Crabgrass Control: When to Use Quintessential® vs. Q4® Plus
Crabgrass control isn’t one-size-fits-all. As it matures, it becomes harder to kill. One of the most important (and commonly misunderstood) stages is the mid-tiller stage.
What is the “mid-tiller” stage?
It’s when crabgrass has moved beyond a young seedling and starts producing multiple shoots (or “tillers”) from the base—giving it that wide, spreading look.
- Early stage: 1–3 leaves, easy to control
- Mid-tiller stage: multiple stems, thicker, more established
- Mature stage: large clumps, seedhead production, hardest to kill
At mid-tiller, crabgrass has:
- A stronger root system
- More surface area to recover from stress
- Increased tolerance to weaker herbicides
That’s where product selection becomes critical.
Meet the Contenders
Four-way post-emergent herbicide designed to control a wide range of grassy and broadleaf weeds.
Q4® Plus is your do-it-all post-emergent. It combines four active ingredients—quinclorac, sulfentrazone, 2,4-D, and dicamba—for broad-spectrum control.
Where it shines:
- Mixed weed pressure (crabgrass + clover + dandelion, etc.)
- Early to moderately mature weeds
- Spring and early summer cleanups
What to expect:
- Controls 80+ weeds, including crabgrass and nutsedge
- Fast visible results
- Flexible on most cool-season lawns
Think of Q4® Plus as your “clean up everything at once” solution.
Quintessential is built specifically to push quinclorac performance further, especially on tough crabgrass.
What makes it different:
- Delivers more quinclorac into the plant
- Designed for control at all growth stages—including mid-tiller
- Faster rainfast window (as little as ~2 hours)
Where it shines:
- Mid-to-late stage crabgrass
- Stubborn patches that didn’t respond to earlier treatments
- Situations where timing wasn’t perfect
This is your “I’m past the ideal window, now what?” product.
Quintessential vs. Q4 Plus
| Attribute | Quintessential | Q4 Plus |
| Primary Strength | Advanced crabgrass control | Broad-spectrum weed control |
| Crabgrass Stage | All stages (especially mid-tiller) | Best on early to moderate stages |
| Active Approach | Optimized quinclorac delivery | 4-way herbicide (quinclorac + others) |
| Weed Coverage | Focused (crabgrass + select weeds) | 80+ grassy & broadleaf weeds |
| Best Use Case | Late-season rescue or stubborn crabgrass | General lawn cleanup |
So… Which One Should You Use?
Go with Q4 Plus if:
- You’re dealing with a mix of weeds
- Crabgrass is still young or just getting started
- You want one product to handle everything
Go with Quintessential if:
- Crabgrass is already established (mid-tiller or worse)
- You missed the early window
- You need stronger, targeted control
Pro Tip:
If you’re staring at thick, sprawling crabgrass in July, you’re likely in mid-tiller territory—and that’s where many standard herbicides start to struggle. That’s exactly why Quintessential exists.
Both products have a place in your program:
Q4 Plus = versatility + early intervention
Quintessential = power + late-stage crabgrass control
Dial in your timing, match the product to the growth stage, and you’ll stay one step ahead of crabgrass all season long.
