Strange grass in yard - Ask Extension
For the first time I have patches and single stalks of some kind of grass coming up in my yard. It grows three Tim’s faster than my normal grass an...
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Strange grass in yard #476259
Asked August 06, 2018, 3:39 PM EDT
For the first time I have patches and single stalks of some kind of grass coming up in my yard. It grows three Tim’s faster than my normal grass and seems to be sparse even in the patches. It affects one half of my front yard. I don’t think it is drab grass but don’t know for sure.
Monroe County Michigan
Expert Response
It looks to me like nutsedge. It grows aggressively in the warmer weather when the grass growth slows down.
Unfortunately it doesn't do much good to pull it out as it is growing from a small brown or tuber about an inch lower than the roots that you can pull out, connected by a very small root. Hence the name nutgrass(not really a grass) or nutsedge. If it is in a garden bed, you may be able to dig low enough to dig out the tuber but this is impossible to do when it is growing in grass.
You need to use a herbicide that is specifically for nutsedge and totally eradicating it may take more than one application. Try to do it asap while it is actively growing. Be sure to follow the label precautions and instruction.
Unfortunately it doesn't do much good to pull it out as it is growing from a small brown or tuber about an inch lower than the roots that you can pull out, connected by a very small root. Hence the name nutgrass(not really a grass) or nutsedge. If it is in a garden bed, you may be able to dig low enough to dig out the tuber but this is impossible to do when it is growing in grass.
You need to use a herbicide that is specifically for nutsedge and totally eradicating it may take more than one application. Try to do it asap while it is actively growing. Be sure to follow the label precautions and instruction.
