How To Control & Get Rid of Nutsedge

Jan 30 2023 Written by Ivy

Here, we'll discuss how to get rid of nutsedge so you can resume enjoying your lawn to the fullest.

Natural Ways

Cutting it Out
Animals
Regrading
Chemicals

Herbicides Ways

Glyphosate
Halosulfuron
Sulfentrazone

What is Nutsedge Or Nutgrass?

A perennial sedge weed called nutsedge likes to grow in the moist parts of the lawn. It's particularly problematic because of how persistent it is. It can grow quite quickly in warm environments, such as those we have here in Memphis, Tennessee.

Nutsedge spreads via rhizomes and/or "tubers" underground, which are sometimes referred to as "nutlets," hence its name.

This weed can be distinguished by its vivid green hue and the fact that it can grow up to five times more quickly than the healthy grass in your lawn. A good chance that it's nutsedge exists if your entire lawn is level and some bright green weeds that resemble grass protrude from it.

Homeowners occasionally mistake the weedy sedge kyllinga for nutsedge, according to our research. Kyllinga has finer-textured leaves and a propensity to form dense mats. Additionally, it grows more slowly than other sedges.

How Do I Even Begin to Control Nutgrass?

It makes sense to take into account the root of the problem whenever homeowners are troubled by a particular kind of weed. Finding areas of excessive moisture is a crucial first step in the case of nutsedge because it does well in wet areas of the lawn.

You might unintentionally be encouraging the growth of nutsedge if you have a dripping hose in your lawn or even a leaky irrigation system.

Finding resolvable moisture problems is essential, especially to avoid future nutsedge. Naturally, you'll also need to eradicate the nutsedge you currently have and restore your lawn to health. Additionally, it's critical to keep in mind that not all nutsedge can be avoided. This troublesome weed may still grow despite your best efforts to prevent it.

How to Spot and Identify Nutsedge in Your Lawn

As previously mentioned, Nutsedge resembles the majority of species of tall grass in appearance. Because of this, it might not be as obvious at first, but as the season progresses, it will become painful to look at and nearly impossible to miss.

To begin with, Nutsedge is typically a very light green shade that borders on yellow. Your lawn may lose its desired color as a result, and it may appear unhealthy. If nothing else, it will stick out sharply among your turfgrass's deep green color.

Its height is another feature that is challenging to ignore. The appearance of your lawn will be even more inconsistent because nutsedge grows much taller (and faster) than the majority of lawn grass species.

It will always stand out in your lawn due to the difference in color, growth rate, and height.

If your nutsedge has had time to develop and spread, you will also notice flowers blooming in the middle of a cluster of three leaves.

According to the season, the flowers may even have various colors. The full form of Nutsedge is difficult to miss once it has had time to develop.

How to Get Rid of Nutgrass

Implementing specialized post-emergent control products is necessary to eradicate nutsedge. These solutions are intended specifically for nutsedge and won't harm the rest of your grass.

Nutsedge requires repeated controls to knockback because of its hardiness and rapid growth. Even if you accomplish this in a single season, it might come back.

Because of this, it's critical that nutsedge control be included in an ongoing, all-encompassing weed control program. With a tenacious weed like nutsedge, you simply cannot let your guard down.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Nutsedge

Cutting It Out

You should never pull weeds out of the ground in general. Most definitely not matured nutsedge. By removing it from the ground, the tubers are roused, allowing them to fall and replant.

Once a mature tuber has been removed from the ground, its regrowth will start to annoy you very quickly. On the other hand, you can remove tubers from the root if they are present in your garden bed but have not yet had time to mature.

The tuber needs to be removed in any other case. Cut high, if possible. A tuber will only continue to grow if it is cut at a short length.

Animals

Opening up your lawn to wild animals is another all-natural way to get rid of nut grass. Numerous animals actually take pleasure in munching on weeds like nutgrass. In this way, you avoid having to deal with your weeds and they get a free meal.

Of course, this may not be the best option if you have perennial beds that you want to keep deer out of.

Regrading

As I previously stated, moist, unhealthy lawns are ideal for nut grass growth. You can top-dress your yard and mow your lawn frequently to improve the soil's quality and make it difficult for nutgrass to grow.

These techniques can also be applied to a full regrading project to keep nutsedge out for good.

You can improve drainage and keep any moisture from collecting on your lawn by regrading it. As a result, areas where nut grass would thrive are eliminated.

How to Get Rid of Nutsedge With Chemicals

Herbicides

You can purchase a variety of different herbicides to get rid of nutsedge. Typically, herbicides are the most efficient and produce results in the shortest amount of time.

You can purchase certain items at your neighborhood box store or hardware store, such as Ortho (Amazon link). Despite the fact that many of these products are effective, they are frequently less targeted, and depending on the type of grass you have, they may also harm or kill your other grass in addition to nutsedge.

For better adhesion to the leaves of Nutsedge, Crabgrass, or any other grassy weed you're trying to kill, I mix the herbicide Tenacity (Amazon link) with a surfactant.

Using Glyphosate to Kill Nutsedge

Garden beds or other areas with loose soil and young Nutsedge can benefit greatly from the use of glyphosate-based herbicides.

Please be aware that this type of herbicide will not work on other parts of your lawn, especially on tubers that are already fully developed.

