Is Nutgrass Driving You Nuts?

Nutsedge (also called Nutgrass) is a troublesome and difficult-to-control weed that is often found in lawns. It is a perennial plant that is not actually a grass plant at all, it is a sedge. This is why your normal grass and weed killers won't have any effect on the plant.

Nutsedge thrives in the hot weather and grows taller than the surrounding grass in the summer making it very noticeable.  It often thrives in wet soil from poor drainage or over watering.

Nutsedge reproduces by small underground tubers, called nutlets.  A single plant can produce several hundred of these tubers in one summer.  This is why one of the worst ways to get rid of this plant is pulling it out of the ground.  The nutlet that is left behind in the ground will produce multiple new plants.

So how can you eradicate it from your yard?   There is no easy answer to this but we will give you a summary of the best ways to win your yard back!

1.  Dry it out - this is one of the easiest things to do but not practical for most situations.  If you do have a drainage issue, fixing it will help dry out the nutsedge.  You should test your irrigation system to see if you are watering too much - see our recent post for directions on how to do this at http://preferredlandscape.blogspot.com/2014/07/are-you-wasting-water.html.

2.  Dig it out - if you just have a few plants creeping into your yard for your neighbors, this is probably the
best way for you to handle it.  The key is to do it as soon as you see the plants developing before they become more established.  You have to dig out the whole plant including all the tubers.  There are special weed puller tools to help you do this with minimal damage to your own grass.

3.  Chemical Applications - There are several Nutsedge killers on the market, Image and Sedgehammer, being the most well known.  You apply these according to the directions and it will start yellowing the nutsedge within a few weeks.  According to our research, to fully eradicate, you will need several applications of the product before seeing much improvement.

4.  Organic Application - Many people have had success getting rid of Nutsedge by spreading molasses on their yard.  Horticultural Molasses is a fertilizer for your soil that also has the added benefit of killing nutsedge.  When applied to the affected area, it works by attracting beneficial soil microorganisms that eat the nutlets attached to the root of the nutsedge.  This will likely take several applications prior to seeing results as well.

Have you had success with any of these?  Or do you have a different method that has worked for you?  We would love to hear them.  If battling nutsedge is not a DIY project for you, we would be happy to help.