How to Get Rid of Nutsedge

You may be walking along your lawn one day when you notice something — an imposter right under your nose. Nutsedge, also called “nutgrass,” is part of the sedge family, meaning it looks like grass, but it’s not.

What is nutsedge? It’s an invasive perennial weed that grows quickly and digs in with deep roots. If you look really closely, you can see how it differs from regular grass. Nutsedge has a triangular stem with leaves arranged in sets of three. It tends to emerge in late spring or early summer and grow in clumps.

Nutsedge is a stubborn weed that spreads both underground through rhizomes and tubers and above ground from seedheads. Once it takes root in your lawn, it can spread quickly and be difficult to eliminate.

That means if you want to know how to get rid of nutsedge, the first step is to identify it as quickly as possible and then take action.

How Does Nutsedge Affect Your Lawn?

Nutsedge is aggressive and will often grow more quickly than your turfgrass, especially in the summer when turfgrass tends to slow its growth or even enter dormancy. This gives nutsedge an opening to outcompete your grass, taking more water, nutrients, and sunlight for itself. As a result, your turfgrass may grow weak and thin, making it even easier for nutsedge to take over.

A nutsedge lawn is also not a pretty sight. Clumps of nutsedge create an uneven appearance, breaking up the uniform look of your lawn.

How to Get Rid of Nutsedge in Your Lawn

How to get rid of nutsedge is the million-dollar question. Nutsedge is incredibly stubborn, and it can be very difficult to defeat.

Manual Removal

If you catch nutsedge early enough, you may be able to pull it out by hand. It’s critical to pull up the entire weed, including its roots. Remember, nutsedge can spread underground, so leaving the roots is basically a recipe for more nutsedge in the future.

Herbicides

Head to your favorite home improvement or lawn care store and purchase chemical weed killer to deal with larger nutsedge infestations. If you want to protect your turfgrass, look for a selective herbicide that is formulated specifically to kill nutsedge. If your weed infestation is out of control, you may want to buy a non-selective herbicide, which kills all plants, including turfgrass, shrubs, and garden plants.

Call in the Professionals

If your beautiful turfgrass lawn has transformed into a scraggly nutsedge lawn, it might be time to get help from a professional landscaping company. Professionals have experience dealing with many types of weeds, including nutsedge. They also often have access to chemicals and tools that most homeowners don’t.

How to Prevent Nutsedge

Once nutsedge gets itself nice and comfy in your lawn, it can be incredibly difficult for you to show it the door. That’s why learning how to prevent nutsedge can be so important.

Perform Proper Lawn Care

The absolute best way to prevent nutsedge is good lawn maintenance:

• Mow regularly to stop nutsedge from growing seedheads.
• Water less frequently but more deeply to encourage stronger root growth.
• Dethatch and aerate your lawn so nutsedge has no place to hide.
• Fertilize your lawn at least twice a year to keep your soil nutrient-rich.

The stronger and healthier your grass, the more likely it can outcompete nutsedge, as well as any other weeds that might try to sneak onto your property.

Remove Conditions that Support Nutsedge Growth

Nutsedge loves warm, wet environments. By switching from frequent, shallow watering to less frequent deep watering, you can help avoid water collecting on your lawn. If you do have soggy areas of your lawn, consider adding better drainage in that area.

Use Pre-Emergent Herbicides

Pre-emergent herbicides are just like they sound. They’re designed to stop weeds from growing in the first place. Look for a pre-emergent herbicide formulated to stop nutsedge in its tracks and apply it in the early spring.

Common Mistakes When Dealing With Nutsedge

The most common mistake most homeowners make when it comes to nutsedge is simply not recognizing it. To the untrained eye, nutsedge looks a lot like normal grass. If you don’t take action quickly, nutsedge could spread and begin outcompeting your turfgrass before you even realize anything is wrong. The longer it takes you to recognize the weed infestation in your midst, the harder it will be to get rid of the nutsedge.

When to Call a Professional

If you’re tired of dealing with all the nutsedge in your lawn, it’s time to call in the professionals. The Grounds Guys® has teams across the United States that are highly experienced in fighting all kinds of weeds, including nutsedge. Backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise®, our experts can tackle your nutsedge lawn and help regrow your turfgrass. After the weeds have been defeated, we’ll make sure they never come back by offering ongoing lawn maintenance.

Don’t let nutsedge take over your lawn. Get a free estimate from The Grounds Guys.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Grounds Guys is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Grounds Guys for more information and a professional on-site assessment.