| | Click the above image to download Louisiana Lawns: Best Management Practices. |
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| | This clump of dallisgrass can be taken out of a bermudagrass lawn using MSMA as per label directions. Residents that have St. Augustine and Centipedegrass will have to use other, less effective methods. |
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The LSU AgCenter has recently released a new publication for home lawns based on research-based best management practices (BMPs). With the recent drought conditions, this publication will help many residents to get their lawns back into shape and encourage the appropriate implementation of research-based management practices.
This publication is broken down into basic lawn care and integrated pest management. Basic lawn care topics are fertilization and application, watering the lawn, mowing the lawn, thatch control and an annual calendar on lawn management. The integrated pest management section discusses lawn insects, insecticides, diseases and their control and well as lawn weeds, herbicides and their application. Numerous photos are charts are scattered throughout this excellent publication geared toward the average homeowner.
Click here to download the publication. You can also pick up a copy at the Lafourche Parish Extension Service office located at 402 West 5th Street in Thibodaux.
Question: I have clumps of Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) growing in my lawn and want to remove it. What can I use to make this happen?
Answer: This is a fairly common and requires some specific explanation depending on the main turfgrass (St. Augustine, Centipede or Bermudagrass) you have in your lawn.
1. St. Augustine (Stenotaphrun secundatum) as your main lawn grass: You are very limited unless you have a sharp shovel to dig out the Dallisgrass or want to spot spray this perennial weed with a non-selective herbicide containing 41% glyphosate as per label directions.
2. Centipede (Eremochloa ophiuroides) as your main lawn grass: You can use the spot spray treatment as listed above or use a selective grass herbicide containing Sethoxydim such as Vantage as per label directions. If you choose the latter, you will have to reapply for best results. The product containing sethoxydim will also control crabgrass and bahiagrass in your centipedegrass.
3. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) as your main lawn grass: You have some options that will be effective in this situation. MSMA will control dallisgrass growing in bermudagrass with three applications as per label directions 14-21 days apart.
Proper identification is the most critical aspect of any pest control program so bring a sample into the Extension Service office or email a digital photo to bhfletcher@agcenter.lsu.edu.