I have nutgrass real bad.. how to deal with it?

Question

I don't want to use chemicals but weeding it seems impossible.. any thoughts?

Answer 1

Purple Nutsedge or Nutgrass is very difficult to control once established. With this weed you need to have zero tolerance and control when young. Control via digging is difficult because of very aggressive rhizomes. If you dig them out, you must get every bit of the white rhizomes & tuber removed. Do NOT till nutgrass, it will just spread. Pulling or cutting the tops off established nutgrass when there are 5 to 6 leaves and doing this repeatedly will eventually deplete the established nutgrass tubers of their energy to reproduce new plants. You must be ever vigil. Do NOT ever let them go to seed!

Nutsgrass does not like shade. If you can reconfigure your garden to shade this area, you should be able to eliminate nutgrass over time.

Nutgrass likes moist areas, but once established it's quite tolerant of drier conditions. Improving drainage in moist areas of your yard can help prevent the appearance of nutgrass but will have little short term affect on established plants.

Answer 2

Nutsedge indicates that the soil is too wet. Either it is over watered or poorly drained. Nutsedge grows in sunny moist areas. The best chance of permanently limiting its presence is to change either the amount of sun or the moisture content of the soil. If this is not an option there is a product out there called SedgeHammer (should not be used by anyone sensitive to sulfites). It is for nutsedge and several other weeds. There is also a preemergent designed for nutsedge Metolachlor (Pennant) that must be applied by a professional. Round-up works with many applications.
If you can shade the area it will reduce the yellow nutsedge numbers more than drying will if it has become established. If this is just a few plants try to irrigate less or amend the soil so it drains water quicker.
You can try covering them with black landscape fabric and a tarp to block all light for 30 days. The alternative is to repeatedly remove top growth in order to use food stores in the plants tuber. This will eventually kill it. Or hoe out the tuber.

There are two similar plants to yellow nutsedge. Green kyllinga (Kyllinga brevifolia) and tall umbrella sedge (Cyperus eragrostis).

Answer 3

I have a lot too but I used fertilizer, when your grass is healthy most of the weeds will go away. There are some way to kill them without chemical but it depends on what part of town you live in. If you live in country side it is OK but if you live in developed town I would not command to do so.