Are some of your lawn turfs growing twice as fast? That might be nutsedge – a perennial pesky weed that looks like grass. If you ignore the creepy things without taking any nutsedge control, you’ll end up breeding relentless weeds that will eventually choke up the entire lawn.
As per the best landscaping service near me in Buffalo companies, nutsedge is one of the most challenging weeds to control. But with correct identification and control, you can successfully kick the weed to the bay.
Let’s explore this topic in detail!
What are nutsedges?
Nutsedge, also known as nutgrass, is a grass-type weed. It has dense colonies and grows faster than regular turfgrass. The weeds develop seed heads once they grow tall.
Identifying Nutsedge
Two common perennial species of the nutsedge invade lawns – yellow and purple nutsedge. But how do you identify and tell them apart? Check it out below!
| Purple Nutsedge | Yellow Nutsedge |
| The color of seedheads ranges from dark red to purplish brown. | The color of seedheads is greenish-yellow, straw-colored, or golden brown. |
| Grows up to 16 inches tall. | Grows up to 3 feet tall. |
| Leaves are shorter than stems. | Stems are shorter than leaves. |
| The leaves are dark green. | The leaves are light green. |
| The leaf tips are round. | The leaf tips are pointed. |
| Reproduce via seeds. | Reproduce via seeds and tuber. |
What Can You Do For Nutsedge Control In Lawns?
It is tough to get rid of nutsedge (if it’s right up there with some tricky dandelions). For effective results, combine mechanical, chemical, and cultural nutsedge control methods.
Mechanical Nutsedge Control
Mechanical control is ideal for small sedge infestations. The best options for it are persistent pulling and digging.
Persistent Pulling
As soon as the nutsedge leaves sprout in spring, pull them out. If you remove the sedge before it forms 4-6 leaves, you can successfully halt the tuber production.
Digging
If consistent weed pulling is driving you insane, you have a fast alternative. Dig 10 inches and remove the entire underground root system.
Chemical Nutsedge Control
The professional gardeners recommend herbicides containing the following ingredients for nutsedge –
- Bentazon
- Halosulfuron
- Imazaquin
- Sulfentrazone
The best time to apply the post-emergent herbicide in nutsedges is when the foliage is in the third to eighth leaf stage. Don’t mow the lawn after applying the herbicide.
Cultural Nutsedge Control
You can successfully control nutsedge grass by combining mechanical or chemical measures along with cultural methods. Here’s what you can do –
- Nutsedges prefer moist soil. So your watering schedule shouldn’t leave your lawn wet for long periods. The best time to water lawns is before 10 a.m.
- Lawns with drainage issues are more susceptible to nutsedges. So, fix such issues for a nutsedge-free lawn.
- The healthier you’ll keep your lawn, the more resistant it will be against nutsedges attacks. Proper lawn care tasks are regular mowing, dethatching, and fertilizing.
Don’t Let Nutsedges Drive Your Nuts – Hire Prime Landscapers
Maintaining a nutsedge-free lawn can eat up hours of your weekend. Why not hire the lawn care professionals from Prime Landscapers to ease up the burden? We keep your lawns in tip-top condition so that it has a strong defence against all weeds including nutsedge.
Contact Prime Landscapers today!