St Augusting and a lot of Nutsedge

jagsend – posted 19 April 2003 13:08

I have a St Augustine grass lawn with quite a bit of Nutsedge. Previously, someone from BASF recommended Image. I applied Image in different “test” areas in gradually increasing concentrations. I was attempting to find the lowest concentration that would kill the Nutsedge without affecting the St. Augustine. Eventually, the St. Augustine died and only the Nutsedge remains. Considering that Image did’nt work, should I try Manage or Basagran next?Thanks,Jeff

seed – posted 19 April 2003 13:39

All three, Image, Manage, and Basagran (and other brands such as Lescogran) will selectively kill sedges in St. Augustinegrass, but their activity varies on different sedges. Also, you should apply any herbicide at a rate no more than is listed on the label, that’s the rate that is designed to kill the weeds and not the turf.

Basagran (same active ingredient as Lescogran)is weak except on annual bunch sedges. If you have purple nutsedge or green kyllinga, then you would do best with either Image or Manage. Between the two, Manage is less harmful than Image at labeled rates.

If your St. Augustinegrass is dead, then glyphosate (Roundup) will probably be most effective.

Phil

George777 – posted 19 April 2003 19:26

I have used manage with pretty good resualts. Is the location of the nutsedge a wet site? Most of the time I find sedge in a wet site. Nutsedge will take some time to get rid of, maybe even a few years. I would try manage at the recommended rate also use a speader sticker. You may need to retreat in about 6 weeks. I have had nutsedge laugh at round up. It would turn it yellow and in a few weeks it’s back in force.

Manage does cost a good penny, but they do have small sample pouches that you can buy.

ted – posted 20 April 2003 14:50

Whoa! it’s depends on where you live. if you have purple nutsedge ( deep south) image is definitely your product. if you have yellow nutsedge (further north) manage is your product. roundup will not work due to the waxy shiny coating on the leaf. you won’t be seeing nutsedge “die” like from a traditional weed control product. it simply stays at the same height as your last cutting therefore “blending in” and not standing out so noticeably. you will also need to use a “sticker” (surfactant) in with the product to help it adhere to the plant. Are you sure it’s nutsedge? ISn’t a little early for that????

merrillmck – posted 22 February 2004 14:42

I appear to be in your same boat with a nearly equal mix of St. Augustine and sedge in Orlando Florida. I’m not 100% sure which sedge it is, but it has the three leaves, the triangular stem, and what appears to be a sand burr only soft and not prickly.

Anyway, I’ve applied Basagran this past week and if applied in the morning it will have nearly killed the bunch sedges (another type in my yard) by nightfall. It appears to be hurting the non-bunch sedges although maybe a week isn’t enough to judge the effect.

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 03 March 2004 23:49

I don’t know why but I get a spot of nutgrass every year and the next year it is gone and moved to a different location.

I’ve read that folks in Florida have had success using baking soda on nutgrass to kill it. You might try that. Sounds way too easy, but certain shouldn’t hurt anything.

Dampen the nutgrass first. Then dust some baking soda on it. The results are supposed to be obvious in a few days to a week, so you wouldn’t have to wait long to find out.

bpteos – posted 18 March 2004 09:49

I’m in Orlando andI use Manage on my lawn for yellow nutsedge. Generally it will require two applications to get the sedge under control. Backing soda works well on crabgrass.

Alex_in_FL – posted 26 March 2004 20:48

That stuff is hard to kill. I have tried BASOGran, Image, MSMA, Image+atrazine, and Manage. So far, Manage seems to work best for me. However, Image is supposed to take several weeks to work so maybe I am just in too big of a hurry.

I have tried roundup (painted it on the leaves) but it does not kill the tuber/nut underground. Persistance seems to be the solution, specifically persistent use of Manage.

Lex

Note, manage is expensive so only mix what you need. Its effectiveness decreases as it sits around in the sprayer. Of course you can use the left over liquid as make up in your new batch to avoid tossing it away.

Alex_in_FL – posted 09 April 2004 23:03

A follow up to my other post on nutgrass/sedge. I spot sprayed the sedge with a full dose of Image + atrazine. Now, two weeks later, the sedge has turned brown and looks dead. Some spots of the St. A. look bad too (especially the one sedge infested area I gave a little extra dose of spray too) but I think it is coming back. The lighter applications just did not get the job done. Therefore I recommend using the Image at the specified concentration and neither over diluting it nor using double strength.

Lex

skillingsworth – posted 27 April 2004 11:53

I’ve had purple nutsedge a couple of times. Image works, but it will come back the next season. My experience has been that when it rains heavily, or after you water heavily, pull them up. Sometimes you get it all and it doesn’t come back, sometimes not, but if you are persistent and the ground is wet enough, eventually it will be gone. It seems that bringing in sand has been the culprit for me having nutsedge.

nutgrass fever – posted 08 October 2005 21:12

Does anyone know where I can get Manage? I’ve read everywhere that Manage is one of the best solutions, but I can’t seem to find where to purchase it. Thanks a head of time….

BuckinNC – posted 12 October 2005 13:34

Image and Manage are two very different products for the control of Nutsedge. Manage translocates from the plant leaf down to the root; Image drains through the turf to the root where it then kills it. Manage will kill/discolor turf, as will Image. However, Image can be applied in a maner so as not to damage the turf. Rather than spray the plant, and then water in, shoot the mix directly on the ground at the base of the sedge; I use a pressure sprayer for this. Then flush to the root with a couple of cups of water. This accomplishes two things 1) gets the solution down to the root where you want it and 2) flushes any solution off the turf.

Works well on 419 in NC. Check yourlocal FCX for Image, LESCO for Manage. Or go to:http://www.pestproducts.com/pests/nutsedge.htm