How to Remove Ryegrass From Bermuda
Ryegrass (Lolium perenne), a cool-season grass hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 8, is often used to overseed Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) in the fall so the lawn remains green during winter when Bermudagrass is dormant. Normally, the process works well, because ryegrass dies out as the temperatures rise, but on occasions when cool weather lingers in spring -- or in grass transition zones -- ryegrass can persist, intermingle with the Bermudagrass and weaken it. In these cases, you'll need to take steps to remove the ryegrass to keep your lawn healthy.
Wear gloves and long sleeves, and apply a herbicide containing glyphosate during wintertime when your Bermudagrass is dormant -- normally in December or January, because it is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 12. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for rate of application. Within 24 hours of application, the lawn needs at least 1/2 inch of water to activate the herbicide. Apply a second application a few weeks later if ryegrass is still present.
- Ryegrass (Lolium perenne), a cool-season grass hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 8, is often used to overseed Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.)
- Normally, the process works well, because ryegrass dies out as the temperatures rise, but on occasions when cool weather lingers in spring -- or in grass transition zones -- ryegrass can persist, intermingle with the Bermudagrass and weaken it.
Reduce fertilizing and watering your lawn in late spring for overseeded lawns -- or if you prefer not to use a herbicide. Mow the ryegrass progressively shorter each week, until you are cutting it to a height of about 1 inch. This approach weakens the ryegrass while rejuvenating your Bermudagrass. Once the Bermudagrass has started to green up, resume your warm-season grass schedule of mowing, watering and fertilizing.
Call a professional lawn service to remove ryegrass from your lawn while your Bermudagrass is actively growing. Sulfonylurea-type herbicides can remove ryegrass without damaging or killing your Bermudagrass, but these herbicides are not available to consumers so they must be applied by a licensed professional. The most commonly used herbicides on ryegrass include formasulfuron, metsulfuron or trifloxysulfuron, instead of sulfosulfuron. Herbicides with sulfosulfuron tend to be the least effective on ryegrass, often requiring two treatments to eradicate it.
- Reduce fertilizing and watering your lawn in late spring for overseeded lawns -- or if you prefer not to use a herbicide.
- Sulfonylurea-type herbicides can remove ryegrass without damaging or killing your Bermudagrass, but these herbicides are not available to consumers so they must be applied by a licensed professional.
Tip
Herbicides containing glyphosate are sold under numerous brand names and are available at most home improvement and retail stores.
A healthy stand of Bermudagrass is often the best defense against intruding ryegrass. Keep your lawn thriving with regular application of 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet every four to eight weeks, and water it about 1 inch weekly during growing season. Bermudagrass should be mowed frequently -- often more than once a week -- and kept to a height of less than 2 inches. The exact height recommendation is dependent on variety.
Warning
When applying herbicides containing glyphosate make sure the Bermudagrass is dormant. Applying the herbicide when the grass is not dormant can kill or injure Bermudagrass.
Critics of the Environmental Protection Agency-approved glyphosate say the chemical is a health hazard -- a claim manufacturers deny. At the time of publication, the chemical is under review by the EPA, which is set to release its findings in 2015.
Related Articles
References
- Clemson University: Overseeding With Ryegrass
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Turfgrass establishment for Texas
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Removal of a Cool Season Turfgrass from Overseeded Commercial and Residential Lawns
- Clemson University: Bermudagrass Maintenance Calendar
- Seedland: Climate Maps, Grass Type Chart & More
Tips
- Herbicides containing glyphosate are sold under numerous brand names and are available at most home improvement and retail stores.
- A healthy stand of Bermudagrass is often the best defense against intruding ryegrass. Keep your lawn thriving with regular application of 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet every four to eight weeks, and water it about 1 inch weekly during growing season. Bermudagrass should be mowed frequently -- often more than once a week -- and kept to a height of less than 2 inches. The exact height recommendation is dependent on variety.
Warnings
- When applying herbicides containing glyphosate make sure the Bermudagrass is dormant. Applying the herbicide when the grass is not dormant can kill or injure Bermudagrass.
- Critics of the Environmental Protection Agency-approved glyphosate say the chemical is a health hazard -- a claim manufacturers deny. At the time of publication, the chemical is under review by the EPA, which is set to release its findings in 2015.
Writer Bio
Based in Ohio, Charlie Claywell has been writing since 1995. His articles have appeared in “The Family Digest” magazine, “The Lookout” magazine and several southwestern Ohio newspapers. Claywell holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
