All about Perennial Grass

Perennial grass weeds are a difficult problem to solve regarding a scarified lawn. Control options are limited because the weed species are very similar to the species of grass. In fact , there are many perennial grass weeds are not considered weeds if not considered grasses when grown alone under different conditions.

For example , there are several common perennial grasses when grown between bluegrass are considered weeds because they differ greatly in the width of the sheet, in color or growth habit . Tall fescue is thicker than the meadow grass and bushes growing in very noticeable . The creeping bentgrass , a grass widely used in golf courses , it becomes a weed because of annual poa form patches of grass finer and lighter color. The zoysia grass, a species of warm season grass , it differs from the Kentucky bluegrass or other cool season grasses and forming patches of thicker consistency and is dormant ( straw color ) for most of spring and fall.

Nimblewill ( Muhlenbergia schreberi )
There are other perennial grasses that are frequent problems as weeds . The common wheatgrass , a robust species with thick underground stems ( rhizomes ) can be a serious problem in the lawn. The nimblewill , a climbing species of warm season appears frequently interspersed with light patches on the lawn.

To distinguish a perennial grass of an annual must watch what time of year established plants are present . Perennials (except nimblewill and zoysia grass) appear as green pastures established in early spring while most annual grasses , such as crabgrass , do not appear until late spring or early summer . In addition , most annual grasses die in the fall, but not so with perennials.

A method of controlling these weeds is to remove patches of hand . It is important to pull the entire plant , as many have underground or surface ( rhizomes or stolons ) stems These stems allow them to these species spread quickly , so if they break or if they are short , grow back.

Selective chemical control is not suitable for most weed species perennial grasses . Unlike selective herbicides used for annual grasses ( crabgrass ) , nonselective herbicide used to control perennial weeds can also damage grass species used for lawns. For this reason, it is not advisable to apply on the lawn unless the problem is serious enough to kill all the grass and back to restore the lawn. The patches of unwanted grass can be treated with non-selective herbicides such as glyphosate . It should reseed with desirable species once weeds and some portions of the lawn die.

The ideal time to apply product is mid- August ( late July to early August to control nimblewill and zoysia grass) . The ideal time for overseeding is from late August to early September. If the area to be covered with sod after the period of time to treat weeds is longer . Remember that weeds must be in the active growth stage for glyphosate can act. Determine if the weeds were completely controlled or not when they have gone from 10 to 14 days after application .