Other Chemicals That Get Rid of Nutsedge

There are numerous different herbicides available on the market. For Nutsedge, the best results will come from herbicides containing chemicals like sulfentrazone and halosulfuron.

Ways to Prevent Nutsedge from Sprouting

Watch for Tubers

Once a single tuber establishes itself in your lawn's soil, nutsedge can begin to spread. Without a doubt, you'll want to keep them out. Be mindful of your surroundings, including the yards of your neighbors, and keep an eye out for any potential entry points for pests.

If you recently lent your neighbor your gardening tools, make sure to thoroughly inspect and sanitize them before using them again on your own lawn.

Make sure that the lawn is not infested if you intend to visit someone else's farm or lawn so that you don't unintentionally bring tubers with you when you wear shoes.

Floodwaters, mulch, dirt, and even incomplete compost are additional unintentional means of Nutsedge spread.

Test Your Soil

You might want to test new soil to make sure it doesn't contain any nutlets or tubers before spreading it out on your lawn.

At home, you can test your soil by paying close attention to its composition. Examine the soil's contents carefully by sifting through it on a paper towel.

In order to compare roots easily, look for any and have Nutsedge root pictures on hand.

Use (the Right) Herbicides

There are many different lawn herbicides on the market, which can be good or bad depending on whether you prefer to maintain an organic lawn or use chemicals.

One of the best ways to prevent weeds is to incorporate an herbicide into your routine for maintaining your lawn, and it is a very quick and easy process.

Always check the ingredients to make sure it will kill the weeds you are trying to get rid of.

Run a spot test first to make sure the solution is safe for your lawn and won't harm both your grass and the grassy weed you're trying to eliminate.

In a lower section of this article, I describe the precise herbicide and recipe I use to eradicate nutsedge in turfgrass.

Improve Drainage

In poor, moist soil, nutsedge thrives. Mowing your lawn frequently to keep it dry and making sure your drainage is sufficient are quick fixes. Consider frequently tilling your lawn or even regrading it.

Spot Them Early On

Typically, nutsedge doesn't start to stand out until it has been in existence for a while. Usually, an infestation has already started by then and it is too late. While there are many ways to stop the weed from sprouting at all, some occurrences cannot be avoided. However, it's important to constantly keep an eye on your lawn's consistency in order to spot any nutsedge infestation warning signs early and stop it in its tracks.

Also Read How to Get Rid of the Following Species:
Animals:

Pests:

Plants:

Mushrooms

Final Thoughts on Removing Nutsedge from Your Lawn

Regardless of the species, having weeds take over your lawn can be a nightmare. They waste your time and deface a lawn that is otherwise in good shape.

Avoiding postponed remediation is the best way to defeat weeds and take pleasure in a weed-free carpet of lush green grass. The longer weeds are allowed to establish themselves, the harder (and more expensive and time-consuming) it will be to remove them.

You can successfully get rid of nutsedge from your lawn by controlling it with both preventative and corrective measures. Do so, and you'll be one step closer to a green, healthy, and beautiful weed-free lawn.

FAQs

What Kills Nutsedge Not Grass?

Roundup is effective against a wide range of nutsedges. The roots of Roundup-treated sedge plants will be damaged, causing the sedge to die completely. However, Roundup is a non-selective herbicide. It kills any growing plant that comes into contact with it, including your lawn grass.

How Do You Get Rid of Yellow Nutsedge?

The most effective way to get rid of yellow nutsedge is by applying a post-emergent herbicide, such as glyphosate, to the affected area.

Should You Pull Nutsedge?

Pulling Nutsedge is not the best idea. Pulling nutsedge can actually send a signal to the underground tubers to spread and put out new growth. While persistent pulling over time can weaken the plant, it is most likely to do more harm then good.

Will Pre-emergents Prevent Nutsedge?

Technically pre-emergents will prevent Nutsedge growing from seed, but sense Nutsedge is a perennial weed and spreads through underground tubers and rhizomes, it will not prevent Nutsedge from coming back every year if you already have it in your lawn.

When Should I Spray for Nutsedge?

For optimal results, you should spray for nutsedge when the plant is actively growing, which is typically in the spring or summer.

Does Vinegar Kill Nutsedge?

Vinegar is a popular substance for eradicating poison ivy. It's also an excellent medium for naturally destroying nutsedge in the lawn and garden, and it's a wonderful dandelion spray. Its use to get rid of numerous other pesky weeds is unequalled, and it's also great as a natural dandelion spray.

Can You Kill Nutsedge Organically?

There's certainly not a perfect way to control Nutsedge organically. You can try pulling the weeds as you see them but you have to be extremely persistent since hand pulling can actually cause the weed to grow more before eventually starting to die back. Your best bet to control nutsedge organically is to maintain a healthy, well fed lawn, and fix problems such as soil compaction and drainage where nutsedge is likely to thrive.

Does Nutsedge Come Back Every Year?

Nutsedges can become a recurring problem if they are not properly treated. If your efforts to get rid of the weed are not effective, you may need to reapply the herbicide every two weeks or so until the nutsedge stops returning. You also need to keep in mind that nutsedges grow extremely quickly, so it is best to spot them as early as possible and eliminate them before they have time to spread across your lawn.