How to remove other grasses from your lawn

Couch and Kikuyu are the number one suspects when it comes to lawn invasion. They are fast-growing and have fine seeds that can spread very easily. Kikuyu is more aggressive in nature than any other lawn variety, so its potential to take over is very high. Kikuyu spreads by both runners and by seed.

Invasion can occur a number of different ways:

• Your original lawn and soil not being sprayed out and killed off properly and re-emerging from seeds or runners.
• Grass seeds that have travelled to your lawn by the wind, in bird droppings, pets, on clothing or shoes, or from a neighbouring lawn.

Some lawns, like Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo, have a growth habit that will usually crowd out most weeds and unwanted grasses. Occasionally these undesirables will invade, especially if your lawn hasn’t been well maintained. But it’s important not to confuse your weeds with your grasses. Weeds are generally soft round plants whereas unwanted grasses can include things like paspalum, Kikuyu and Couch, depending on what lawn variety you have.

Unfortunately in most cases, many warm season grasses are unable to be selectively treated in other grasses. So there are no specific herbicides that can be recommended to blanket treat a lawn without harming the grass you intend to keep as well. But there are other ways to handle the infestation.

Pull it out by hand

If the invading area is only small, the most effective way pull it out carefully by hand. You can also chip them out with a mattock or a garden spade. This method can be time-consuming if the invading grass has spread considerably. You should be able to get on top of the infestation with regular hand weeding, removing as much as possible and all of the roots. A healthy lawn should also help to thicken and choke out more emergence, so regular lawn care activities will also be important for success.

Spray with a non-selective herbicide

The only other way to remove Kikuyu or Couch from a Buffalo, Fescue, Rye or Bluegrass lawn is through the application of a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate (Round Up).

By using a small paint brush or weed wand carefully brush the leaves of the invading grass.

Please be aware that glyphosate (Round-Up) is a non-selective herbicide. Be careful to only touch the invading turf variety and not your lawn, as it will die also if it comes into contact with the herbicide. Invading grasses like Kikuyu, tend to grow quicker and taller, so the best time isolate the grass is when there is a little bit of length to the lawn.

How to remove kikuyu in couch or zoysia

For a Couch or Zoysia lawn that is suffering from an invasion of Kikuyu, there are some selective herbicide options that will treat Kikuyu but not the Couch or Zoysia. There is a commercially available herbicide called Monument, which can be used to suppress Kikuyu from Couch or Zoysia lawns. Monument Herbicide is the broadest spectrum selective post-emergence herbicide for turf. It’s highly effective in controlling Poa annua, Ryegrass, Kikuyu, Sedges and a wide spectrum of broadleaf weeds.

Monument Liquid Herbicide is safe to use on – Common Couch, Hybrid Couch, QLD Blue Couch and Zoysia – DO NOT USE on Kikuyu or Buffalo.

https://youtu.be/BE1iRqw5Joo

Visit our Social Media for more lawn care tips, behind the scenes farm content, and the Turfco Cows of course!

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube
• TikTok