How to Get Rid of Yellow Nutsedge in the Lawn

Yellow nutsedge is a perennial weed that appears within turf, according to the Purdue University Turfgrass Science Program. This weed spreads during the spring and fall through underground stems called rhizomes. You can identify yellow nutsedge by rolling the stem in your hand. If the stem feels triangular in shape and waxy, you may have yellow nutsedge infesting your lawn. It is important to get rid of this weed, because it reduces sunlight, air circulation and soil nutrients that your grass needs.

Herbicide with methanearsonate
Paint brush
Broad-spectrum herbicide with glyphosate

Instructions

- 1
  Irrigate the lawn to moisten the first 6 inches of top soil the day before applying a herbicide, as recommended by the Purdue Turfgrass Program. You can that tell the water has reached 6 inches by digging a 6-inch hole and feeling the bottom to see if it is moist. Water the lawn in the morning. Wet grass blades and nighttime temperatures encourage lawn fungal diseases.
- 2
  Apply a herbicide that contains methanearsonate. Coat the yellow nutsedge evenly with the herbicide, according to the herbicide's directions.
- 3
  Water the lawn two days after applying the herbicide to a soil depth of 6 inches. Reapply the herbicide in a week. You may have to repeat the herbicide applications to completely eradicate the yellow nutsedge from your lawn.
- 4
  Dip a small paint brush into a broad-spectrum herbicide that contains glyphosate. Apply the herbicide to the blades of the young yellow nutsedge growing next to ornamental plants. Be careful not to apply the herbicide to the ornamental plants, because glyphosate kills off everything it comes in contact with.
- 5
  Reapply the broad-spectrum herbicide in two to three days to remove the rest of the growing yellow nutsedge.

How to Cut Sod by Hand

Wilted Centipede Grass

Lawn Basics