[Image: Photo of Dallisgrass growning in lawn]Question: I have clumps of Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) growing in my lawn and want to remove it. What can I use to make this happen?
Answer: This is a fairly common and requires some specific explanation depending on the main turfgrass (St. Augustine, Centipede or Bermudagrass) you have in your lawn.
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St. Augustine (Stenotaphrun secundatum) as your main lawn grass: You are very limited unless you have a sharp shovel to dig out the Dallisgrass or want to spot spray this perennial weed with a non-selective herbicide containing 41% glyphosate as per label directions.
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Centipede (Eremochloa ophiuroides) as your main lawn grass: You can use the spot spray treatment as listed above or use a selective grass herbicide containing Sethoxydim such as Vantage as per label directions. If you choose the latter, you will have to reapply for best results. The product containing sethoxydim will also control crabgrass and bahiagrass in your centipedegrass.
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Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) as your main lawn grass: You have some options that will be effective in this situation. MSMA will control dallisgrass growing in bermudagrass with three applications as per label directions 14-21 days apart.
Proper identification is the most critical aspect of any pest control program so bring a sample into the Extension Service office or email a digital photo to bhfletcher@agcenter.lsu.edu.