Controlling Broomsedge

Identification

• Broomsedge grows in hardy clumps with long, linear, slightly hairy grass-like leaves. The leaves have rough margins and a blue green color until fall, when they take on a coppery hue. Broomsedge dies back every fall and regrows the following spring from the same root mass. By late summer, it often reaches a height of 3 to 4 feet.

Prevention Vs.Control

• As with most undesirable plants, it is far easier to prevent broomsedge from becoming established than it is to remove it once it has taken root. You can prevent the establishment of broomsedge by denying it the growing conditions it needs and by planting hardier, more well-adapted grasses in its place. Broomsedge can be controlled by chemical and cultural means once established. This is best done early in the year, because broomsedge becomes increasingly hardy and difficult to remove as it matures.

Broomsedge in Lawns

• The best way to control broomsedge in lawns is to plant turf grasses that are perfectly suited to your climate and keep them healthy through watering, fertilization and proper mowing. The best grasses vary by location, but your local university extension office should have information on the best grasses for your area. Broomsedge can thrive in acidic, nutrient-poor soil, so maintain high nutrient levels and a neutral pH to make it easier for other grasses to compete. Once established, broomsedge can be destroyed with herbicides containing DSMA or MSMS. Herbicides can be damaging to other, more desirable, plants as well, so use them carefully and in accordance with instructions on the label.

Broomsedge in Pastures

• Broomsedge is undesirable in pastures because it contains little nutritional value for livestock. It also becomes increasingly unpalatable as it matures, and by midseason, animals tend to reject it altogether. Livestock will eat broomsedge when it is still young and tender, however, and you should allow them to do so because heavy grazing can help reduce the occurrence of this plant. As with lawns, keeping your pasture well-planted with a more competitive crop will reduce broomsedge as well. Regular lime and fertilizer applications also work over the course of a few years to make pastures less suitable for broomsedge.