AY-19-W

TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT
For Professionals
For Homeowners Yellow Nutsedge Control
Aaron Patton and Dan Weisenberger
This publication is meant for
Purdue Agronomy — Turfgrass Science
homeowners. For sedge control
for turf professionals, see
Turfgrass Management: Sedge
Control for Turf Professionals Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus
(Purdue Extension publication esculentus) is a troublesome,
AY-338-W), available from difficult-to-control weed that
the Education Store, is often found in turf areas
www.the-education-store.com.
(Figure 1). It is also called chufa,
nutgrass, or watergrass.
It is important to remember
that yellow nutsedge is not
a grass or broadleaf weed,
Purdue Turfgrass Science but a sedge. Understanding
www.agry.purdue.edu/turf this plant’s biology makes it
easier to know how to best
control it. This publication
describes the life cycle and
identification of yellow nutsedge
and recommends cultural and Figure 1. Yellow nutsedge is a problematic turf weed that is difficult
chemical management options to control.
for homeowners.
Life Cycle and Identification
Yellow nutsedge is a perennial plant that reproduces primarily by small
underground tubers — called nutlets — that form at the end of underground
stems — called rhizomes (Figure 2). A single plant can produce several
hundred of these tubers during the summer. Yellow nutsedge can also spread
by rhizomes (Figure 3). Yellow nutsedge produces a seedhead when unmown,
but its seeds rarely germinate.
All photos by Aaron Patton Yellow nutsedge actively grows during the heat of summer when cool-season
except Figure 2 by Corey Gerber, turf grows more slowly. Yellow nutsedge typically emerges (germinates
Purdue Extension. from tubers) in Indiana in late April or May (a few weeks after crabgrass
germinates) and grows actively until the first frost in autumn. A frost will kill
the plant’s aboveground portion but the tubers will survive and overwinter in
the soil. Dormant tubers can germinate and emerge throughout the following
season or survive in the soil for more than three years.

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AY-19-W Yellow Nutsedge Control

Yellow nutsedge is most noticeable in summer

because its leaves grow more rapidly than the
turf during the hottest summer months (Figure
4). During spring and fall (when it is cooler)
nutsedge growth is slower and not as easy to
spot in turf.
Yellow nutsedge can be identified by the trian-
gular shape of its stem. You can feel the shape by
rolling the stem in your fingertips.
Yellow nutsedge leaves are arranged in groups of
three (three-ranked), which also distinguishes Figure 2. This image shows a mature yellow
it from grasses (Figure 5). The leaves are light nutsedge tuber (the brown structure on top) and
green to yellowish, and each leaf has a long, ta- a yellow nutsedge tuber forming on the tip of a
pered tip. Each leaf also has a prominent midrib, rhizome.
and has a slick, shiny, or waxy appearance.
While many grasses (such as crabgrass) have
hairs on the leaf blades, yellow nutsedge does
not. Yellow nutsedge will produce a golden
seedhead, although the seedhead seldom forms
in frequently mown turf.
Site History and
Cultural Control Methods
Yellow nutsedge is a problem in many agri-
cultural fields, and (as can be expected by its
reproductive methods) in lawns that have been
converted from farmland. It also is a trouble-
some weed in horticultural and nursery crop
production. Yellow nutsedge tubers can easily
be spread by soil (topsoil or fill dirt) from one Figure 3. This yellow nutsedge plant is spreading
area to another during construction. Addition- both by a rhizome (left) and a tuber (the swollen
ally, people and equipment can spread yellow rhizome tip at the bottom of the photo).
nutsedge any time they move soil while planting
or dividing ornamental plants in the landscape.
The best method for controlling yellow nutsedge
(and other weeds) is to grow a healthy, dense,
vigorous stand of turf that can compete with
weeds. Encourage dense turf stands by following
proper turf maintenance practices, including fall
fertilization, proper irrigation, frequent mow-
ing at the proper height, and over-seeding as
needed.
Yellow nutsedge is most problematic in turf that
is mown too short, and it thrives in areas where
soils remain moist from poor drainage or over-
watering. However, yellow nutsedge can also be
a problem in well-drained areas, especially Figure 4. Yellow nutsedge grows taller than the
thin turf. surrounding turf during the summer.
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AY-19-W Yellow Nutsedge Control

Figure 5. The three-ranked leaf arrangement of Figure 6. An example of a sedge herbicide that
yellow nutsedge. contains 75 percent of the active ingredient
halosulfuron and sold in prepackaged 0.9-gram
packets that treat 1,000 square feet of turf.

