The label is the law. Rates and restrictions below are taken from the product labels listed under Sources. Your product's own label governs; read it before you mix or apply. Mixing calculator · Disclaimer
- Active ingredient
- Diuron
- Chemical class
- Substituted urea (a dichlorophenyl dimethylurea); WSSA Group 7 photosystem II inhibitor.[2][1]
- Mode of action
- WSSA Group 7: Photosystem II inhibitors (ureas)[2][1]
- Signal word
- Diuron 80DF Herbicide (also labeled Karmex DF, Diuron IVM): Caution[1]
Not for home yards
The label forbids use on home plantings of trees, shrubs and flowers, and on lawns, walks, driveways and tennis courts. It also bars use on turf at homes, apartments, schools, daycares, parks and sports fields.[1]
Watch the roots of nearby trees
Desirable trees and shrubs can be injured if diuron reaches their roots, including by draining or rinsing equipment nearby or by water washing it toward root zones. Don't treat ditch areas where tree roots may reach.[1]
Where it is used
Moisture switches it on. It works best applied shortly before weeds start growing, with rain or sprinkler water within about two weeks to move it into the soil.[1]
If dense growth is already present, remove the tops and spray the ground. A non-ionic surfactant improves contact action on established weeds sprayed in warm weather above 70°F.[1]
Clay and high-organic soils need more product than light soils to do the same job, and control length varies with rate, soil and rainfall.[1]
For ditches, treat only when no water is in them. If less than 4 inches of rain falls afterward, fill the ditch, let it stand 72 hours, and drain that water before use.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diuron 80DF Herbicide (also labeled Karmex DF, Diuron IVM)[1] | Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc. (ADAMA) | 66222-51 | 80.0% | dispersible granule (dry flowable) mixed with water | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diuron 80DF Herbicide (also labeled Karmex DF, Diuron IVM) | Non-crop areas: airports, highway, utility and railroad rights-of-way, fence rows, farmyards, fuel storage areas, lumberyards, tank farms, and dry irrigation or drainage ditches | Most annual broadleaf weeds and grasses, including kochia, horseweed, pigweed, lambsquarters, crabgrass, foxtail, sandbur and seedling johnsongrass | 5–15 lb product per acre[1] Broadleaves take 5 to 15 lb per acre and most grasses 5 to 8 lb. Stay at or under 10 lb per acre unless yearly rainfall tops 40 inches or weeds cover more than 90% of the ground. Annual limit 15 lb per acre, at most two applications 90 days apart. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word CAUTION: harmful if swallowed and causes moderate eye irritation. Mixers and loaders wear long sleeves, long pants, shoes and socks, chemical-resistant gloves and a particulate-filtering respirator.[1]
Pets
The label's warning for people and domestic animals is that it is harmful if swallowed. On non-crop sites, keep unprotected people out until sprays have dried.[1]
Bees and pollinators
This label has no bee toxicity statement; its environmental warnings focus on water and on drift onto plants you want to keep.[1]
Fish and water
Don't apply it directly to water, where surface water is present, or below the mean high water mark. Don't mix, load or use it near wells, abandoned wells, drainage wells or sinkholes.[1]
Common questions
- Can I use diuron on my driveway or patio?
- No. This label specifically says not to use it on home plantings, lawns, walks, driveways, tennis courts or similar areas.[1]
- How much diuron per acre for bare ground?
- For non-crop sites, 5 to 15 pounds of Diuron 80DF per acre, normally no more than 10 pounds, and never over 15 pounds per acre in a year.[1]
- Is diuron a soil sterilant?
- It is a soil-applied preemergence herbicide that controls susceptible weed seedlings for an extended time; how long depends on rate, soil texture and rainfall.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Diuron 80DF Herbicide label, EPA Reg. No. 66222-51 (EPA-stamped, Jan. 21, 2020).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/066222-00051-20200121.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Weed Science Society of America, “Summary of Herbicide Mechanism of Action According to the Weed Science Society of America.” wssa.net/wp-content/uploads/WSSA-Mechanism-of-Action.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)