Biological Name:
Nutsedge – Cyperus spp.
Natural Habitat:
Nutsedge: This plant is native to North America, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, pastures, and waste areas.
Description:
Nutsedge is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Cyperaceae family which also includes plants such as bulrushes and papyrus. Nutsedge is an annual or perennial plant that produces small white or green flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas nutsedge is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why should you not pull nutsedge?
A: Pulling nutsedge will increase the number of plants because dormant tubers are activated. However, it is possible to control small stands of nutsedge by persistent pulling. Pulling will eventually weaken the plants and cause them to die out. Herbicide treatments are the best way of controlling this pesky weed.
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Q: Why is nutsedge a problem?
A: They can spread rapidly from just one plant and quickly overtake desired turf, resulting in an unkempt appearance. It grows much faster than desired turfgrasses.
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Q: How do I permanently get rid of nutsedge?
A: You can control nutsedge in your lawn by applying Ortho® Nutsedge Killer Ready-To-Spray. It’s effective against newly emerged and established sedges. The weed is yellowed in 1-2 days, and complete kill occurs in 2- 3 weeks. It can be used on Northern and Southern turf grasses and is rainproof in 2 hours.
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Q: How can I stop getting nutsedge?
A: Mowing short stimulates nutsedge. You can help prevent nutsedge by regularly feeding your lawn with Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food. A healthy, maintained lawn is the first defense against nutsedge. A well-fed lawn grows thick and is better able to crowd out weeds.
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Q: Will grass choke out nutsedge?
A: Keeping your lawn healthy, such as mowing at the right height and fertilizing, will allow your grass to have a better chance to choke out the nutsedge. Because the nutlets are difficult to remove, you may also use a nutsedge killer to help eliminate this weed.
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Q: Is there a natural way to get rid of nutsedge?
A: The best way to start to eliminate Nutsedge organically is to eliminate the conditions that are causing it to thrive, which are moist and compacted soil. It’s possible that you might need to physically put drain pipes in your lawn to help with congested water.
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Q: What works best on nutsedge?
A: The only nonselective postemergent herbicide currently available to help control nutsedge in the home landscape is glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) or glyphosate with nonaoic acid (Roundup Plus). This herbicide requires repeated applications, and its use will result only in limited suppression of these weeds.
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Q: Is nutsedge good for anything?
A: Nutsedge tubers have a distinct almond-like flavor and have been used as an almond substitute in cookies, confectionery, and even pounded with sugar to make a faux marzipan.
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Q: How did nutsedge get in my lawn?
A: The main cause of nutsedge is poor soil that holds water for extended periods of time. If the lawn has drainage problems a professional may need to be called in to regrade the property with fresh soil and add drain pipes to redirect the water that sits for long periods of time.
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Q: How can I stop getting nutsedge?
A: Prevention and Maintenance Mowing short stimulates nutsedge. You can help prevent nutsedge by regularly feeding your lawn with Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food. A healthy, maintained lawn is the first defense against nutsedge. A well-fed lawn grows thick and is better able to crowd out weeds.
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Q: What time of year does nutsedge grow?
A: Yellow Nutsedge will grow much faster than the existing turf and will have a thin shiny appearance. Yellow Nutsedge is a summer perennial that flourishes from April/May to around September/October. It reproduces from tubers (nutlets) under the soil and can spread from rhizomes.
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Q: Is nutsedge the same as crabgrass?
A: Nutsedge is a perennial that tends to prefer moist areas of the lawn. Crabgrass, on the other hand, is an annual grassy weed and will pop up in compacted areas where grass doesn’t grow well.
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Q: What will kill nutsedge but not grass?
A: The best nutsedge killer is a liquid spray application of Uncle’s Nutbuster combined with Stikit, a non-ionic surfactant. This selective herbicide will kill the nutgrass but will not hurt your lawn when applied under the conditions described on the label.
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Q: Does mowing kill nutsedge?
A: Depending on your turf type and latitude, you can help control nutsedge or nutgrass by changing the way you mow. Mowing your lawn at the proper height, which in most cases is one of the 2 highest settings on your mower, lets the grass crowd out nutsedge and other weeds.
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Q: Does vinegar kill nutgrass?
A: Will vinegar kill nutgrass? A mixture of vinegar and soap is proven to kill many types of weeds and it can prove effective against nut grass. However, it’s not the most efficient treatment and it can cause damage to your lawn and other plants.
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Q: When should you kill nutsedge?
A: Late spring/early summer (when it is young and actively growing) is the ideal time to control yellow nutsedge. During its early growth stages, yellow nutsedge has not started producing tubers and is most susceptible to control with herbicides. As the summer progresses, nutsedge plants form seedheads and tubers.
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