If only a few yellow nutsedge plants are present,

hand pulling will help eliminate the weeds but
will not remove the tubers in the soil. Several
weeks after pulling yellow nutsedge, check the
area to see if the plants have regrown from the
tubers. For yellow nutsedge in landscape beds,
it is best to remove the entire plant (including
the root/rhizome system) by digging around
the plant’s base. This will help ensure that you
will not get regrowth from the nutsedge’s under-
ground rhizomes.
Control with Herbicides
Herbicides may be required when large
patches of nutsedge are present in the turf. The
traditional herbicides used to control dandelions
(Taraxacum officinale) and crabgrass (Digitaria
spp.) are ineffective since yellow nutsedge is a
sedge and not a broadleaf or grass. Herbicides Figure 7. An example of a sedge herbicide that
that contain halosulfuron (Figure 6) or contains sulfentrazone.
sulfentrazone (Figure 7) are recommended for
yellow nutsedge control. herbicides. As the summer progresses, nutsedge
Regardless of herbicide selection, yellow nut- plants form seedheads and tubers. Since the
sedge is a difficult-to-control weed that may tubers are the plants’ primary survival struc-
require multiple herbicide applications. Follow ture, it is critical to control nutsedge early in the
label directions about when to make follow-up summer before it produces tubers.
applications, if needed. Be patient. Two to three years of control using
Late spring/early summer (when it is young and herbicides will be needed to reduce viable
actively growing) is the ideal time to control tubers in the soil by 90 percent. Herbicide
yellow nutsedge. During its early growth stages, applications will injure growing yellow nutsedge
yellow nutsedge has not started producing plants and help prevent more tubers from
tubers and is most susceptible to control with forming, but herbicide applications will not

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Table 1. Sedge control ratings for homeowner products1.

Yellow Nutsedge
Herbicides Homeowner Product Ready-To-Use2
Control1
Gordon’s Trimec Nutsedge Plus Lawn Weed Killer
2, 4-D + mecoprop + Concentrate®, Spectracide Weed Stop 2x for Lawns No
Concentrate® F
dicamba + sulfentrazone
Spectracide Weed Stop 2x for Lawns RTU ®
Yes
Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns Plus Crabgrass No
2,4-D + quinclorac + Killer Concentrate®
F
dicamba + sulfentrazone Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns Plus Crabgrass Yes
Killer®
HI-YIELD Nutsedge Control®, Nufarm Halosulfuron
halosulfuron Pro®, Nutgrass Killer Selective Herbicide®, Nutgrass No G-E
Killer II Selective Herbicide®, SedgeHammer®,
SedgeHammer+®
sulfentrazone Ortho Nutsedge Killer for Lawns® Yes E

sulfentrazone + prodiamine Bonide Prozone Weed Beater Complete , Bonide ®2

No E
Sedge Ender®2
sulfentrazone + quinclorac Image Herbicide Kills Crabgrass II® No E
1 E=excellent (≥90% control). G=good (75-90% control). F=fair (50-75% control). P=poor (≤50% control). These are relative
control rankings based on research of the efficacy of professional products. Weed control will vary with environmental
conditions, application timing, turfgrass vigor, and other factors. This table is only a guide. Repeat applications are needed
for complete control of sedges with all herbicides.
2 Ready-to-use (RTU) products come in spray bottles and require no mixing or additional equipment to apply. Ready-to-
spray (RTS) containers are also available in some products that can be applied as a spray using the RTS container with the
herbicide and water from a garden hose. Products that come dry or in concentrated liquid form, require pump-up sprayers
and mixing to apply.

control tubers that are viable in the soil but have ware stores, garden centers, home improvement
not yet produced plants. warehouses, and superstores. Some of these
Before using any herbicide, always refer to the products will be ready-to-use (RTU) in a spray
product label for specific instructions about bottle, while others will require mixing in a
proper use and turfgrass tolerance. sprayer. Table 1 indicates whether products are
RTU.
The exact product that you use will be based on
its availability at retailers. See Table 1 for a list Before using any herbicide, consider the follow-
of products that contain these active ingredients ing steps for successful yellow nutsedge control:
that can be purchased online or at local hard- 1. Read and follow all directions on the herbi-
cide label.
2. Do not mow one or two days prior to or fol-
Find Out More lowing the herbicide application.
Purdue Extension offers many 3. Treat the area with the proper rate of her-
publications about establishing, bicide and volume of water listed on the
maintaining, and controlling lawn pests. product label. Do not apply the herbicide if
Get these publications from: the turf is stressed due to drought or high
temperatures (≥90°F).
The Purdue Extension Education Store
www.the-education-store.com 4. Six to ten weeks after the first application,
repeat steps 2 and 3 if the yellow nutsedge
The Purdue Turf Program has recovered or regrown from tubers.
www.agry.purdue.edu/turf

