[Arid_gardener] Re: Nut Sedge Control

[Olin Miller]

----- Original Message ----- From: <garciau1 at cox.net>
> My front yard has been taken up by nut grass.  I have one landscaper
> telling me I have to pull up all the lawn and a good ten to twelve inches
> of top soil to be rid of it.  I have another landscaper telling me I have
> to have someone fumigate to kill everything in the lawn.  What would be
> the cheapest and most efficient way to be rid of nut grass. [...]
==========================================

It is very difficult.  I have heard the only sure way to get rid of it is to
move, unfortunately not an option for most of us.

Removing and replacing the soil would probably work.  One could also screen
the soil to filter out the nodules, but that is probabably not feasible for
an entire lawn.  Soil solarization would not penetrate deeply enough or be
hot enough to kill the "nuts " on the roots.  I don't understand how
fumigation would work.

There was  a product known as "Manage' by Monsanto that has been renamed as
"SledgeHammer" by the current manfacturer.  According to some reports it
works very well; according to others it doesn't work at all.  It may be a
problem with how rigorously the label directions are followed.  Very pricey
in concentrate and it may be hard to find in a diluted version suitable for
homeowners.  Ask a garden center like Summer Winds, Baker Nursery, or
Gardener's World.

Olin Miller
Master Gardener Volunteedr, Maricopa County AZ