Nutsedge are not your typical grass or broadleaf weed. They are a type of sedge and have distinctive rhizomes and nutlets that can stay in the soil for several seasons. This is why it’s essential to use the proper treatment method if you want to eradicate them permanently.
In this article we’ll share our best tips on how to get rid of nutsedge in your lawn.
The best way to kill nutsedge is with a non-selective herbicide containing glyphosate, like roundup. The downside is while it’s highly effective it will also kill the surrounding grass.
Identifying Nutsedge in Your Lawn
One of the easiest ways to tell whether or not you have nutsedge in your lawn is to look for its distinctive yellow-green color. Nutsedge will be much brighter and shinier than the rest of your grass, and it often stands out from the rest of the lawn.
It usually has thick upright leaves that are V-shaped and small yellow flowers that grow from a triangular stem in late spring and early summer.
You can also try and pull on a nutgrass stem, it should come up easily with little resistance, whereas grass is more firmly rooted to the ground.
How to Control Nutsedge in your Lawn?
Controlling nutsedge can be tricky since it has deep roots, making it difficult to eliminate the entire plant. However, there are some methods that are more effective than others. Here are our top tips for eliminating nutsedge from your lawn:
1. Use a Selective Herbicide
Using a selective herbicide instead of Roundup is more suitable way to kill nutsedge in your lawn. The benefit of this method is that it won’t harm the surrounding grass, however it might require multiple treatments to kill the weeds. Sedgehammer Plus Turf Herbicide is one of the most popular selective herbicides that specifically targets nutsedge.
To maximize the effect, applying the herbicide should be done during late spring/early summer when plants are still growing.
It is important to wait 2-3 days after applying weed sprays to your lawn before mowing. This gives the chemicals enough time to take effect and ensures that you get the best result from the treatment.
2. Remove by hand
Removing nutsedge by hand is effective, but labor-intensive. By doing so, you can avoid the need for herbicides and ensure that the entire root system is removed. Nut grass roots can extend up to 12-18 inches below the surface, so it is important to carefully pull them out in order to not break the roots.
To make sure that the nutgrass wont grow back, any stray roots should be carefully dug up and disposed of in a sealed trash bag.
3. Mow high
One way to control nutsedge in your lawn is to adjust your mowing habits. By raising the cutting height of the lawn mower you are providing the grass with more room to grow and become stronger and crowd out nutsedge and other weeds.
4. Kill it with sugar
Nutsedge weed can be controlled by spraying sugar on the affected areas early in the growing season in the spring. Killing nutsedge with sugar not only keeps weeds at bay but also feeds your lawn’s beneficial bacteria.
This treatment tends to need at least 2-3 applications to be successful.
How To Prevent Nutsedge From Growing In Your Lawn
The best way to prevent nutsedge from growing in the lawn is by using a post-emergent herbicide. These are applied before the weed has had a chance to sprout, and can help keep it from taking root in the first place.
Maintaining soil pH levels at around 6.5, or slightly higher, is another way to help prevent Nutsedge from taking over your lawn. This will make the soil more favorable for the grasses and less hospitable for Nutsedge growth. Properly balanced soil pH will also contribute to overall healthier grass and better results from nutrient application.
You can also make sure to mow your lawn regularly to help prevent nutsedge from establishing itself by removing the nutlets before they can take root.
Does Nutsedge Come Back Every Year?
Yes, nutsedge is perennial plant that grows year after year. Every year, a single Nutsedge plant can yield hundreds of tubers, also known as nutlets.
Conclusion
Nutsedge can be a difficult weed to control in your lawn, but it is possible. Follow the steps above to help keep Nutsedge out of your lawn and that your grass has what it needs to stay healthy and strong.
