Dallisgrass is possibly one of the most bothersome weeds you could have in your yard or garden. It usually grows in clusters, budding into tall, unattractive stalks which can't just be pulled by hand or destroyed using some herbicides.
This type of weed has deep roots; it spreads quickly and flourishes in warm and moist areas. Since it spreads easily, it may be a challenge to control, but not entirely impossible. Regularly mowing your lawn will keep this weed at a low height, making it less of an issue.
However, there can be a more permanent solution with dealing with dallisgrass. All you need is the right information to help you identify and learn how to kill dallisgrass.
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Some Facts About Dallisgrass
To broaden your knowledge regarding this particular weed, here are a few facts about it:
- It originated from South America and was spread by a Georgia Farmer who had the good intention of using its rapid growth to serve as grass for farm animals.
- It's a perennial plant which means as long as the roots are still around, it will come back year after year, without fail.
- It's an invasive type of weed which is able to infest any kind of turf grass.
- It is a very fertile type of weed, which means controlling or killing it off is vital to the health of your lawn.
Be Aware Of This Persistent Weed
Before you start preparing to finish off all the dallisgrass growing in your lawn or garden, it would be helpful to know what it looks like beforehand. As there are lots of types of weeds out there, you may find it a chore to identify which ones are dallisgrass.
To be able to recognize this persistent weed, here are a few telling signs:
- It has a rough texture.
- It grows in clusters which over time become bigger and bigger if not maintained.
- The clusters may appear circular or star-like.
- It grows rapidly in clay or sandy soil which is usually warm and moist.
- Its stems are 2-6 inches long while its leaves are 4-10 inches long.
- The seed stalks have 3-5 finger-like parts with very delicate hairs.
- The color remains to be green even during wintertime.
How To Kill Dallisgrass
Now let's move on to actually exterminating the troublesome weed. As soon as you've identified the dallisgrass in your lawn, you can take the necessary steps in killing it all. To be able to do this, there are three essential steps:
1. Make sure you employ good lawn management and maintenance measures
To be able to control the spread of dallisgrass is to keep your lawn or garden healthy. You can do this by maintaining a lush array of plants which you care for with regular watering, fertilization, and mowing.
Whenever there are uncovered areas, you can fill them with other plants to avoid the growth of dallisgrass. This weed won't have any space to grow or flourish if your lawn is full and well maintained, thus killing off all its chances to reproduce.
2. Employ Pre-Emergent Measures
Kill dallisgrass through pre-emergent control. Since this weed generates a lot of seeds on its stalks and those stalks grow rapidly and long, it has the ability to spread at a very fast rate. Seeds could be spread by the wind, by animals or insects or even when they stick to the blades of your mower.
Pre-emergent herbicides are extremely poisonous to dallisgrass and if you apply this directly to the soil where the weeds are growing, it is sure to kill them all.
3. Maintain post-emergence treatments
One of the most efficient and environment friendly post-emergent treatments is to actually dig out the weeds, which may take a lot of effort especially when the dallisgrass has spread throughout the lawn.
Post-emergent herbicides have to be used frequently, with 2 to 3 week intervals to achieve full treatment and put a stop to the weeds from growing back. For insignificant infestations of re-growth, you can choose to apply non-selective herbicides to get rid of the weeds.
These are all effective strategies and treatments which can help you get rid of your dallisgrass problem permanently.
Other Helpful Tricks
- You can be an expert at ridding your lawn of dallisgrass by employing the different ways on how to kill dallisgrass and you can take it a step further by also making use of these nifty tips:
- Be sure to use the herbicides as soon as you see that the weeds are flourishing well.
- When you see the dallisgrass growing, allow it to mature first before mowing the lawn.
- The effect of the herbicide would be most successful in the right temperature conditions.
- Employ different strategies when seedlings are already present. Making use of pre-emergent herbicides, in this case, would be useless.
Table #1: Methods For Killing Dallisgrass
Method | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Hand pulling | Inexpensive and effective for small areas. | Time-consuming and labor-intensive. Difficult to remove the entire root system. |
Mowing | Prevents seed production and reduces plant vigor. | Does not kill the plant and can promote lateral spread. |
Solarization | Kills the grass and its seeds with high temperatures. | Can damage other plants and requires clear plastic for best results. |
Herbicides | Effective at killing dallisgrass, especially when used in conjunction with other methods. | Can be expensive and may harm other plants. Repeated applications may be necessary. |
Corn gluten meal | A natural herbicide that prevents seed germination. | Does not kill established plants and must be applied several times per year. |
Note: This table provides a brief overview of some methods to kill dallisgrass, but it's important to conduct further research and choose the best method for your particular situation. Always follow product instructions and safety precautions when using herbicides.
Conclusion - Good Riddance To Bad Grass
You may think that grass is good for your lawn and that is true - but not for all kinds of grass. Not all kinds of grass is beneficial for your lawn and for the health of your other plants or animals which you may have.
Some grass, such as dallisgrass may appeal to you but remember that this is a weed which may grow out of control in no time, giving your lawn a rugged, overgrown look. As previously stated, this is a persistent weed which can be easy to get rid of permanently if you don't use the correct methods.
Just like any other weeds, dallisgrass must not be allowed to flourish. Apply the strategies, tips, and methods you've learned about to how to kill dallisgrass. In doing this, you can be sure that your lawn or your garden will remain healthy and well maintained. Having a well maintained and healthy garden or lawn will give you lots of benefits and beautify the whole look of your property as well.
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