Thread: Nutgrass City Limits!

I recently laid some new turf (couch). I poisoned the existing "grass" with Roundup (glyphosate) 3 weeks earlier, then put down about 3 inches of topsoil over the area to lay the turf on.

It's now 3 weeks since the turf was laid, and nutgrass (sedge) is starting to come through in patches. It's definitely nutgrass, it said so on the interwebs (no, seriously, I know nutgrass when I see it). Bloody annoying - I suspect the topsoil I bought was contaminated, but who knows.

Does anyone have some tips on the best approach to getting rid of it? I've read that you can dig the bulbs out, but it is a large area and the turf is still fairly new - I don't really want to start hacking holes all over it just yet. I've also read there are nutgrass - specific poisons available for lawns: anyone had any experience with these? Are they OK with couch grass, and should I be spraying it over turf that's only 3 weeks old?

I will seek some advice from our local nursery this weekend, but thought I'd seek the collective and individual wisdom of the membership here as well.

Thanks!

James.

I'm going to be completely unhelpful and say I haven't used ANY chemicals at ALL on my little plot of earth for 15 years. 15 years ago I used a chemical to try and get rid of Cherry slug but not since. I did have Coddling moth in the apple trees but the chickens got rid of those. My 'lawn' is full of weeds and is essentially more a pasture than anything else. Living next to 12 acres of paddocks means I can't stop weeds encroaching and I don't care

I fertilize with cow poo I gather from the paddock next door and chicken poo from my chickens, and maybe three times in 15 years I've used blood and bone.

Yeah, I know what you are saying Carl. But this patch of lawn is one I'd like to keep "nice" if you know what I mean. The rest of our lawn is as much weed as it is grass - I just want this one little bit...

James.

Jimbo,

I don't know if it's available down under, but Google "Sedge Hammer" I think it's 2 words. I use it and it does work.

Also, don't try pulling it out by the roots......it makes it spread aggressively.



Howard

Not sure either, but I did my verge a while back and it's got something similar in it. We just either mow it, or try and pull it up. We were told to roundup twice, three weeks apart before laying turf, we didn't, we did it once too.
As a semi experienced straight razor user I would recommend one of these options. For leafy weeds you can spot spray with glyphosphate, but I try not to as much as possible.
I hope my complete lack of useful input was helpful to you.
All the best
Ed.

Excellent, thanks Howard. I think I did see that product while surfing the web. Good to know it works!

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Yeah, I know what you are saying Carl. But this patch of lawn is one I'd like to keep "nice" if you know what I mean. The rest of our lawn is as much weed as it is grass - I just want this one little bit...

James.

No, yes, of course, I'm being silly and unhelpful. I would suggest digging them, I do think mowing over them and leavign them might increase the number of corms (I think it grows from a bulby thing)...

4 Ways to Get Rid of Nutgrass in Lawn - wikiHow

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

No, yes, of course, I'm being silly and unhelpful. I would suggest digging them, I do think mowing over them and leavign them might increase the number of corms (I think it grows from a bulby thing)...

4 Ways to Get Rid of Nutgrass in Lawn - wikiHow

You are right that mowing isn't a great soloution, but it is preferable to poisoning your garden if you can't pull it in my opinion, but yours may be different
If it's any consolation Carl, I was probably equally useless, but at least you got in first, I just look like a desciple of the church of useless, whereas you are the high priest of useless. Hmm that compliment went wrong I think.

I thought you weren't allowed on the internet at work Carl, or have you got the day off?

Can you just trim the nut grass nice and neat? Wait, I think I may have gotten myself a little bit confused - I thought this is about styling.... uhm.... the nut grass? Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, know what I mean, know what I mean...