceed with caution!” (Reddit – GardeningAustralia)
• Not stocked at Bunnings, limiting walk-in purchase options (Bunnings Workshop community)
• Restricted on sensitive turf types, especially Kikuyu

User and expert feedback

The Bunnings Workshop community laments that the store “unfortunately does not stock Bow and Arrow” (Bunnings Workshop community). On the other hand, lawn care professionals cite it as an industry standard. The verdict splits along convenience vs. performance.

The pattern: it’s a powerful tool for the right lawn, but not a universal solution.

How to Use Bow and Arrow Herbicide

1. Measure your lawn area. Calculate the area in square metres (length × width for rectangular lawns). Subtract any garden beds or features. This ensures you mix the right amount (YouTube – Mighty Goat Lawns).
2. Mix the spray solution. For a 5 L backpack sprayer: add 25 mL of Bow and Arrow to the tank, then fill with water. For a 10 L sprayer: use 50 mL. Always add water first, then the concentrate (Specialist Sales).
3. Calibrate with a water test. Before adding chemical, spray plain water over a measured area to check you’re covering the target amount per 100 m². Adjust walking speed if needed (YouTube – Mighty Goat Lawns).
4. Apply evenly. Start at one corner of the lawn and work methodically, overlapping slightly with each pass. Start and finish in the same spot to avoid double dosing (YouTube – Mighty Goat Lawns).
5. Post-application care. Keep children and pets off the treated area until completely dry (typically 1–2 hours). Avoid mowing for at least 2 days before and after application (Mighty Goat Lawns).

Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Unclear

• Confirmed: Bow and Arrow is a selective herbicide that controls bindii, capeweed, clover, plantain, and other broadleaf weeds in Australian turf (Specialist Sales). Active ingredients are diflufenican, MCPA, and clopyralid. Application rate is 50 mL per 100 m².
• Unclear: Long-term health risks from regular use remain debated in online forums. Compatibility with all tank-mix adjuvants is not fully documented. Effectiveness on every Kikuyu strain has not been independently tested.

Quotes from the Community

“There’s evidence saying that herbicides are responsible for lower sperm count in men. Proceed with caution!”

– Reddit user, r/GardeningAustralia

“Bow and Arrow Herbicide is the standard for broadleaf weed control in the Australian turf industry.”

– Lawn Pride product description (LawnPride Australia)

These contrasting perspectives highlight the divide between community concerns and industry endorsement.

For the average Australian homeowner with couch or buffalo grass, the choice is clear: if you can source it online and your lawn isn’t Kikuyu, Bow and Arrow offers reliable, selective broadleaf control. For Kikuyu owners or those who want Bunnings convenience, an alternative product is the safer play.

Frequently Asked Questions