[Arid_gardener] Re: [Grass/Weeds in Bermudagrass Lawn

[Olin Miller]

----- Original Message ----- From: <craiger00 at juno.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 11:53 AM Craig 85086 craiger00 at juno.com
> My bermuda lawn in Anthem has two grasses/weeds that are slowly taking
> over.
> Can I email a picture of these to someone or bring a picture/specimen to
> the Extension office for identification and a recommendation on how to
> erdacicate them?
========================================================

Anthem is about 1,000 feet higher than Phoenix but the weedy warm season
grasses have a wide range so we probably have the same weeds.

Some herbicides are selective to grasses, some to broadleaf plants and
others are nonselective.  But so far as I know there are none that are
selective to specific grasses that will not also kill other grasses.  The
only control is mechanical, i.e., pull or dig them out.  The propane torch
method is not recommended in our dry climate because of the risk of starting
a grass fire.  In any event, they need to be removed before the seed heads
ripen.  Once the Bermudagrass is growing and healthy it will smother the
annual grasses but, if not controlled before the seed heads ripen, you will
see more of them next year.  Following comments assume no winter ryegrass
overseeded.

Barley foxtail is probably the worst of the warm season grasses because the
hard, sharp, spiky  awns poke through socks and clothing and can also bury
deeply in the ears of pets such that they need to be removed by a vet.  It
has bunching shallow roots that are easily pulled out.  One of our Golden
Retrievers got an ear infection from it and was deaf in that year the rest
of its life.  Photo of the seed at
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/foxtail_barley.html

Barnyardgrass and junglerice are the two most common.  Both have bunching
shallow root systems that are easy to pull.The seeds of barnyard grass are
contained a bristly head 1-2 inches long that is initially green then turns
brown.  Both green and brown stages are stickery and cling to shoe laces and
socks.  Junglerice is identified by dark purple horizontal bands on the
grass blades.  Otherwise it looks a lot like Barnyard grass except the seed
heads are not so stickery.  Photos at
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/barnyardgrass.html
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/junglerice.html

Crabgrass in our area shows up in the lawns in January and disappears in
warm weather if the Bermudagrass is dense enough..  It spreads by seeds and
from the roots and will get worse every year and take over the lawn if not
controlled.  We have been digging it out every few weeks and have only seen
one or two plants the past few years.  MSMA supposedly controls it if
applied when the Bermudagrass is dormant but I find that it also kills off
our Santa Ana.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer, Maricopa County AZ