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Howdy Gardening Enthusiasts!
Nutsedges are common turfgrass weeds that favor warm climates and poorly drained or over irrigated areas. Golf courses often provide ideal environments for several types of sedges. Some of the more common sedges on golf courses include purple nutsedge, yellow nutsedge, globe sedge, rice flat sedge, annual sedge and Kyllinga species.
(PRONOUNCED: Kuh-LING-uh)
Most of us, here in Southeast Texas are fairly certain about Nutsedge, but I get lots of calls and emails about a sedge that has the burrs on top, and that is what is affectionately known as Kyllinga. Appropriately, four of the letters in KYILLINGA are KILL. And that's exactly what should be done to it.
Kyllinga species are becoming more prevalent on golf courses. Forty-five Kyllinga species exist in the world but only five are currently found in the continental U.S. with an additional one occurring in Hawaii . Most are rather difficult to detect in turfgrass because their growth closely resembles that of turf. Kyllinga leaves, however, are glossier than turfgrass and are detected easier in the morning as dew falls off their leaves but remains on the turf. Also, Kyllinga has a distinctive "minty sweet" scent when their leaves are mowed or crushed.
Kyllinga Identification
Green kyllinga (Kyllinga brevifolia) is the most commonly known turf weed of all Kyllinga species. Green kyllinga has a rhizomatous/stoloniferous growth. Stolons (runners) intertwine within turf to produce thick mats. Repeated herbicide (Image, Basagran, MSMA, Manage) applications are generally required to remove green kyllinga because herbicides only contact the outer surface. I have personally had great success with Manage. Mats generally begin small, however, may increase in size if unnoticed and can literally choke out the surrounding turfgrass.
Green kyllinga also produces viable seed throughout the growing season. Its seedheads are about the size of a garden pea when unmowed and have a light green color. Seeds initiate germination in spring and continue throughout the summer.
Pre-emergent controls for grassy weeds, such as Betasan, Barricade and Pendimethlin are very important for long-term control of sedges and especially Kyllinga. See our lawn fertilizations schedule Click Here for those times.
Until next issue, here's to
Great Gardening from the GardenLine, heard
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on Talkradio 950 KPRC.
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