Nutsedge’s deep root system makes the weed challenging to eliminate. While some homeowners were able to get rid of the plant by digging it up or applying pre-emergent herbicides, even a little bit of the rhizome left behind is enough to help it regrow. The most effective way to kill off the weed is using herbicides containing sulfentrazone that are absorbed through the plant into the root system—though several applications may be necessary to get the job done.
While most homeowners are familiar with broadleaf weeds, nutsedge is a different and more challenging species. Native to the Eastern hemisphere, the weed is not a true grass, but a grass-like plant called a sedge. Though it was first introduced to the United States in the 1850s as a potential vegetable crop, today, nutsedge is best known to American gardeners and homeowners as a virulent nuisance. Two common varieties—yellow and purple—are considered one of the worst weeds to find in your yard.
Of all the weeds that can attack your lawn, nutsedge may be the most challenging to eradicate. A master of survival, this tenacious, drought-tolerant invader spreads aggressively and can overtake your grass in just a couple of growing seasons if left unchecked. Nutsedge Prevention and Control The most effective way to prevent and control nutsedge is through identification and eradication early in the growing season. It’s also important to make conditions less conducive to the weed’s growth:
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Nutsedge’s ability to reproduce makes it one of the most formidable adversaries of healthy lawns. Its seeds or seedlings may sometimes be present in garden soil or plants purchased from the local nursery. As a perennial, nutsedge comes back year after year, spreading its reach through seed dispersal and its ever-expanding root system. Horizontal underground stems called rhizomes produce roots that form shoots and small nodules called tubers that store nutrients the plant needs for the next season’s growth.
Some gardeners have successfully used white vinegar to kill nutsedge, although multiple applications were necessary. If you are planning to try using vinegar, make sure that the acetic acid concentration of the vinegar is at least 10 percent. Sugar and water mixed with hydrogen peroxide and horticultural-grade molasses have also reportedly been effective against the weed.
Trying and pulling up nutsedge can be tempting, and repeated pulling can weaken the plant. But pulling is more likely to kick this plant into survival mode, causing the rhizome left underground to put up more shoots. It’s nearly impossible to pull any plant up with such a deep root system. Assistance from a professional lawn care company is your best bet in battling this tough weed.
Nutsedge is a master of self-preservation, crowding out other plants and leaching the soil of nutrients in the process. A single plant can produce nearly 2,000 shoots and 7,000 tubers in one growing season. Multiply this by hundreds of plants, and it’s easy to see how the weed can quickly choke out your lawn. Unsure what nutsedge looks like or how to get rid of it? Our soil scientists explain how to identify it, control it & prevent it.