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?#472727 photo. I b... #473927

Asked July 27, 2018, 10:13 PM EDT

?#472727 photo. I believe the weed might be Nimblewill patch and I plan to kill my entire lawn with Tenacity and Round Up.Waite two and reseed with 1/3 tall fescue 1/3 rye and 1/3 Kentucky Blue using a slicing seeder. If you are still un sure I can send more pictures. Any advice will be appreciated

Cuyahoga County Ohio

Expert Response

Hi. Identifying grasses often requires detailed close-up examination of the area where the leaf attaches to the stem (the ligule), the leaves themselves, and other aspects. Based on those photos, I can’t be certain whether you are dealing with nimblewill or another similar grass such as bentgrass, which can also be considered a weed in lawns. You might be able to get a good identification yourself by using a magnifying glass in conjunction with this weedy grass identification guide from Penn State. This guide from Ohio State includes some very nice images of features used to identify grasses - so you might find it useful as a reference - but it does not include nimblewill. Regardless of the exact identification of the weedy grass, your options for eliminating it are the same, as both nimblewill and bentgrass will be affected by the herbicides you note. (But you only need to use one, not both.) When using these or any other herbicide, be sure to follow label directions. Penn State has an excellent step-by-step guide to lawn renovation here. Assuming your thatch layer is not too thick (> 1/2”), you can use program #2. Note that an important step is obtaining a soil test to determine what will be needed in terms of fertilization. This will help the new lawn establish and prevent weeds in the future. Ohio State has a new fact sheet on soil testing here that will tell you all you need to know about how to sample and where to get a test. Regarding the seed mix to use, Penn State also has a very good page here on that topic. You will see that 1/3 tall fescue 1/3 perennial ryegrass, and 1/3 Kentucky bluegrass is not a typical mixture. If you wanted to use all three, it would be better to use more Kentucky bluegrass and less perennial ryegrass. (Perennial ryegrass can be overly aggressive and outcompete the other types.) However, one of the more sustainable options is to use a mixture that is mostly (90%) new (improved) turf type tall fescue (TTTF). These have very long (16”) roots, which makes them very drought-resistant, and they also have endophytes that can help prevent damage from certain insects. They do not fill in as well as Kentucky bluegrass, so you  can include 10% KBG in the mix to help with that. On the Penn State site, you will see that a TTTF lawn is suitable for both full sun and partial shade, making it a good option for many lawns. Autumn is the best time for lawn renovation, so it is good you are doing this at this time of year. Thinking about it now will give you time to test your soil before you do the renovation. This article from Ohio State indicates that the best time to seed in your area is between Aug. 15th and Sept. 15th. It also provides a lot of great information about lawn maintenance in general, including mowing and fertilizing, that will help you keep your new lawn looking its best.

Darin C. Replied July 28, 2018, 9:52 AM EDT

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