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AY-19-W Yellow Nutsedge Control

When using products that contain 75 percent Professional turf managers have additional
halosulfuron (that is, a 75DF formulation), add a herbicide options for yellow nutsedge control.
nonionic surfactant to improve control. Non- These herbicides are not readily available to
ionic surfactant is a soap-like liquid that helps homeowners and should only be applied by
herbicide sprays better cover the leaf tissue to kill professionals. Homeowners can hire profession-
the weed. Ask the experts at your local garden al turf specialists to apply these herbicides.
center about these surfactants and their avail-
ability. Many garden centers carry the nonionic Summary
surfactant Hi-Yield® Spreader Sticker that can be In summary, sedges are problem weeds and are
used. difficult to control with nonchemical options.
If your retailer does not sell a nonionic sur- Many herbicides are available for sedge control
factant, certain liquid dish detergents such as but proper herbicide use and application timing
Ivory® liquid dish soap contain high amounts of is critical to optimize control.
a nonionic surfactant and they can be used as a For best results, apply herbicides prior to tuber
substitute. The detergent label may say whether production. The most common mistake is to
it contains a nonionic surfactant (do not use apply herbicides too late in the season after yel-
products that contain anionic surfactant). low nutsedge is big, spreading by rhizomes, and
For spot treatments of nutsedge with halosulfu- producing tubers. To be effective, you will need
ron, products will typically be sold in 0.9-gram to implement a sedge control program early in
packets (Figure 6). To use, mix one 0.9-gram the season and continue it for more than a year
packet of halosulfuron and 2 teaspoons of non- to reduce tuber populations in the soil and pre-
ionic surfactant in 1 gallon of water. This amount vent the spread of this problematic weed.
will treat 1,000 square feet. References
A new halosulfuron formulation may also be Bendixen, L.E. 1973. Anatomy and sprouting of
available at some retailers that already includes yellow nutsedge tubers. Weed Sci. 21:501-503.
the surfactant. This product is sold under the
trade name SedgeHammer+® (pronounced Patton, A.J., and D.V. Weisenberger. 2013.
SedgeHammer plus), so adding a surfactant to Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals.
this formulation is unnecessary. For spot treat- Purdue Extension publication AY-336.
ments with SedgeHammer+®, use one 0.5-ounce Rahn, E.M., W.H. Lachman, R.D. Sweet, and
packet per 1,000 square feet. Unlike halosulfu- R.S. Bell. 1962. Life history studies as related
ron, products that contain sulfentrazone do not to weed control in the northeast: 1 – Nutgrass.
require a surfactant to control nutsedge. Northeast Regional Publication, University of
Of the two ingredients (sulfentrazone and halo- Rhode Island Agriculural Experiment Station
sulfuron), sulfentrazone will provide the quick- Bulletin 364.
est control. Injury symptoms appear on yellow Webster, T.W. 2005. Mulch type affects growth
nutsedge within a few days after a sulfentrazone and tuber production of yellow nutsedge
application. Injury symptoms appear on yellow (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge
nutsedge about two weeks after a halosulfuron (Cyperus rotundus). Weed Sci. 53:834-838.
application.
Glyphosate products (Roundup® and others) can
also be used to treat yellow nutsedge in land-
scape beds and gardens, but glyphosate provides
only marginal control. Make sure not to use
glyphosate to treat yellow nutsedge in your lawn
because this product is nonselective and will kill
the turf in your lawn as well as the weeds.

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AY-19-W Yellow Nutsedge Control

Find Out More

Find more publications in the Turfgrass
Management series by visiting the Purdue
Extension Education Store:
www.the-education-store.com
Some of the information presented in this guide,
especially pesticide recommendations, may be
specific to Indiana. Readers outside Indiana
should check with their own cooperative
extension services for state-specific information.
Reference in this publication to any specific
commercial product, process, or service, or
the use of any trade, firm, or corporation
name is for general informational purposes
only and does not constitute an endorsement,
recommendation, or certification of any kind
by Purdue University. Individuals using such
products assume responsibility for their use
in accordance with current directions of the
manufacturer.

May 2013

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