7 Best Nutsedge Killer [Selective Herbicides for Nutgrass]

Botanically speaking, the nutsedge has nothing to do with nuts nor do they produce nuts as fruits. They do not even belong to the family of nuts. 

The name nutsedge is derived from the tubers which look like nuts. 

The nutsedge is a widely known invasive weed popular in regions with warm climates. It has been nicknamed “the world’s worst weed” because of the difficulty in controlling it.

 It usually grows among turf grasses and chokes them out because of its ability to grow more rapidly. 

Despite its invasive nature and choking characteristics, the nutsedge is considered useful as food to hunters and people in famine-infested areas. 

It is also useful for reducing cramp pains during menstruation. Scientists believe that consumption of the plant tubers can be attributed to clean teeth in ancient south Sudan. 

This is because the Pants emit certain chemicals when ingested, that keep bacteria and microorganisms in the mouth at bay. 

The nutsedge weed is allelopathic and produces chemicals harmful to the survival of other crops around where it grows. 

Low crop yield is a direct consequence of allowing nutsedge on a field.

There are only a few techniques of weed control that can temporarily keep this weed at bay. The best that most herbicides can do most times is to sever the weed shoot from its root.

 It takes only some time before the roots develop new stems that grow again to choke out other plants on the soil.

Its tuber system is one way it evades easy eradication from the soil. The tubers are well developed and resistant to some herbicides.

 Application of certain herbicides sometimes leads to just the drying away of the leaves, leaving the tuber and root unharmed.

 After a while, the tubers germinate again and fill up the farmland or garden, making it seem like weeding had not been previously done.

 Using the mechanically driven plow for weed disposal has the same effect as the use of manual weeding equipment.

 Even worse is the fact that the mechanically driven plow helps liter the cutup tubers all around the farm.

In this article, we outline seven herbicides that are effective for controlling and killing the nutsedge weed. 

This article further explains the methods of application and how to safely apply the herbicides without destroying the desirable turfgrass growing on the soil.

7 Best Selective Herbicides to Kill Nutsedge

The herbicides that will be outlined below are strictly selective herbicides.

 Selective in the sense that they target just the nutsedge weed and cause no harm to the turfgrass or any other grass growing on the field. 

The following are the seven best herbicides effective for control and killing of nutsedge weeds:

1. Ferti-lome weed out nutsedge control

2. Blindside Herbicide WDG FMC

3. Bonide sedge ender herbicide

4. Sedge hammer herbicide

5. Basagran T/o herbicide

6. Sulfentrazone 45c selective herbicide

7. Certainty herbicide

These herbicides and their usage procedures are explained below. 

Various customer testimonials about the effectiveness of these herbicides are also included in the paragraphs below.

1.  Ferti-Lome Weed Out Nutsedge Control

This herbicide is a blend of  Sulfentrazone and Prodiamine. It is quite expensive but very effective in eliminating nutsedge weeds. 

They are effective for the early stages of weed growth as well as when the nutsedge weeds have grown to full maturity. 

The ferti-lome weed out nutsedge control herbicide can be used both in hot and cold weather conditions. 

Just that in hot weather, the amount of application needs to be increased a bit because it is in this season that the nutsedge weeds grow faster.

 Mr. Adam who lives in the united states after using the ferti-lome weed killer says “it works how it is supposed to.” 

Other users have also confirmed that the ferti-lome weed out nutsedge control herbicide is not only effective on nutsedge but on other weeds that attack lawns and gardens.

 This herbicide is an easy-to-use one that is already mixed in the purchase container. All you need to do is to break its seal and spray on the lawn to eliminate the nutsedge.

 The effects begin within three days of application You can get a can of the ferti-lome weed out herbicide from local stores or online stores like Amazon.

2.    Blindside Herbicide Water Dispersible Granule FMC

This herbicide works effectively on over seventy weed species and is advantageous if your lawn Is being overrun by multiple kinds of weeds.

 It is designed particularly for stubborn weeds like the nutsedge and is dispersible in water. It is best applied in the warm season when the nutsedge weed is still in rapid reproduction.

 The blindside herbicide functions by going down to the root of nutsedges and destroying the weed from its root. 

Effects begin to show at least 2 days after application. Before application of the blindside herbicide to the lawn, ensure the lawn had gotten enough water. 

Good soil moisture helps adequate dispersal of the herbicide on the nutsedge. You might need to water the lawn, three days after application, to keep the soil moisture intact.

Remember, nutsedge weeds have a root and tuber system that is difficult to destroy by regular herbicides. 

The blindside herbicide is designed to begin action from the roots, where it destroys the reproductive structures of the nutsedge grass, then spreads upward towards the stem and leaves of the weed.

3. Bonide Edge Ender Selective Herbicide

You do not need to exercise caution when applying the bonide edge ender herbicide on your lawn overrun by nutsedge weeds.

 This is because the bonide edge ender herbicide does not harm any other plant on the lawn apart from the nutsedge weeds.

 It has a pre-emergent action and can target the tubers of the weed before they grow out of the soil as shoots. 

So, if the tubers had been previously dispersed by the use of a mechanical plow, the bonide edge ender can target each of these tubers regardless of where they are located on the lawn.

 The herbicide is rainproof and cannot be easily shed off by rainfall or misting.

