Have you noticed nutsedge, also known as nutgrass, popping up in your yard this summer? This pesky, grassy weed isn’t technically a grass; it’s a sedge. What is nutgrass and why is it so important to control its growth in your yard?
What are Nutgrasses?
A sedge is part of the plant family, Cyperaceae. They often look like grass and have similar characteristics. There’s a cute old saying that often helps differentiate them: “Sedges have edges, rushes are round, and grasses are hollow right up from the ground!” While this isn’t an entirely reliable saying, it is helpful. Sedges don’t have the hollow stems that grasses have.
Nutgrasses form in dense clumps or tufts. These plants have thick, fibrous roots, that have potato-like tubers. The roots are formed by nutlets or tubers and grow 8-14 inches deep in the soil. Often you will pull out the roots and the tubers will continue to grow. Nutsedge looks like a very tiny palm tree. They have long thin, light green leaves and small flower and seed bunches that develop at the top if they are allowed to grow.
Why is nutgrass bad?
This perennial plant can grow up to 4.5 feet high if left unchecked. Nutsedge seek out the moist and poorly drained sections of your yard and take over. Their underground tuberous roots spread out and reproduce quickly. Nutgrass quickly develops from a single plant into a full-blown family reunion. This isn’t a family reunion that your other plants want to attend. Your nearby crops, plants, and grasses are quickly choked out by this hardy and resilient weed.
Nutgrasses grow much faster than your grass, which makes it difficult to stay on top of, unless you have a pig! Pigs LOVE the delicious treat and would happily help you out. Unfortunately, most of us in the San Joaquin and Central Valley don’t typically have a potbellied pig running around, and even our local fauna and birds can’t keep up with these surprisingly nutritious grasses.
How can you prevent nutgrass?
One of the simplest ways to control nutgrass is by changing the way that you mow your lawn. Mowing the lawn at the proper height, which is usually the 2 highest settings on your mower, gives your grass a leg up. This allows your grass to crowd out the nutsedge and other weeds. If you mow too low, you actually encourage the nutgrass to grow.
How do you get rid of nutgrass in your yard?
If you’re not an aspiring pig owner, but you’re a fan of DIY remedies, many people will often sprinkle sugar on the yard or lawn and then mist the area with water. As an effective remedy, we recommend using Ortho Nutsedge Killer. The spray is effective on both newly emerged and established sedges. Ortho kills the nutgrass completely within 2-3 weeks. We carry it here at Luis Nursery and can help you with any questions you might have.
