Macon and Warner Robins Nutsedge and How To Treat It

Yellow Nutsedge

nutsedge

Yellow nutsedge has a strong triangular yellow-green stem. The leaves are found mostly at the base of the weed; they are narrow and very grass-like, but not are not grass at all. The so-called flowers of this dastardly weed are yellowish brown and sprout out of the top of the weed with narrow spikelets covered in what looks like fine hair.

This weed prefers damp areas such as over-watered lawns: edges of creeks, streams, and lakes; and country drain ditches. It grows in sporadic clumps. It seeds and spreads through corn-like basal bulbs from the flowers at the head of the weed.

Yellow Nutsedge Treatment

Treating this tough weed can be a major source of frustration to many homeowners, especially those who have acres of land. One of the newest forms of herbicide to hit the lawn care market is called Manage. This chemical is made specifically for grasses and lawns. Natural means of eradication, such as keeping the lawn cut as short as possible, can sometimes be effective. This deprives the weed of nutrients, eventually starving it out.  Find out more here.

Purple Nutsedge

Like its yellow counterpart, the purple nutsedge has a strong triangular stem, but, as its name suggests, the stem is purplish-blue. The big problem with this weed is its incredible growth rate, especially during the peak growing season between midspring and early fall. It has an underground growth system that makes the weed competitive against the strongest of grass matting. By the time this weed reaches through the sun in midspring, a long underground sprout, called a runner, has pushed out. This runner is the culprit that spreads and grows more weeds. This can happen in small sections or large patches.

Purple Nutsedge Treatment

Treating purple nutsedge is frustrating and ongoing. Repeated doses are necessary, over and over again, to penetrate the turf and eliminate the underground shoots, or runners. Fighting this weed is mostly done by attrition. Keep the lawn well mowed to help starve the plant of the nutrients it needs to survive the mowing and pesticide. If the weed is too close to an ornamental piece, hand pulling will be required. Be sure to dig up the ground around the weed to kill the runner hiding underground.

With these treatments and techniques, you should be armed to fight your own battle against yellow and purple nutsedge or helped in your final decision to hire a professional lawn care service.  Find out what to look for in a lawn care company.