Question
I seeded my front yard with Tifblair Centipede and I am now discovering that what appears to be some form of fescue/rye grass is beginning to compete heavily with it throughout the yard. The culprit is a tall stalky grass with long leaves that are shiny on the outside. I live in Seneca/Clemson SC; and prior to my seeding the builder had planted some form of rye/fescue in order to cover the barren ground. I had the soil tilled twice and amended also prior to the seeding. I am concerned about this fescue/rye grass competing with my centipede, and as to which might become the dominant victor. How might I go about removing the fescue/rye grass without disturbing the centipede? Please advise; Thank You.  Carolee

Answer
Ms. Lloyd:

Yes, the persistence of fescue/rye after seeding will conflict with your centipede. The young fescue plants have shiny leaves, as do rye and other winter grasses.

Since you have already seeded the centipede, I would wait until mid-winter to treat the fescue/rye mix.  When the centipede is up, healthy and covering well, after a killing frost, spray the winter grasses with Roundup or like.  The summer grasses must be in full dormancy for this to be effective and not damage your desired turf.

You may have to do this a few times.  It is a reasonable solution to fall/winter weeds in established summer turf.  Pre-emergents will work best for keeping them away in the fall and winter starting next year.

What I would fear is that we have been having such warm winters that few killing frosts have come.

I trust that this helps.  Best wishes.