Question
I have some kind of grassy weed taking over my acerage. It looks like a picture I saw of Bahiagrass, but the person I use to spray sometimes, says it is Nutgrass. He has been wrong before and I don't want to pay for the wrong chemical. It has a long thin stock, these stocks clog up my bagger constantly, although they are thin. The top of the plant reminds me of bermuda. It looks like to me it seeds in the same way. I can mow it as low as it will go and it is a foot high in 3 to 4 days. I see no brown on the plant. At the base of the plant it is kind of like a star. It is large. Several inches in diameter, thick, flat, and course. Then these stocks grow up out of it.
I want to kill it, but not my bermudagrass.
What should I do. It is to late for MSMA.
Thanks  

Answer
Hi Lavenia,

>>"...too late for MSMA...?"

Attacking weeds while they are young and actively growing is the best time; this is usually BEFORE they start to produce seed-heads. The arsenates tend to work at anytime the plants are green an non-dormant in my experience.

Having any weedy plant well-identified is the first step to find the best method to eradicate it.

Visit my Weeds Identification resources web-page to help you more precisely identify a weedy grass-type plant:
http://hometown.aol.com/eilatlog/weeds/weedsids.html

Unless your weedy areas are on the moist/damp side in regards to the top-soil conditions,... your weedy grassy-type plant is probably NOT Nutgrass or Sedge.  These difficult weeds typically will pop-up where the soil has prolonged damp conditions. These weeds are easily controlled by arsenates.

As far as I know,....
There are no herbicides which target weedy grasses in BERMUDA LAWNS that will not also adversely affect the Bermuda.

The  best Herbicides for weedy grasses in Bermuda lawns are at present the ARSENATE Herbicides.  This includes MSMA and DSMA (Sodium salts of arsenic acid).  There are also now commercially available formulas of Calcium salts of arsenate.  These chemicals may TEMPORARILY affect the Bermuda in certain concentrations, but the Bermuda should recover while the weedy grass gets eradicated.

MSMA, DSMA and the Calcium formulas will increase the (toxic) arsenic level in the soil and so these chemicals should not be used if you depend upon well-water or live near water sources.  Arsenate herbicides have been banned in some states.

Most lawn and garden centers will have several herbicides that TARGET  grassy-type weeds.  Look for the aresenates and try these first with a Bermuda lawn.

Where the weed grows in dense patches, you can use GLYPHOSATE (such as Monsanto's "ROUND-UP") to efficiently kill the weed.  This is a powerful broad-spectrum herbicide which will leave a dead-bare spot where used.  You will have to re-establish your BERMUDA in these areas.  This is easy to do by sprigging in the spring.

Use a PRE-EMERGENT herbicide chemical regularly and as directed with the product and you can eventually become weed-free.  This type of chemical PREVENTS the weed seeds from sprouting.  This type of chemical is sometimes included in the various 'weed-and-feed' fertilizer formulas at the garden center.  This is the MOST EFFICIENT way to become weed-free; however with a large lot,...it can be rather expensive.

Keep any weedy plant from producing and spreading its seeds and you can usually get ahead of it.
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With a good fertile-loamy well draining top-soil, best quality hybrid grass type(s), 1-3 inches of water per week, plenty of sun-light, ...almost anyone can have an excellent lawn with a minimum maintenance effort.
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I Hope this has answered your question(s)!

Visit my Lawn & Gardens webpage for more Lawn and Garden Tips, Facts and Links:
http://hometown.aol.com/eilatlog/lawnol.html

Your Questions and Comments are welcome at ALLEXPERTS.com

___ Jim Gibbs,
    Microbiologist/Botanist