What is the Best Herbicide to Kill Nutsedge? 

Yellow nutsedge is an aggressive perennial that is a nuisance weed in the United States.

This weed thrives in low, moist soil, but is also a problem in cultivated fields and pastures of all soil types

Knowing what kills nutsedge and the best herbicide to kill nutsedge is important to control its effects on crop production as it is a troublesome weed in crops. 

About Nutsedge

They grow in moist soil, and their presence often indicates poor drainage, overwatering, or leaking sprinkler heads. 

However, once established,  they will tolerate normal irrigation or drought conditions. 

The two most common species of nutsedge in California are the yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus, and the purple nutsedge, C. rotundus.

Yellow nutsedge grows throughout California, while purple nutsedge grows primarily in the southern part of the state.

Nutgrass is a troublesome weed in crops. However, a competitor crop such as corn or soybeans will generally outgrow and shade the yellow nutsedge. 

Generally, only a severe nut infestation will reduce corn or soybean yields. 

Due to a lack of competition, it is almost impossible to eradicate infestations of this weed on farmland. 

As a result, the yellow nut seed infestation has spread rapidly throughout the region.

As with most weeds, no single measure is enough to control yellow nutsedge.

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However, an integrated program combining preventative, cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods can be effective in controlling yellow nutsedge.

What is The Best Herbicide to Kill Nutsedge? 

There are several high-quality sedge control products on the market. 

Each of these products relies on a different chemical compound or combination to kill nutgrass. 

Some are gentler on certain types of grass, while others are an all-purpose treatment for killing sedges.

Remember to read all product label guidelines before treating your lawn.

Few herbicides are effective in controlling nutgrass, either due to lack of selectivity over other plants or lack of uptake.

Below are some good Herbicide to kill Nutsedges:

Selective Post-Emergence Herbicides 

Post-emergence herbicides with some selectivity, particularly in turf, include Halosulfuron (Sedgehammer) and MSMA.

These herbicides move quickly through the plant, but to be effective they must be applied to nutgrass before the fifth leaf instar when the plant is still building up energy reserves by drawing energy from its leaves to the newly formed tubers.

At this stage, this translocation to the tubers will slow or stop, and the herbicide will only kill the aerial part of the plant, leaving the tubers unaffected. 

For optimal nut control, follow all label directions and be sure to add a nonionic surfactant to the spray solution.

Looking for what kills nutsedge, post-emergence herbicides would do the job effectively.

MSMA is more effective on yellow than purple nut roots. 

Other herbicides available to professionals for use on turf are trifloxysulfuron sodium and sulfosulfuron 

Be sure to read the label carefully as these products will harm some weeds.

Spectracide’s Weed Stop for Lawns + Crabgrass Killer

Spectracide’s Weed Stop Plus Crabgrass Killer contains Quinclorac and Sulfentrazone. 

Both active ingredients are effective at killing nutgrass (with quinclorac specifically targeting yellow nutsedge). 

This product shows the fastest results in controlling sedges but may require multiple applications to completely kill nutsedge.

Basagran 

The active ingredient in Basagran is bentazone, which kills nutsedge on contact but does not harm turf grasses. 

Although effective at killing and controlling sedges, the plant should be sprayed thoroughly with Basagran as it only attacks the parts of the weed that are exposed to the herbicide. 

Basagran provides moderate to good control of yellow nutsedge. 

When actively growing nut seed reaches 8 inches in height, apply 2 pints per acre of Basagran plus 1 quart per acre of vegetable oil concentrate. 

If needed, apply a second application at the same rate seven to ten days later.

Basagran tank mix with atrazine improves nutgrass control.

Laddok is a commercial premix of Basagran and Atrazine. 

Apply 3.5 pints of Laddok per acre plus 2 pints per acre of concentrated vegetable oil when nutgrass is actively growing but before corn reaches 12 inches in height. 

Cultivate results seven to fourteen days after applying Laddok.

Permit (Halosulfuron) is a broadleaf sulfonylurea herbicide that provides good control of yellow nutsedge. 

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Image Kills Nutsedge 

This Image Kills Nutsedge differs from previous entries on this list as its active ingredient is imazaquin. 

Unlike the other entries on this list, Image Kill Nutsedge works best when watered into the soil with half an inch of water after application. 

Do not mow 2 days before and 2 days after application. 

This product works to kill and control sedges and weeds throughout the garden.

Sedgehammer 

The active ingredient in Sedgehammer is halosulfuron methyl, which attacks both purple and yellow sedge. 

Bonide Sedge Ender

Bonide Sedge Ender is a sulfentrazone-based sedge killer that does not contain quinclorac. 

This makes it capable of killing both purple and yellow nutgrass and other broadleaf weeds and is safe on more grass species than products that mix sulfentrazone with quinclorac. 

If you have grass that can be damaged by Quinclorac, like St. Augustine but still wants to kill the sedge, this is a perfect option.

Roundup 

Roundup can be used to clean fields before planting or to remove stray beds of yellow nutsedge. 

Roundup can effectively eliminate yellow nutsedge before planting late summer forage or before planting double harvest soybeans. 

Apply 1 to 3 liters of Roundup per acre as a sprinkle spray or use a 1 to 2 percent solution (1 to 2 liters per 25 gallons of water) with a handheld device. 

For best results, treat when plants are taller than 6 inches but before flowering, which occurs between mid-June and early August.

Roundup is effective in killing all species of nutsedge. 

The glyphosate in Roundup will infiltrate the sedge plants through the leaves and migrate to the tuberous roots, killing the sedges completely. 

However, Roundup is a non-selective herbicide that will kill all actively growing plants, including grass, that are exposed to it.

This will prevent reeds from growing back. 

Roundup also kills grass and any other plants exposed to the herbicide. 

Carefully block off other plants and grasses to avoid exposure, or use Roundup only in areas where sedges grow away from desirable grasses.

Many people mistakenly apply glyphosate to mature plants to try to kill the tubers. 

Unfortunately, when the tubers are mature, the herbicide usually doesn’t move from the leaves to the tubers, leaving them intact. 

Instead, apply glyphosate when the plants are young, actively growing, and haven’t been mowed or trimmed recently. 

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Does Tenacity Herbicide Kill Nutsedge?

Tenacity is manufactured by Syngenta and is one of the safest and most effective herbicides on the market. 

Effectively controls and kills weeds such as crabgrass, nutgrass, dandelion, clover, and others, either before they emerge (pre-emergence control) or after you’ve noticed weed patches on your lawn (post-emergence).

Compounds in Tenacity disrupt photosynthesis in weeds by blocking enzymes necessary for plant growth. 

You’ll see grass leaves turn pale as they die, allowing healthy grass to take over.

You will find that the weeds will lose their green color and die. 

The manufacturer recommends letting dying weeds compost naturally. 

Stubborn weeds may require a second treatment about three weeks later. 

This herbicide will kill many troublesome weeds on your lawn including crabgrass, nutsedge, ground ivy, dandelion, bentgrass, and many dicots.

Final Thoughts

The key to controlling nutgrass is eliminating the nut with an herbicide product.

Most control products take  10-14 days to completely kill the plant. 

Nuts are difficult to get rid of and may require multiple treatments. 

Late spring/early summer, when young and actively growing, is the ideal time to control yellow nutgrass weed. 

During its early growth stages, nuts edge root has not yet formed tubers and is more susceptible to herbicide control. 

Roundup is effective in killing all types of Nutgrass.

Simply employ any of the methods listed above, and those stubborn plants would be gone.