The hot, hot summer weather may be unpleasant for most of us, but there are some things that thrive in such conditions… like Japanese beetles, and other pests and weeds. One such troublesome weed is nutsedge (a.k.a, nutgrass), which is aggressively growing in lawns all over our area. Don’t feel too badly if it is in your lawn, too, we’ve heard whispers that the Botanical Garden has some in their grass. You are not alone!
What exactly is nutsedge? Well, for starters, it is actually a perennial sedge, not a grass or a broadleaf weed. 
It has a triangular stem (you can feel this by rolling it between your fingers). It produces three, yellowish-green, grass-like leaves and feathery flower heads. The seed head will be spiky and look like a burr. However, most reproduction actually occurs via underground rhizomes, forming tubers that are called “nutlets.” This active underground network makes hand-weeding a nearly futile activity.
What do I do with nutsedge? Because nutsedge can spread so rapidly, it can become a real problem for your lawn. As we just mentioned, pulling nutsedge by hand is not your best option, as nutlets will remain belowground and produce new plants. You will need to pull nutsedge from that area many times throughout the year to eliminate your weed problem. Spraying a general herbicide will not work at all, since this is a sedge (most herbicides target broadleaf herbs and/or grassy herbs). You will need to apply an herbicide specifically meant for nutsedge. As you should when using any chemical in your yard and lawn, follow all directions on the packaging.
Fortunately, we have just received our new shipment of nutsedge herbicide. (There was such a run on it this last week that we temporarily sold out!) It is straightforward to use, and more importantly, effective. Good luck!