 It is recommended to be used only on lawns and not gardens. As it is proven to be injurious to plants that are not grasses.

4. Sedge Hammer Herbicide

The sedge hammer eliminates nutsedge weeds without damaging the other grasses on the lawn.

 It is chemically designed to kill only nutsedge weeds and can be sprayed using an overhead sprinkler on all parts of the lawn.

 It is a water-soluble herbicide that does not need to be mixed with any other element except water. 

The water and sedge hammer solution is quickly taken into the plant tissue and within two days, cell division within the nutsedge slowly reduces to a stop. 

This inhibits growth in both the root and stem of the plant and finally, leads to the death of the nutsedge weed.

 The sedge hammer herbicide can be applied in both cold and hot weather conditions and is considered the mildest chemical on lawns.

5. Basagran T/o herbicide

This herbicide is most effective for controlling and killing the nutsedge weeds after they have grown on the lawn. 

They are not like other herbicides that go down to the roots of nutsedge weeds. They are rather designed to take effect from the weed leaves.

It can be mixed with other herbicides in water to increase its efficacy on the weeds.

 To apply the basagran herbicide, apply two pints of the herbicide in a gallon of water, then mix with some methylated oil to help the binding of the chemical to the water. 

The emphasis of sprinkling should be directly on the nutsedge weed rather than an overhead spray on the full lawn.

6. Sulfentrazone 45c Selective Herbicide

Nutsedge weeds are flowering plants that produce seeds but do not propagate through seeds.

They propagate by their resistant tuber structure which makes control difficult. This is why scientists had to develop the sulfentrazone 45c selective herbicide. 

This herbicide is functional for pre-control and post-control of the nutsedge weed. The weeds respond to the action of the herbicide within twenty-four hours of application.

 It is safe to be used on pets and commercial grasses like a golf course fairway. 

Application of the sulfentrazone should be consistent and maintained even after the leaves of the nutsedge wither away.

 This is to eliminate the tubers of the weed that must have lodged somewhere within the soil to germinate and grow again.

7. Certainty Herbicide

The certainty herbicide can kill nutsedge weeds within one week of constant application on the lawn.

 It is best for application on grasses that grow in warm climates and effective for the control of every other weed species that grows on lawns. This is why it is regarded as a professional quality herbicide. 

When nutsedge weed plants have ingested the chemical through stomatal openings, it inhibits cell division and leads to the death of the weeds.

What is the Best Herbicide for Nutsedge?

The best herbicide for the control of nutsedge weeds on lawns and turfs is a herbicide that does harm only to the nutsedge without harming other plants on the field.

The above-listed herbicides are effective enough and vary slightly in performance. 

Some of them, like the certainty herbicide, take about a week before the effects begin to show on the nutsedge, while others like the sulfentrazone 45C selective herbicide begins to affect the plants just twenty-four hours after application.

Usage of any of the herbicides depends on how many nutsedge weeds are in your turf and how quickly you want them eliminated.

What kills Nutsedge Naturally?

You would be shocked to realize how much natural nutsedge killer you have been putting to other use apart from killing nutsedges.

Do you know that sugar kills nutsedges? Well, now you know.

Sugar is a very effective natural nutsedge killer that can be applied by sprinkling a sugar solution around the lawn.

 Sugar on the soil destabilizes the pH condition of the soil and makes it unfit for nutsedge to thrive. It also nourishes useful plant microbes and keeps the soil fertile.

How Can I Stop Getting Nutsedge?

To stop nutsedge weeds from your lawn, there is a need for the consistent use of effective herbicides. 

Do not stop using the herbicides once nutsedge leaves begin to dry up. Continue application on the lawn for about two more weeks after the elimination of visible nutsedge weeds.

 Also, use herbicides that can kill nutsedge to control other types of weeds on the lawn. This way, the lawn stays free from nutsedge weed and other weeds.

How Long Does it Take for Nutsedge killer to Work?

Nutsedge killer herbicides vary in composition as well as the time frame for performance.

Some take twenty-four hours to begin action, while others take up to two weeks.

How Often Can I Spray Nutsedge?

It is ideal to spray the nutsedge plant, hours after you water the lawn. 

Once a day is also a good frequency. But you have to make sure to reduce the frequency of spray as the lawn starts to recover.

Caution on the Application of Herbicides.

Ensure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines in the application of the herbicides on your plant.

 If the manufacturer insists that a high frequency of spray be maintained, then you do so. If they insist otherwise, you also have to adhere. 

 If they are herbicides that need to be mixed in water, mix using the right measure of water as recommended by the manufacturer.

Good Drainage as a Control Measure for Nutsedge

Gardeners have observed that nutsedge weeds thrive better in areas with a poor drainage system. 

This is because excess water is always left on the soil to foster their growth and survival.

If you must rid your lawn of these nutsedge weeds, ensure to maintain a good drainage system around your lawn.

Conclusion

In conclusion, nutsedge weeds reduce the yield of other plants on the soil and are difficult to control.

The difficulty in their control does not insinuate that they have to be left to choke out the choice grasses from the lawn. 

This is why herbicides have been produced to combat their growth and spread on the lawn. 

Application of these herbicides should follow the manufacturer’s instruction of use, as a wrong application can lead to the destruction of plants alongside the nutsedge weeds.