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A perennial problem

Dr. Jim Brosnan shares his knowledge on dallisgrass.

What are the optimal growing conditions for dallisgrass?

Dallisgrass seems to grow in all conditions throughout Tennessee. We see it thrive in both irrigated and non-irrigated turf, and areas receiving regular mowing/fertilizer applications as well as areas mowed sparingly and not receiving fertilizer. Again, it is arguably the most troublesome turf weed in the state.

What should technicians look for to spot dallisgrass problems?

Dallisgrass is fairly easy to identify in a lawn situation. Its bunch-type growth and coarse, textured leaves differentiate it from desirable lawn grasses. Often it can be confused with smooth and large crabgrass when mowed at similar heights.

Besides having a different growth habit, dallisgrass has a prominent membranous ligule and ridge along the mid-rib of the lower leaf surface. Additionally, when left un-mowed, dallisgrass will form a distinctive seedhead different from either smooth or large crabgrass.

What products work well to control dallisgrass?

There are minimal options to selectively control dallisgrass in either warm- or cool-season lawns. In warm-season lawns, many of the ALS inhibitors can suppress this species when applied with calibrated equipment at the correct timing. This would include herbicides such as combination of thiencarbazone, foramsulfuron and halosulfuron, trifloxysulfuron, foramsulfuron and flazasulfuron. None of these products will provide complete control with a single application, though.

Multiple applications are required to control dallisgrass over several seasons regardless of product. In cool-season lawns, fluazifop is probably the best option for selective control based on the research we’ve done here at UT.

However, it is limited to only fall and spring applications in tall fescue to limit the threat of desirable turf injury. For the rest of the article, visit bit.ly/llbrosnan.
 

Killing kyllinga

The perennial weed is hard to get rid of, but there are options you can try to satisfy customers.

Kyllinga is a relative newcomer on the weed scene, but it can spread like crazy, damaging landscaping as well as lawns. The weedy sedge tends to thrive in soil that remains wet for an extended period of time and receives full sun, although it will do just fine in partial shade.

According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, kyllinga moves easily from landscape beds to nearby turf and only becomes evident in later summer. The seeds can be spread by mowing equipment and even technicians’ clothing, taking it from property to property.

Close mowing can also cause a kyllinga outbreak as the lawn grass is unable to spread and compete, according to the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

But kyllinga also spreads through short rhizomes, or underground stems. That means even if technicians pull up the weed, each node can still reproduce. While pre-emergent control is the preferred option, there are ways to deal with a problem area.

For the rest of the article, click here. bit.ly/llkyllinga

Listen up!

Check out a couple of podcasts from our Lawn Care Radio Network:

The art of account managing
Dan Bantell, client consultant and account manager for AOS Landscaping, talks about going in cold for a sale, developing relationships with gatekeepers and what challenges he’s seen in his part of Pennsylvania.
bit.ly/llbantell

Your attention please
Public speaking isn’t for everyone, but Scott Topper says it can help boost your brand and is a talent that can be learned. He gives his tips on how to be a better speaker, how often to practice and who to use as an audience.
bit.ly/llstopper