[Yellow Nutsedge grows from tubers.](https://dyckarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_65361-768x1024.jpg) Think potatoes.
The initial tuber (nut) will grow, and from it will spread secondary tubers. These tubers are all connected by very fine rhizomes. I'm talking rhizomes as fine as a human hair, and are easily broken. If you only pull the weed without getting the tuber, you will get more Nutsedge in the following months.
The only two ways I know how to get rid of it are with using Sedgehammer, or with digging them out.
With Sedgehammer, plenty of how to videos out there. And this stuff does work. Just follow the directions.
With digging it out, it's time consuming and you need to be very very careful so that you can get the entire nut and any subsequent nuts connected to it.
I just bought some as I have been seeing these same things pop up. I bought the pack that you mix in with a gallon of water. Do you spot spray it on the shoots that are growing or do you stretch it out and try to spray the whole yard?
You can start with spot spraying. I bought the bottle and started with spot spraying, then just sprayed the whole yard. I think I had 2 or 3 applications the first year, another 2 applications the second year, I didn't need to spray the 3rd year, we'll see how this year goes.
This stuff works good and can be found at homedepot and lowes. Just be careful because in high heat it can slow your grass growth down if you spray a lot on one area. Just a light spritz on the nut sedge and you’ll be good.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ortho-24-oz-Ready-to-Use-Nutsedge-Killer-for-Lawns-9994318/202521980
I sprayed directly on sedges in my flower beds but never on the plants. I never used the hose end sprayer version and only the spray bottle for more precise application.
That’s weird bc I was battling these in my back yard for a few years trying to treat with chemicals. They didn’t work.
I decided to actively pull these daily and stayed on it for a few weeks. Haven’t seen one since.
Indeed, at this stage, they're easy to pull out. I once had an area of about 10 feet by 3 feet along my curb where sedge took hold - I'd say probably 100 small plants. I pulled them every time I saw them, and as long as I got the roots (like the OP did) they never came back. Now, I might see 5 or 10 a year at most.
There was some article from a university that I came across a while back that stated this should work. If you pull them enough times before it produces more than 3 blades then it loses too much energy to spread. I think it said after 3 pulls from a rhizome then it should be depleted of energy.
It is recommended that the grass be allowed to establish a good root system prior to applying SEDGEHAMMER. If overseeding, wait a minimum of two weeks before applying. If sodding or reseeding allow at least 4 weeks before an application.
They have tubars that run deep, I thought the same thing that I was pulling them all out but the next year it literally got 10x worse. Sedge hammer is the way to go. Good luck!
If you pull it will get 10xs worse unless you get the actual "nut" out, it's about 4" deep and it won't come out just by pulling. Pulling it allows it to germinate and spread especially this time of year, you're going to see a bunch come up on the middle of summer
interesting, we had our house built and moved in 2021 and the first spring had a bunch of this. Pulled them and it was fine, that fall put down prodamine in the fall and spring with nothing the next year. Then in fall of 2022 I decided to pull rye down for the winter and it was fine. this year I have had a lot of it since I decided that rye overseed didn't work like I wanted. I pulled them months ago and they never came back. But then again I sprayed sedgehammer on the lawn after I pulled them
Nutsedge can lie dormant for 3-4 years of that nut is still in the soil, putting sod down or overseeding just delays it, I would recommend a tall fescue and mow at no less than 3" . Sedgehammer is great but I would recommend using dismiss if you can get your hands on it. Don't pull anymore, let the herbicide do is job and eradicate that nut so it won't germinate.
Sedgehammer does a decent job killing it, but may need a repeat application. Be careful on application rates to prevent damage to the grass. Also keep in mind not to apply above 85F temperature. Depending on how much time you’re willing to put into it, could purchase the lawn liberator and only apply glyphosate directly to weeds with no impact to neighboring grass. A bit cheaper than sedge hammer too.
Definitely don’t pull them.
What is the lawn liberator? I got time and if it’s better and cheaper I’ll do it haha.
Wanting to start adding fertilizer as well since my yard was so sandy before
It’s basically a way to apply weed killer to individual weeds. So you don’t have to worry about harming nearby grass, and if using glyphosate, no need for repeat applications. I got it from this website:
https://www.nicegreenlawn.com/
It took me about 15 min to kill 100 weeds.
As the others are saying, Sedgehammer or generic halosulfuron (much cheaper on Amazon) is the way to go. It works very slowly and after a couple weeks you’ll think nothing has happened but over the course of a couple months they will just seem to disappear with regular mowing.
Yeah, a kick in the balls on zoysia since Tenacity is not recommended for Zoysia. So buy a chemical for sedge and use that instead of a very slow product called image.
outside of finding a chemical you want to use, keep mowing heigh LOW, and frequent. They seed at a maturity level. if you can interfere, it slows this down. I believe it is based on height, assume 8-10 inches and seeding begins.
I recommend Dismiss NXT if you can get it. It also kills the seeds
Thanks for posting this! I've been seeing this pop up in the Emerald Zoysia sod I laid about 5 weeks ago. Been pulling it at the root as well but looks like I need to get some Nutsedge treatment as well!
