Question
I live in Asheboro NC. I just baught the house I am living in and the yard has been negelacted for some time. I tried to bring it back up but there is some type of grass taking over. It vines out all through the yard. Some of the stringers are as long as 3and 4 feet. Do you know what it is and how I can get rid of it? Also my yard is very uneven. There ues to be two pine trees in the front and the yard is very bumpy. If I covered it in sand to level it would the grass come through as it does on most golf courses or should I just till the whole thing up and start over?  

Answer
Good afternoon Joe:
It is almost impossible to identify the weed that you are describing because there are so many that fits your criteria. I am giving you some web sites that may be of help to you. Some of these sites give you the herbicide control that is necessary.
Some Perennial Grassy weeds that may be what you have in your lawn are:

Centipede Grass:
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/ereoph/botanical_and_ecologi...

Carpet Grass:
http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/grasswee/grass.html

Knotgrass:
http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/grasswee/grass.html

Nimblewill:
http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/grasswee/grass.html

Quackgrass:
http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/aggieturf2/grasswee/grass.html

I am also giving you a web site that will give all the information you will need to help you have a good lawn in North Carolina. Scroll down on this site to whatever information you need.

North Carolina Lawns Web Site:

http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=6&tabid=4&Content=11&...

I would start over on your lawn if I were you.  Remember that evergreens leave a great deal of acidity in the soil due to needle drop. I would suggest that you go to your nearest Cooperative Extension office and get the information on how to take and submit a soil test before you start your new lawn.

Have a good lawn!
Floyd McMahon