Johnson grass

My yard has been taken over by Johnson grass. The last several years, we've had severe drought, and due to a rather low fixed income, we weren't able to keep the yard watered, so the carpet grass pretty much all died off, and Johnson grass took over.

Well, things are a bit better now, and I'd like to get rid of this awful stuff, and start over, probably with some type of Bermuda, which I believe to be a little more drought tolerant than carpet grass.

BUT! ! ! How in the world do I get rid of the Johnson grass? ? ?
Due to my age, physical condition, and still very tight budget, neither digging it all out nor hiring that done, are feasible options.

If I start now by keeping it mowed short and sprayed with Round Up, is there a chance it might be gone by spring?
What other options do I have? ? ??

And if this is the wrong forum to ask this question on, please direct me to the right one. Thanks.

Any and all suggestions welcome! !



This message was edited Sep 16, 2014 11:48 PM

Good luck!! I have always hated Johnson grass since I was little and it cut my hands. I was told that it makes good hay and is good for soil erosion. it has a bad root system which can't be controlled. In order to kill it, you have to get every piece of the root Also the seeds sprout. Wishing you luck on a tough job. Luciee

Some Johnson grasses are Roundup resistant and have taken over where the herbicide has killed off other vegetation. Check the dirt doctor website - Howard Garrett has a radio show out of Dallas/Ft. Worth - where you might get some ideas for starting over.

Oops - meant to post link. http://www.dirtdoctor.com/newforum/root/johnson-grass-t6326.html

I was looking for help and saw your post. Forgive me if I am not sure if "Johnson Grass" is the same thing as what we call "Nutgrass". If it is, there is now a product that actually works. It actually kills nutgrass. It' called "Dismiss". I have used it and it takes about 2 applications. It's expensive but worth it to me. Since I wasn't sure if it's the same thing. I included the product label for you to see. I get mine through Hummert International, in Earth City, MO. http://www.fmcprosolutions.com/Portals/pest/Content/Docs/Labels/Dismiss%2001-02-13%20Comm.pdf

Hope this helps you!

Johnson grass is quite different than nut grass, addicted2plants, But I do appreciate the information.
I am still fighting the stuff. Doing my best to keep it mowed very short and hitting it with occasional squirts of Round Up. It's probably a losing battle no matter what I try, as the median in the street beside my house is covered with it, as are the yards of a couple of other houses near by. The median is very seldom mowed by the city, so it goes to seed often, and one of the neighboring yards is a rent house, usually occupied by college students who don't pay much attention to the yard, so it goes to seed, too. Sigh . . . .

I keep pulling out Johnson Grass and I think I'm starting to win.
addicted2plants. Thank you for the information. Next time I go to STL, I'm going there to get some of that. I fight Nut Grass constantly. I think it's the worst stuff around.

I can suggest a very labor-intensive way to kill it.
Anywhere it emerges find the source, the crown. Cut the grass back to about 1/2 inch from the ground.Then spray the crown or rhizome if you can see it with full strength 41% glyphosate. This will kill it. But depending on how bad the infestation is it will an ongoing battle. But it can be done.
I carry pruners and a small spray bottle of gly concentrate with me at all times.

sorry for double post. don't know how that happened.

This message was edited Jul 30, 2017 2:51 AM

I'm still trying to kill nut sedge. We got garden soil/compost from STL and it has nut sedge in it. I'm so disappointed. I have been trying to kill that stuff off for years.