Signs and treatment of Yellow Nutsedge:
A few days after mowing, yellow nutsedge, commonly called nutgrass or watergrass, is already taller than the surrounding grass. The leaf blades are coarser and lighter green than the surrounding grass. Nutsedge prefers wet, thin-turf areas but can survive in even the driest and thickest lawn and garden areas.
Hand-pulling these weeds can be effective in shrub beds where roots, rhizomes and young tubers can be pulled from the soil. Even in turf areas where only a few nutsedge plants are found, hand-pulling can be essential to prevent this aggressive plant from becoming a larger problem. But where it is already well-established, more aggressive cultural and herbicide control may be needed.
As a Martz Bros. customer, we will treat these weeds with your current treatment to keep your lawn looking nice throughout the summer. Since not all of the plants are up yet, applying herbicides early in the season will not prevent nutsedge, they only minimize it during the summer months. Mid-summer and late-summer treatments using a herbicide containing halosulfuron or sulfentrazone (July, August or early September) will help control existing plants before they develop new tubers (nuts) in late summer and fall.
Encourage the turf and discourage nutsedge by following these steps:
- Correct water drainage to eliminate wet areas
- Water heavily – but infrequently – during the summer months to reduce nutsedge proliferation
- Every September, core aerate and overseed with a tall fescue and bluegrass blend to provide aggressive completion for light and space
- Keep mower settings high and mow often to encourage thick turf with strong roots
- Apply nutsedge herbicide in late summer at least three weeks before seeding
- Concentrate most nitrogen use in the fall, but do not starve the lawn during spring and summer months
- Allow three years or more of aggressive management to reduce the number of viable tubers in the soil and to see the first visible results of the lawn
If you have any questions or concerns about nutsedge in your lawn, do not hesitate to call Martz Bros. Lawn and Tree Care at (913)789-9333 or Online.
