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purple nutsedge question

Posted by theresa24 8b/9a NE FL (My Page) on
Mon, May 2, 11 at 17:04

Okay, don't slam me.....just a question. But, is it so bad to grow nutsedge as a lawn? I really like the texture of it (when kept at about 2 inches) much better than the typical St. Augustine or Bermuda that grows here (both of which require a lot of maintenance). It pulls up easily from the flower beds and (as a patch of it has taken over a corner of my yard), it seems really low maintenance. I can't help but be tempted to let it take over.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: purple nutsedge question

I remember as a kid playing barefoot with the neighbor kids on our lawns. We always knew when we stepped on nutgrass. It felt like we stepped on a toothpick. Other than that, I suppose you could try it.

Tell us about the area where the nutgrass is thriving. Is it lower than the surrounding area or is it in a bowl? Is it usually wetter there or does it retain water longer?

Nutgrass is a swamp grass. Sometimes you can get rid of it by changing the way you water.


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RE: purple nutsedge question

Well, maybe it is not nutgrass then. It sure looks like the pictures though. Hmmm...Would it still feel like that if there were no seed heads? We have a moist lawn, but no standing water.


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RE: purple nutsedge question

Nutsedge, being a sedge, has a triangular stem. You can pull one up and twirl the stem in your fingers to feel (and see) the edges. Here in NJ yellow nutsedge is common. Not sure if the two share the same characteristics, but here the sedge grows much faster than the bluegrass/fescue/rye grasses and it forms individual stems, hard to imagine it as a continuous bed of green. Also, nutsedge is an annual up here, so you might need to reseed it every year....can you even get nutsedge seeds??


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RE: purple nutsedge question

Nutgrass loves moist soil. How often are you watering and for how long?


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RE: purple nutsedge question

nutgrass = sedge, there are hundreds of types of this plant. I think purple nutsedge encompasses a hand full of these plants.

Are you talking about the tall fast growing kind or the very fine, low growing type?


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