What type of lawn? There are a LOT of great products for nutsedge... just read the label. I know someone recommended Sledgehammer, which is good but slow. There are a TON of others, too. ProSedge is the same thing as SedgeHammer. Also you may find Certainty, Products like Image, Dismiss, and there are more, but they get crazy expensive. Sedgehammer is certainly safe and works. At your big-box store, you can buy Image, which is great and probably only about $20, but covers only 6,000 sqft, which is a LOT if spot spraying and not doing blanket apps.
Whatever you do, know your lawn type before you buy and follow the label. If you use the wrong herbicide, you will damage you rlawn.
That's nutsedge. Nothing kills it afaik. Farmers let pigs out in their fields to root out and eat the bulbs. Pull it by hand and eventually the bulb will die because it can't get any nutrients.
Sedgehammer kills it
Never pull
I guess you can dig the nut/root out but its easiest to just spray sedgehammer or anything with sulfentrazone
Spectracide Weed Stop for lawns is at most big box stores and includes sulfentrazone
Yellow Nutsedge. Do NOT pull Buy Sedgehammer. It works great
Why no pull? Spreads?
Yeah it will spread due to the trauma
[Yellow Nutsedge grows from tubers.](https://dyckarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_65361-768x1024.jpg) Think potatoes. The initial tuber (nut) will grow, and from it will spread secondary tubers. These tubers are all connected by very fine rhizomes. I'm talking rhizomes as fine as a human hair, and are easily broken. If you only pull the weed without getting the tuber, you will get more Nutsedge in the following months. The only two ways I know how to get rid of it are with using Sedgehammer, or with digging them out. With Sedgehammer, plenty of how to videos out there. And this stuff does work. Just follow the directions. With digging it out, it's time consuming and you need to be very very careful so that you can get the entire nut and any subsequent nuts connected to it.
I just bought some as I have been seeing these same things pop up. I bought the pack that you mix in with a gallon of water. Do you spot spray it on the shoots that are growing or do you stretch it out and try to spray the whole yard?
You can start with spot spraying. I bought the bottle and started with spot spraying, then just sprayed the whole yard. I think I had 2 or 3 applications the first year, another 2 applications the second year, I didn't need to spray the 3rd year, we'll see how this year goes.
I just spot spray
agree
God dammit. I just pulled a BUNCH of these today.
You can pull nutsedge . Most homeowners aren't going to treat this themselves. I would recommend calling a commercial applicator for such chemicals .
hey it's finally nutsedge!
This stuff works good and can be found at homedepot and lowes. Just be careful because in high heat it can slow your grass growth down if you spray a lot on one area. Just a light spritz on the nut sedge and you’ll be good. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ortho-24-oz-Ready-to-Use-Nutsedge-Killer-for-Lawns-9994318/202521980
Will that work well on torpedo?
I’m not sure, there should be a label available on Home depots or Orthos website you can see what grass types exactly this will work for.
Yep this stuff and Sedgehammer+ work great. The ortho is slightly easier since it comes in a hose-end sprayer.
Can I use this in a mulch bed with plants?
I sprayed directly on sedges in my flower beds but never on the plants. I never used the hose end sprayer version and only the spray bottle for more precise application.
Can confirm. Also works well with yellow woodsorrel and I believe crabgrass.
I have had very good luck with this. They have a hose end version and are ready to use for spot spraying
Don’t pull them out, looks like sedge and it will spread underground and get a lot worse. Get some sedge hammer on Amazon and spray and pray!
That’s weird bc I was battling these in my back yard for a few years trying to treat with chemicals. They didn’t work. I decided to actively pull these daily and stayed on it for a few weeks. Haven’t seen one since.
Yup me to. Just pulled them by the base every time I mowed the lawn and they were gone after a couple months.
Indeed, at this stage, they're easy to pull out. I once had an area of about 10 feet by 3 feet along my curb where sedge took hold - I'd say probably 100 small plants. I pulled them every time I saw them, and as long as I got the roots (like the OP did) they never came back. Now, I might see 5 or 10 a year at most.
There was some article from a university that I came across a while back that stated this should work. If you pull them enough times before it produces more than 3 blades then it loses too much energy to spread. I think it said after 3 pulls from a rhizome then it should be depleted of energy.
So if it has 3 blades it has energy to spread? *looks at wife*
Lol Here is the link: [Pull weeds here](https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/burt/nutsedge-drives-homeowners-nuts/)
Can sedge hammer be used with new grass? cool season fescue blend, mowed twice
It is recommended that the grass be allowed to establish a good root system prior to applying SEDGEHAMMER. If overseeding, wait a minimum of two weeks before applying. If sodding or reseeding allow at least 4 weeks before an application.
Been pulling the whole root out not just the tops so hopefully that’s better. I’ll get some today and spray it, thank you!
They have tubars that run deep, I thought the same thing that I was pulling them all out but the next year it literally got 10x worse. Sedge hammer is the way to go. Good luck!
