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It’s summertime in Georgia, and the grass is finally green. You’re doing everything right. Mowing weekly, watering when it doesn’t rain, and all is going well… except this lime-colored weed always seems to stand proud a few days after mowing. This is yellow nutsedge, and it can be quite a challenge. Here is a breakdown from the lawn care experts at Nature’s Turf on Yellow Nutsedge and how you can help control it this summer. 

A Breakdown of Yellow Nutsedge

Yellow Nutsedge is a present and persistent perennial weed that is all too common in our Atlanta landscapes. While it resembles grasses, sedges aren’t grassy weeds or broad leaves.

A few primary visual characteristics include thin yellow or chartreuse blades that grow quickly creating an eyesore in the landscape. These leaves are generally v-shaped, and very waxy, collecting to a triangular-shaped stem. This triangular stem is a key identifying feature, unique to sedges. 

What Makes Nutsedge so Challenging?

Underground structures called ‘nutlets’ store energy that Nutsedge can use to overwinter and recover in the spring. Plants that store energy and recover from existing root systems are called perennials and aren’t controlled with pre-emergent weed control products. Pre-emergents work by stopping plants from forming roots as they emerge from seed, but since existing Yellow Nutsedge from the last few seasons already has roots, it can’t stop them from returning. 

Energy stored in those nutlets also means control of Yellow Nutsedge using post-emergent weed control products is a process. While most weeds take a couple of applications to kill, Yellow Nutsedge can take a season or more. Each time it is injured, energy from the nutlets is used to recover. Repeated injury works to deplete that stored energy, eventually killing the plant. 

While there isn’t a product capable of controlling yellow nutsedge with a single application, there are many products capable of injuring them. We are constantly utilizing and evaluating these products to be sure we are using the best combinations we can to achieve control of this or any weed in your landscape. 

How Can You Help Control Yellow Nutsedge?

Mowing weekly and watering well are the two most important things a homeowner or landscape manager can do to help slow and control yellow nutsedge. Just like regular injury from weed control products can help deplete stored energy, so can weekly mowing. Weekly mowing also encourages turf health and density by avoiding injury associated with inconsistent mowing. Healthy, dense turf is key to keeping weeds out, and competing with weeds that arrive. 

Another key component to yellow nutsedge management is controlling the water in your landscape. Just like good mowing practices contribute positively to turfgrass health, so do good watering practices. Moisture is important to every part of plant health, and ensuring healthy turfgrass is the first line of defense. Managing water is also key to avoiding nutsedge. Yellow nutsedge and closely related weeds like kyllinga want wet soil conditions to arrive and thrive. By making efforts to maintain a consistent water moisture content in the soil profile, you can help reduce the incidence and success of this pesky weed. 

Important Takeaways:

  • Yellow Nutsedge is a present and persistent perennial weed that is all too common in our Atlanta area landscapes. While it looks similar to grasses, sedges aren’t actually grassy weeds or broadleaves.
  • Underground structures called ‘nutlets’ store energy that Nutsedge can use to overwinter and recover in the spring.
  • Energy stored in those nutlets also means control of Yellow Nutsedge using post-emergent weed control products is a process.
  • Mowing weekly and watering well are the two most important things a homeowner or landscape manager can do to help manage yellow nutsedge in a landscape. 
  • If you have any questions about Nutsedge or any other weed in your landscape, our team of dedicated support professionals is always happy to help. Feel free to shoot us a text, give us a call, or send us an email to info@naturesturf.com. We look forward to speaking with you.