Campbell Vaughn: This warm season grass is really a weed – be careful planting it
There is a warm season grass that we have in our area that I rarely mention. Zoysia, bermuda, St. Augustine and centipede grasses are most common in our landscapes, but there is one that is deeper rooted, takes less moisture, handles poorer soils and has been found to be free of most disease and insects. It is also most commonly used as a roadside stabilizer, but can be used for hay production, erosion control, and wildlife habitat. Why have I not been promoting this mystery grass? Because it is bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) and some cuss the very mention of this very tough and prolific …weed.
Bahiagrass, also known as highway grass, is an aggressive, warm-season perennial grass. Bahia has a mat-forming habit with a light green color, coarse texture and open canopy. Native to South America, common bahiagrass was first introduced into Florida in 1913. Common bahia was relatively slow to establish and not very cold hardy, so when the “Pensacola” cultivar was discovered, it became the dominant bahia we see today. Interestingly, the “Pensacola” bahia cultivar was found growing in streets and vacant lots near Pensacola's docks by E.H. Finlayson, a county Extension agent. It was most likely growing from seeds hidden in soil used for ballast on cargo ships.
When does bahia grow?
Growth of bahia begins early in spring and continues until mid-summer when the seed heads mature. Then for the folks who don’t want bahia, the seed heads emerge every three days after mowing for the entire growing season. The stalks of the seed head are very course and will work wonders on dulling your nice mower blade. It can keep lawn mowers busy from June through September.
Bahiagrass is easily identified by its distinctive “Y-shaped” black seed heads. Bahia spreads by seeds as well as rhizomes and will choke out other species of grasses if allowed to establish. It is also tough to eliminate.
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How to control bahiagrass
If bahiagrass becomes a problem in a turf area, it can be dug up or an herbicide may be used. If an herbicide treatment is chosen, treatments should be timed appropriately for optimum effectiveness. Post-emergent herbicide applications should start in May, when bahiagrass is small and starting to actively grow. Make sure to read the labels on any of these products. Elimination of bahia with herbicides works most of the growing season but is most effective in September.
Atrazine is a post-emergence herbicide for bahiagrass control that also has pre-emergence activity to give fair control of bahiagrass seed. It will also give post-emergence control of many broadleaf weeds. However, it is only safe to use on zoysia, centipede and St. Augustine grass lawns.
Image Kills Nutsedge is a homeowner-packaged, post-emergence herbicide product with the active ingredient Imazaquin that will aid in the control of and reduce competition from bahiagrass. It may be applied to established bermuda grass, zoysia, centipede and St. Augustine. And at a light rate will just stunt the bahia grass and keep it from seeding.
Metsulfuron (MSM) labeled as Quali-Pro MSM Turf is an herbicide product that will control bahiagrass, as well as many broadleaf weeds. MSM can be used on bermuda, St. Augustine, centipede, and zoysia. MSM seems to be a little more difficult to find on the shelves of box stores, but it is available online and at local specialty stores. It is a great fairly inexpensive product where a little goes a long ways. The application rate is 1/10 of a teaspoon per gallon of water, so a 2-ounce bottle could last an eternity.
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I will caution you on MSM that it is not recommended to spray in the root zone of maples and oaks because it has shown to be harmful to those trees. Remember that oaks and maple root zones usually extend way past the drip line of the tree, so be extra careful using the MSM.
If you happen to mow your neighbors’ yard from time to time and they have bahia grass, make sure to blow or wash off your equipment before mowing your own yard. Bahia seed travels and I am guessing you didn’t plant a nice bermuda lawn to have these nasty little black V’s popping up all over …
Reach Campbell Vaughn, the UGA Agriculture and Natural Resource agent for Richmond County, by emailing augusta@uga.edu.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Vaughn: This warm season grass is really a weed, be careful planting it