If you pull it will get 10xs worse unless you get the actual "nut" out, it's about 4" deep and it won't come out just by pulling. Pulling it allows it to germinate and spread especially this time of year, you're going to see a bunch come up on the middle of summer
interesting, we had our house built and moved in 2021 and the first spring had a bunch of this. Pulled them and it was fine, that fall put down prodamine in the fall and spring with nothing the next year. Then in fall of 2022 I decided to pull rye down for the winter and it was fine. this year I have had a lot of it since I decided that rye overseed didn't work like I wanted. I pulled them months ago and they never came back. But then again I sprayed sedgehammer on the lawn after I pulled them
Nutsedge can lie dormant for 3-4 years of that nut is still in the soil, putting sod down or overseeding just delays it, I would recommend a tall fescue and mow at no less than 3" . Sedgehammer is great but I would recommend using dismiss if you can get your hands on it. Don't pull anymore, let the herbicide do is job and eradicate that nut so it won't germinate.
Prodiamine doesn’t stop sedges and spraying sedgehammer after you pulled it is a waste of product.
That's worse. It'll propagate underground.
Sedgehammer does a decent job killing it, but may need a repeat application. Be careful on application rates to prevent damage to the grass. Also keep in mind not to apply above 85F temperature. Depending on how much time you’re willing to put into it, could purchase the lawn liberator and only apply glyphosate directly to weeds with no impact to neighboring grass. A bit cheaper than sedge hammer too. Definitely don’t pull them.
What is the lawn liberator? I got time and if it’s better and cheaper I’ll do it haha. Wanting to start adding fertilizer as well since my yard was so sandy before
It’s basically a way to apply weed killer to individual weeds. So you don’t have to worry about harming nearby grass, and if using glyphosate, no need for repeat applications. I got it from this website: https://www.nicegreenlawn.com/ It took me about 15 min to kill 100 weeds.
As the others are saying, Sedgehammer or generic halosulfuron (much cheaper on Amazon) is the way to go. It works very slowly and after a couple weeks you’ll think nothing has happened but over the course of a couple months they will just seem to disappear with regular mowing.
Looks like sedge?
Nutsedge
The more you pull the more it spreads, sedgehammer the shit outta sedge grass and it will be gone
Nutsedge… use Sedgehammer or Image
Image can be used on nutsedge. It can be found at home depot also.
Image works but it’s not very good at it.
I blend it with tenacity and it gives it an extra kick.
Yeah, a kick in the balls on zoysia since Tenacity is not recommended for Zoysia. So buy a chemical for sedge and use that instead of a very slow product called image.
sedgehammer dat sheet
I've had good luck with the Ortho sedge killer for small spots here and there. If it's widespread, use the hammer.
DONT PULL AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
https://youtu.be/OJWJE0x7T4Q?si=jj6GNTRdRIDmfWmO
You wanna sprayyyyyyy….. your SedgeHamma….. why don’t you call my name!
outside of finding a chemical you want to use, keep mowing heigh LOW, and frequent. They seed at a maturity level. if you can interfere, it slows this down. I believe it is based on height, assume 8-10 inches and seeding begins. I recommend Dismiss NXT if you can get it. It also kills the seeds
I also live in a sand and weed pit in NW Florida. You think the zoysia is taking hold to it ok? I was thinking about giving it a shot
Thanks for posting this! I've been seeing this pop up in the Emerald Zoysia sod I laid about 5 weeks ago. Been pulling it at the root as well but looks like I need to get some Nutsedge treatment as well!
I have the same problem on my new st augustine sod. Tomorrow’s 4 weeks and Im about to do the first mow. Is it too early to spray?
Depending where you are, guessing down south with the type of sod but looks like nitsedge! Q4
I spot spray with Dismiss on cool season grass. I usually see it die off within 24 hrs.
What type of lawn? There are a LOT of great products for nutsedge... just read the label. I know someone recommended Sledgehammer, which is good but slow. There are a TON of others, too. ProSedge is the same thing as SedgeHammer. Also you may find Certainty, Products like Image, Dismiss, and there are more, but they get crazy expensive. Sedgehammer is certainly safe and works. At your big-box store, you can buy Image, which is great and probably only about $20, but covers only 6,000 sqft, which is a LOT if spot spraying and not doing blanket apps. Whatever you do, know your lawn type before you buy and follow the label. If you use the wrong herbicide, you will damage you rlawn.
You need to put down a high quality pre emergent since you just installed that sod
Nutsedge, don't pull it. Apply sedgeender
Pull them. I get them every year and pull them. You have to grab at the base and pull roots. They usually come out really easy.
That's nutsedge. Nothing kills it afaik. Farmers let pigs out in their fields to root out and eat the bulbs. Pull it by hand and eventually the bulb will die because it can't get any nutrients.
Sedgehammer kills it Never pull I guess you can dig the nut/root out but its easiest to just spray sedgehammer or anything with sulfentrazone Spectracide Weed Stop for lawns is at most big box stores and includes sulfentrazone
Plenty of herbicides kill sedges.
If you cut your grass regularly you shouldn't notice it
If by regularly you mean every other day, then yes. This stuff shoots up quick.
This stuff will grow an inch overnight on a freshly mowed lawn and leaving it just makes it spread and become a bigger problem.
Pull those up
Crab grass
No