Killing Dormant Grass

cokerd – posted 21 February 2002 06:45

I wish to start a new shrub/flower bed in my yard, and in order to plant at the proper time, I need to kill the grass in the area while it is dormant. I’m dealing with a combination of centipede and bermuda. Is there any way I can accomplish this task without having to wait until the grass is actively growing when the familiar chemicals will work?

seed – posted 22 February 2002 08:23

cokerd, for a systemic herbicide such as Roundup to work, the target, that you’re trying to kill, must be actively growing, basically all green. An alternative would be a fumigant such as methyl bromide, which is released as a gas which should be effective on dormant vegetation. Methyl bromide is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) and may only be applied by a properly licensed applicator. It is highly toxic and presents other hazards because it is corrosive.

Phil

George777 – posted 23 March 2002 08:09

Wait until green and hit it with round up pro. This will kill it, but it must be growing. I have used round up on dormint grass to kill weeds. I would not dare do this when the turf is growing.

deenr66 – posted 11 August 2002 20:11

quote:Originally posted by George777:Wait until green and hit it with round up pro. This will kill it, but it must be growing. I have used round up on dormint grass to kill weeds. I would not dare do this when the turf is growing.

I am working on converting my yard to Meyer Zoysia. Do you think I can use roundup in the spring for weeds while zoysia is dormint?

zoysia eliminate please – posted 21 April 2003 10:25

I moved into a new house last fall. This spring i have noticed spots of zoysia grass in the yard. It is not the right climate in northern indiana to grow zoysia successfully except 2-3 months a year. I know it will continue to spread. How do I get rid of this grass? Is there a fertilizer or something that zoysia doesnt like so I can get rid of it? Do I have to cut it out by hand? Help…

George777 – posted 21 April 2003 20:02

i have killed Zoysia here in the south by using a string trimmer and scalping it. I mean to the soil. Zoysia can not tollerate scalping. After I string trimmed it I hit it with round up pro and It kicked it’s butt. I have not learned this tech in school, but you might give it a try. Or you can rent a sod cutter and get it that way.

George777 – posted 21 April 2003 20:05

to answeer your question about using round up as a weed control, you have got to be sure the turf is 100% dorment. If not you will not be happy. I use round up preo in Jan, Feb here in Alabama. March is to late. I mean get on your hands and knees and inspect it.

Ted – posted 21 April 2003 20:43

I wonder how you would have bermuda and centipede and this time of year and it still be dormant? In most areas of the country, where these grasses are adapted, it’s plenty warm to kill these grasses. Either wait a few weeks until it really greens up and spray it, or go ahead now and spray it and plant your bed. you can always come back and respray (carefully) around your new plants. I’m assuming that these areas that you’re planting in are in the shade and perhaps the grass hasn’t really turned on yet. Make sure you’re using the roundup pro or at least the 46% mixture. Don’t worry about the pulling and weekwacking method- it won’t work.