Question
we live in Southern MD, next to the Bay but not on the water.  Our soil is very sandy and has a clay layer about 1-2 ft down.  the grasses are nimblewill, wiregrass, crabgrasswith assorted boadleaf weeds showing up.  it haas been suggessted that i use roundup on the worst areas, apply again in a couple  of weeks and use a different grass.  i've heard zoysia will fill in from plugs but what elese can be used while waitin?  Is there a turf type grass that will work here, feel that it is too hot for bluegrass and Kentuck 31 will no fill in any bare spots

Answer
John:

You are probably right about Ky31 and bluegrass.  Zoysia may be a slow grower and too low for your area, unless you wish to put in more maintenance than other turfs.  Consider a Bermuda variety.  Bermuda will fill in, grows to normal height and competes well with weeds.  It covers very well and can be treated with specific herbicides to rid weeds.  Most common is Roundup in winter after it enters dormancy for winter/spring weeds.

It can be layed as sod, plugged or seeded (common Bermuda, not varieties.)  Fertilize in late spring to favor Bermuda when temperatures are above 80 deg. F.

That assumes that you do not object to brown grass in winter.

Ask you local turf grass grower what he recommends.

Best wishes.