Desperate!!! – Please help identify grass!

AusHorn – posted 24 June 2003 08:55

I recently had my yard hydromulched with Zenith Zoysia. Something is growing, but I’m not sure that it’s Zenith Zoysia. Could someone please help me indetify it? I have pictures that I can email.

seed – posted 24 June 2003 08:58

You can email them to me at ed****@tu*******.com

Phil

AusHorn – posted 24 June 2003 08:59

Thanks Phil! They’re on the way.

[This message has been edited by AusHorn (edited 24 June 2003).]

seed – posted 24 June 2003 12:53

With no scale, it’s hard to guess the size of the leaves, but they look rather wide, 1/4-1/2 inch?? which would be outside the range for zoysiagrass. I’d like to post the pictures on this site, if that’s okay, but first it might be better to have a photo with a coin or a ruler for size, also it is sometimes helpful in a photo to see some background, because that gives context for perceiving the perspective and elevation.

Phil

AusHorn posted 24 June 2003 14:45

Phil,

Thanks for your help. I just had the landscaper who laid the seed come out and take a look. It appears that a yard of broadleaf weeds spouted up before the Zoysia. I’ve got small Zoysia sprouts popping up here and there, but it’s being choked out by the weeds right now. The landscaper is recommending spraying some broadleaf weed killer b/c he thinks the Zoysia is still going to come up pretty good, and most of the seed will still germinate. Do you think that’s the best idea? Or do you have any other recommendations? It seems like I’d at least have to mow down the weeds b/c I’m afraid the dead ones may just create a dense canopy thus killing all the Zoysia, only I’m worried that I may severly disturb the seed bed if I run over it with a mower.

Feel free to post the pics if you like, but I’m confident now that they are weeds. If you like I can take some pictures of the Zoysia sprouts so others have a reference. I can also post updates and send you updated pictures if the lawn ever really starts to establish.

Thanks again!

Jeff

seed – posted 24 June 2003 15:40

Jeff, they sure look to me like grass weeds and not broadleaf weeds. Based on this, a broadleaf herbicide is not likely to be helpful, and could be harmful to seedling zoysiagrass.

I can find no herbicide for grass weed control during zoysiagrass seedling establishment.

In my experience with bahiagrass, mowing should cause minimal harm to seedlings, except for wheel tracks, and is preferred to doing nothing or spraying something harmful to the grass.

A dead weed canopy of this stature should be no problem, but I don’t know of any chemical that will selectively remove the weeds without touching the zoysiagrass.

Phil