Question
We live in NC and recently planted a boxwood hedge at the front of our lawn near the sidewalk. We dug up the soil, mixed additional soil in and left enough space for root growth.  Out of 21 planted over 4 months ago, 6 are now yellow, brown.  We dug up 2 to make sure the roots were ok, one of the ones we dug up had nut grass growing through the roots, but otherwise looked ok.  The other root system was allright as well.  We rototilled the area of the hedge line nearer the house and found tons of nutgrass invading into the boxwood area.  How do I kill this nutgrass without damaging the boxwoods anymore?  (which by the way we aren't entirely sure why they are not doing well).  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Lisa;
Planting in the spring, you usually lose more than if you plant in the fall.
6 out of 21 is not bad for a spring planting.
Switch to organics is the best advice i can give you.
Chemicals CAUSE peoblems, they don't CURE them.
nutgrass ias a weed, and weeds love poor soil and will not thrive in rich soil.
Fertilizers kill beneficial microbes that enrich the soil.
Make rich soil and the weeds will die out over time.
Sugar or dry molasses keeps the microbes alive and nourishes them.
When I first used sugar on my lawn, and nothing else, and watered it in well, the weeds started disappearing in a couple of weeks, and every couple of weeks, there were fewer and fewer.
Some came up the next spring, but about half as many as the year before, and so on, until about the 3rd year, none came up at all.
I have used nothing on my lawn for 8 years but sugar in the spring and fall, atwered deeply, mowed and edged, and my lawn is thick, lush, dark green and weedfree.
I use 1 pound sugat per 250 sq.ft. of lawn and garden. I broadcast it by hand, and water it in well, to a depth of at least 6 inches.
If you use any chemicals, you undo the organics, and you are back with the problems.
for every harmful insect that will invade your lawn, there are hundreds of beneficial ones that feed on the harmful ones, also toads, lizards and grass snakes that eat harmful incests.
chemicals kill the good ones along with the bad, so the bad can come back again, and there are no beneficial ones to eat them. so the bad guys win, and you work yourself to death, and spend a fortune on more chemicals
It's visious circle that organics puts an end to.
Write me anytime for more information on organics.
Charlotte