Weeds - Nut Sedge (Nutgrass)
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  (June) I am looking for advice on getting rid of nut grass. I have it in my lawn and I have St. Augustine, which is so sensitive to chemicals. The sprays I have tried are working and digging and sifting is a back breaking job. What can I use in the flower beds?

  Nutgrass is one of those weeds that makes moving seem like a good idea! In reality, there are a few products that can give you some control. For the lawn, there are several products labeled for use. One of the best products is Manage. With heavy infestations you may have to use more than one application. It is one of the most effective products and is safe on all lawn grasses, including St. Augustine and Centipede. The older recommendation is Image plus MSMA. While this is effective on nutsedge, you would have to use at least two applications, and it tends to burn back your lawn fairly badly. It is labeled only for Bermuda and Zoysia. In the flower beds, spot spray with Round-up, but again, it will take more than one application.

  (August) I have a new Zoysia yard that has set very well due in large part to the nice July rains. What is the best time to apply pre-emerge herbicide next year? I have a bad nut sedge problem which we have controlled this year with the herbicide "Manage".

  Pre-emergent herbicides for summer weeds are applied in late February to mid March. This only prevents summer annual weeds. Nutsedge is a perennial and will not be prevented by a pre-emergent herbicide. Manage is very effective, and hopefully you have nipped it in the bud. If you have spring weeds in abundance, you can use a pre-emergent product in early November or catch them while small in January. I wish I had some of those wonderful July rains you speak of! We are really dry!

  (October) Our lawn has been over run with nut grass this year. What can I do to solve or get rid of this problem next year? I put fertilizer with Barricade on my lawn in February. Should I apply it sooner, maybe in November and later on? I have Bermuda, zoysia, and St. Augustine grasses.

  Unfortunately, this isn't an easy problem to solve. Nutgrass is a tough weed, and it is a perennial, so using a pre-emergent herbicide, such as Barricade won't solve your problem. Pre-emergent herbicides only work on weeds that are annuals, meaning they come up from seed each season-crabgrass is a good example. Nutgrass comes up from the small nutlets and root system each year. It is too late to get after it this season, but next spring or early summer try Image plus MSMA on the Bermuda and zoysia lawns. Image alone can give you some control on St. Augustine or you can try Basagran. Moving to a yard without nutgrass would be an excellent alternative! Good luck!

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