How to Kill Rye Grass
There are two types of rye grass: annual and perennial. Perennial rye grass has a finer leaf texture, doesn't produce grass stains as easily, and can survive the hot summer, as long as the summers aren't too severe. Whether you are killing your rye grass to allow a warm-season grass to take over for the summer, or whether you simply want to change grass types, you can rid yourself of your rye lawn.
Set your mower to 1/2 inch and mow your lawn, scalping as much of the rye grass as possible.
Stop watering your lawn for two weeks and cover the rye grass with a clear plastic sheet, if practical. Weigh down the edges. This will prevent the grass from receiving any new moisture and if the sun is hot during the day, the plastic sheet will bake the rye and quickly kill it. Rye grass dies easily without water.
- There are two types of rye grass: annual and perennial.
- This will prevent the grass from receiving any new moisture and if the sun is hot during the day, the plastic sheet will bake the rye and quickly kill it.
Rake your lawn with a thatch rake after the rye has withered and died from lack of water. Remove as much of the dead grass as possible, leaving bare earth in places.
Use an herbicide formulated for rye grass if your rye continues growing after being deprived of water for two weeks. Read label directions carefully and apply only if the herbicide will not kill the grass you wish to keep. Do not spray any herbicide on a windy day or if rain is predicted in the next 24 hours. Cover any plants you do not wish to kill.
Kill Annual Rye Grass
Annual rye grass is a popular grass used to overseed home lawns during cold winter months. It is also frequently grown as a cover crop to provide food for grazing cattle. Rye grass grows in bunches rather than individual blades and is characterized by a yellow at the base which develops into dark green leaf blades. Wait until the daytime temperatures climb above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the nighttime temperatures are no lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The herbicide application process should also occur only during dry periods with a lot of sun, as rain will wash it away before it can kill the rye grass. Fill a 3-gallon garden sprayer with a non persistent-contact herbicide made for weeds, not grass. Spray the entire surface of the ground with a thin layer of herbicide and allow it to dry.
- Rake your lawn with a thatch rake after the rye has withered and died from lack of water.
- The herbicide application process should also occur only during dry periods with a lot of sun, as rain will wash it away before it can kill the rye grass.
Tip
Unless you live in an area with mild summers, even perennial rye grass will naturally die after one to three years.
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References
Tips
- Unless you live in an area with mild summers, even perennial rye grass will naturally die after one to three years.
Writer Bio
Larry Parr has been a full-time professional freelance writer for more than 30 years. For 25 years he wrote cartoons for television, everything from "Smurfs" to "Spider-Man." Today Parr train dogs and write articles on a variety of topics for websites worldwide.
