Effective Ways on How to Kill Dallisgrass

What is Dallisgrass?

Dallisgrass came from the Argentina and Uruguay and was introduced in the US during the 1800s. They are a type of plant that can grow fast and can survive southern climes.

Dallisgrass can release 15,000 seeds and can survive for six years. The problem with this is grass is that it has is that it is prone to ergot fungus, which is known to be toxic.

This is the main reason why controlling dallisgrass has been a concern for both public and private owners of lawns. This grass grows in a circular large clump, smothering the other types of grass in its way.

The root that it has thrived in moist soil, which is why it can be difficult to control it. They usually love fertilizers, which most lawn owners are using to keep the health of their lawn perfect.

Also read: What is the difference between Dallisgrass vs Crabgrass?

How to Kill Dalligrass

So you may now be eager to know how to kill dallisgrass and maintain the health of your lawn in perfect shape. Start reading the tips below and more efficiently kill this grass that is ruining your lawn.

Picking Younger Grass

Look for younger grass and start picking them up while they are still young. This will ensure that they won’t have a chance to grow the entire season. According to experts, picking out the young dallisgrass will help in preventing their population to increase.

For you to quickly pull them out, it would be best to water the area first. This will help loosen the soil and will assist you with pulling the roots of the grass.

You may also opt to choose pliers to assist you in grabbing the dallisgrass from the ground.

Eliminating the Taproot 

One of the most effective ways on how to kill dallisgrass is by removing the taproot. A taproot is the grass' primary root and grows downward vertically from its stem.

It is known as the center of support of the grass. It also can survive no matter what season you are in, so you may expect to see dallisgrass all year round.

The taproot is located 2 to 3 feet beneath the soil, which can easily be pulled from the wet ground. If the ground is not wet, you can use a puller that is long handled, weeder, auger screw, or a foot pedal puller for you to be able to pull the root out of the soil.

The best season to do this is during the spring since the first seedlings appear around this time.

Avoid Picking Mature Dallisgrass

If you see any matured dallisgrass, it would be best to avoid picking them because they may have already splayed some seeds in your lawn.

Picking them up will only make a divot wherein 5,000 seeds can come out from just one plant. You can instead spray the grass until they die. 

Once done, you can cover the spot with an herbicide that is pre-emergent to avoid the seeds from growing again.

Mulching the Soil after Plucking Dalligrass

The next thing that you can do is to start mulching the area where you have removed the dallisgrass, as this will help in ensuring their roots won’t start growing again.

The mulch will serve as a barrier so that no grass can even break through.

Watering and Lawn Fertilization

The next thing that you need to do is to maintain the health of your lawn by watering and fertilizing it regularly. If you see any spots in the yard that are bare, it would be best to start filling it with sod or seeds immediately.

This will help avoid the seeds of dallisgrass from taking over that spot. Keep your lawn thick and perfectly maintained for the weeds to have no room to spread.

Regular Lawn Mowing

Another tip that you can do to kill the dallisgrass is by regularly mowing your lawn. The reason behind this is because it will avoid the grass’ growth to be inhibited. Mowing your lawn will help you kill these grass and will also keep your lawn well manicured.

Choosing the Right Dalligrass Herbicide

When choosing herbicides, it would be best to choose powdered one are made out of corn gluten. The reason behind this is it can help in stopping the dallisgrass from growing and germinating.

The herbicides should be spread on the lawn, though some people are spreading it to perennial beds, where there are no seeds planted.

When it comes to applying dallisgrass killer, it would be best to follow the instructions that are included in the herbicides that you purchased. The reason behind this is because it will depend on the brand on how you will apply them to your lawn.

Just always remember to avoid using herbicides with cord gluten in lawns that are newly planted with seeds or beds where you are planning to sow some seeds.

Herbicides that are pre-emergent should be applied during the winter season, as this will help the germination of the dallisgrass seeds. You need to use this before the germination part for it to be effective.

Just remember that using this may affect your grass’ growth, but you should not worry much since it can recover immediately.

Pouring Boiling Water on Dallisgrass

Pouring boiling water on the dallisgrass will surely kill the grass after a few days. You can do this 3 to 4 times daily until the grass dies.

Kill Dallisgrass with Vinegar

Using your vinegar at home, you can immediately kill the dallisgrass in no time. Start boiling it for you to be able to convert the liquid into a more concentrated form. Carefully apply the vinegar to the leaves of the grass.

Once you’re done, you can pour the remaining vinegar around the lawn. You need to be careful in applying this solution since it can cause damage to your other grass.

Using Table Salt to Kill Dalligrass

Another solution that you can use which you can easily find at home is a table salt. Start putting a tablespoon at the grass’ base.

You also need to be careful in putting in salt since it can kill the surrounding healthy plants in your lawn, which you surely don’t want to happen.

Now, if you are worried about killing the grass that you have in your lawn, you may want to consider a herbicide that is selective.

This means that it will only focus on the dallisgrass itself and the grasses surrounding it will be saved. You can choose between synthetic or organic herbicides, depending on your preferences.

Here’s a video on how you can kill a dallisgrass:

Preventing Dalligrass Growth

Applying Pre-Emergent Herbicide

You can prevent dallisgrass from growing by using the pre-emergent herbicide. This will help to avoid the seeds of the grass to start germinating and will eventually kill them all.

It would be best to apply it during early spring or late winter since this is the time where the temperature of the soil has already been stabilized.

Reading the Labels of the Herbicide

You should always make it a point to always read the label of the herbicide before actually using it. The label will let you know the right time and the correct application of the herbicide. There will also be safety precautions that you need to follow.

Choose Between Reseeding or Herbicide

Avoid using both reseeding and herbicide because they both have different purposes. Before seeding, you can use herbicide first for you to eliminate dallisgrass. Once you are done, you can start reseeding.

The best time to reseed is during the early days of fall, while herbicide should be applied in the spring season. Always keep in mind to buffer 50 days of each.