What is this and how do I kill it.

[Jesset100]

This stuff is taking over my yard as well as my neighbors yard. We didn't have this last year but what we did have is "normal crabgrass" problems. I'm using Drive XLR8 to kill crabgrass but this weed/grass laughs XLR8 off.
One lawn care professional said it's Timothy grass but looking it up on the net it's totally different. Any help with a description and treatment I'd appreciate.

[brainz01]

That looks like St Augustine. It's what passes for grass in Houston. Our lawns are made of it. It's a creeping grass (versus seed). Thick bladed, heat resistant, and tough.

You'll need to rip it out if that's not what you want as it will take over.

[David]

In Houston we call it grass. We can't seem to get anything else to grow

[1990C4S]

First you need to find out if it's an annual or a perennial...

It looks like what we call annual crab grass, which means you deal with it next with crab-grass spray.

[legion]

I have something like that in my yard, but we have freezing winters here and I thought St. Augustine wouldn't survive that.

I've tried to pull it and spray it. Nothing works. Next up: roundup.

[stevej37]

On the parts of the lawn where it is not competing with the normal grass, does it fan out low to the ground?
From here, it looks like crabgrass.
Bayer makes a great crabgrass, and broadleaf killer in one container.
The newer gal product comes with a battery powered sprayer...all in one. It can be refilled.
Bayer products are excellent.

[T77911S]

is that what grass looks like??

send it to me, only thing green in my yard is weeds

[drkshdw]

Looks like bermudagrass to me. The local extension office has this to say about it:

"Quackgrass and Bermudagrass is more difficult to control since there are no herbicides to selectively kill these without damaging the lawn. Also, pulling or digging is often unsuccessful as only a small portion of a rhizome remaining in the soil will generate a new plant. The best way to control quackgrass, is to spot treat weed-infested areas with glyphosate (Roundup, Kleenup, etc.)."

[sammyg2]

If you dig down 4 feet and the replace all that dirt with perfectly sterile fill, you can get rid of St. Augustine. For a season or two.
There is only one product I know of that can get rid of that stuff without killing the fescue and I won't recommend it because it's safety has been called into question.

For reference it's called turflon ester.
Do your own homework, the EPA says it's safe but others don't agree and I don't feel like being a litigant.

[red-beard]

Yep, St. Augustine.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by drkshdw

Looks like bermudagrass to me. The local extension office has this to say about it:

"Quackgrass and Bermudagrass is more difficult to control since there are no herbicides to selectively kill these without damaging the lawn. Also, pulling or digging is often unsuccessful as only a small portion of a rhizome remaining in the soil will generate a new plant. The best way to control quackgrass, is to spot treat weed-infested areas with glyphosate (Roundup, Kleenup, etc.)."

Yep. I have a pretty big lawn, about 1/3 acre. Used to be a fanatic about it..spot kill bad grasses with roundup, then seed with desirable grasses.

Today? If it's green and kinda looks like grass, I just mow it.

[brainz01]

I'd be worried about using chemicals to control St. Augustine. In my experience, you'd likely just kill everything else first. It's pretty tough.

Because it spreads with runners, it's not too hard to pull out of flower beds or other small/new areas it creeps into. Not sure it'd be easy to rip out a big established patch, though -- It gets pretty interwoven and matted.

Like all plants it needs sunlight -- and St Augustine seems to really like full sun and water -- it doesn't grow well under big shade trees. And I've learned that it dies pretty quickly if covered up with dirt or debris (like from a hurricane).

If you've only got a patch of St. Augustine and don't want to rip it out by hand, consider putting a tarp or heavy trash bags over the affected area for a couple/three weeks. Use a rake to clear out the dead grass and loosen up the soil. Re-seed with whatever grass you use in your area. The grass seed will regrow before the St. Augustine does.

And you will likely have to be vigilant about pulling any roots that regrow runners, but that should be pretty obvious and relatively easy to maintain.

[stevej37]

Kentucky is too far north for St Augustine to be invasive like that...imo

[Tervuren]

I am dealing with something similar on a now less used gravel area.

Tarp works wonders, you will have an ugly patch, but short term pain long term gain I guess.

[wswartzwel]

Bermuda grass has a narrow blade... that isn't Bermuda...Bermuda makes a nice lawn..... What you have is Johnson Grass. https://www.google.com/search?q=johnsongrass&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiC84ad6ercAhURC6wKHbz_DF0Q_AUICigB&biw=1363&bih=607

Round up will kill it.

[HardDrive]

We have the same problem up here in OH! Just this year, its been terrible. Its been hot and wet, and I think its the perfect combo for it. It did respond when I used crabgrass killer, but came back with vengeance.

[Steve Carlton]

A lot of Johnson issues lately.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by brainz01

I'd be worried about using chemicals to control St. Augustine. In my experience, you'd likely just kill everything else first. It's pretty tough.

Because it spreads with runners, it's not too hard to pull out of flower beds or other small/new areas it creeps into. Not sure it'd be easy to rip out a big established patch, though -- It gets pretty interwoven and matted.

Like all plants it needs sunlight -- and St Augustine seems to really like full sun and water -- it doesn't grow well under big shade trees. And I've learned that it dies pretty quickly if covered up with dirt or debris (like from a hurricane).

If you've only got a patch of St. Augustine and don't want to rip it out by hand, consider putting a tarp or heavy trash bags over the affected area for a couple/three weeks. Use a rake to clear out the dead grass and loosen up the soil. Re-seed with whatever grass you use in your area. The grass seed will regrow before the St. Augustine does.

And you will likely have to be vigilant about pulling any roots that regrow runners, but that should be pretty obvious and relatively easy to maintain.

It also doesn't like to grow under about 80F.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

A lot of Johnson issues lately.

Viagra ?

[cabmandone]

Sheesh! 19 posts and no one got it right!!