What Is Nutsedge and How to Control It
Most homeowners want their lawns to have lush, green grass. No matter what approach you take to care for your lawn, pesky weeds are bound to show up in your landscaping every year.
The two most common types of weeds that pop up in Nashville lawns are grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds. Grassy weeds do all in their power to camouflage themselves into your turf. The problem is, they aren’t grass, and you don’t want them in your lawn.
Today we’re going to look at a grassy weed common in Middle Tennessee known as nutsedge.
What Is Nutsedge?
Nutsedge is one of the most frustrating grassy weeds that appear in the summer months. It has grass-like leaves with spiky heads that are purple or yellow. It’s an aggressive perennial weed that can be troublesome for homeowners due to its fast growth rate and upright growth habit—quite the eyesore.
Working on weed control early is essential with nutsedge since it reproduces so fast. Nutsedge is difficult to get rid of once it takes root in your lawn because its root system can reach up to 4 feet deep. That’s why you need to get rid of it before its spiky nutlets form. Several new plants can grow from a single nutlet and can remain in the soil.
Take Control of Your Lawn
The best time to treat nutsedge is right after the turf greens up in late spring and early summer. That’s when nutlet seeds tend to sprout up. Hitting the weeds while they’re young and tender can prevent new nutlets from forming in the summer.
Your first line of defense against this grassy weed is to aerate your turf properly and avoid overwatering your lawn. Nutsedge is drawn to poorly drained areas in your yard and thrives in compacted soil. Aerating your lawn allows your soil to receive the right amount of air, water, and nutrients, plus it helps keep the weeds at bay.
Also be sure to mow your grass at the proper height for your grass type. Mowing too short can encourage nutsedge growth.
Protect Your Lawn with Pure Green
Pure Green can help you fight off those summer weeds. At the beginning of the summer season, we apply bio-nutrients directly to your turf and equip your lawn to deal with the summer heat. This includes taking care of any invasive weeds we see.
As the summer goes on, our team re-applies bio-nutrients and fertilizer to your lawn to promote growth and recovery from any summer damage. Targeted weed control is also one of our specialties, helping you rid your yard of grassy weed eyesores like nutsedge.