OT: centipede grass help.

[T-45fixer]

I believe the weed I have in my lawn is called annual lespedeza. If that is in fact what it is how do I get rid of it. Maybe a product called blindside?

 

[randystewart]

Without being able to check, is that weed not covered by 2-4D or Image (for centipede and St. Augustine)? Those are the two I use on my centipede lawn.

 

[Longmire]

http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1532.pdf

Best resource you can buy for $10. Scroll to page 98, from there it will give what chemicals can be sprayed on each type of grass, next pages give you pre emerge, then post. But to answer your question, 2-4,D or dicamba.

 

[T-45fixer]

Everything I've used with 2-4d in it will almost kill the grass. This product doesn't have it in it. This weed is very similar to spurge but doesn't have the milky liquid to the branches.

 

[Longmire]

I would have to see a picture, but 2-4,D shouldn't harm the grass being its a broadleaf herbicide, I have had some burn when using a high rate but the grass bounces back. Try getting some dicamba and spot treat a small area before you spray all of it.

Go to the link below, you may have to copy and paste and scroll to the bottom of the page, is that what you have?

http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=B1395

 

[Bane.sixpack]

I would not do anything this year, let it run its course.. then put down pre-emergent next year

Strong centipede fights off weeds on its own

 

[T-45fixer]

http://oak.ppws.vt.edu/~flessner/weedguide/lesst9-17b.jpg

 

[Longmire]

That is lespedeza, dicamba if you want to spray something now and then atrazine or simazine if it's out before your centipede greens up. After that you are limited to dicamba or 2-4,D mixes. Again, I would spot spray a small area if you're concerned with damaging the grass.

 

[Mr Todd French]

You can spot treat with Atrazine now. 24 d also. You should look into a pre emerge in the spring line Manor. Grass will be dormant soon so put out winter pre emergent now. Also MSU cares has a monthly weed report that tell you which weeds have built up tolerant to certain chemicals too.
And read this guide.

Turf Tolerance to Herbicides for Lespedeza Control
Herbicide Bermudagrass Centipedegrass St. Augustinegrass Tall Fescue Zoysiagrass
S = Safe at labeled rates
I = Intermediate safety, use at reduced rates
NR = Not registered for use on and/or damages this turfgrass
D = Fully dormant turf only.
atrazine D S S NR NR
(3- way) 2,4-D +
MCPP + dicamba S I I S S
metsulfuron S S S-I NR S

 

[GloryDawg]

You can do like my mom did 40 years ago and get out in the yard and pull them up by hand. Lot of work but it is the sure fire way to do it.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Slight hijack - what do you experts generally recommend for centipede lawns?

I basically do Scott's turf builder weed & feed twice a year, and that's it. I have some weeds here and there, but no big problems. I used Halt for crabgrass before last summer, and that seems to have knocked out that issue for the most part. I do have some spots where my neighbor's Bermuda is taking over - not sure what to do about that.

What do y'all do for centipede lawns? I'd like to have a stronger centipede - it's kinda thin and more susceptible to weeds in areas.

/thankfully, I have no mole cricket issues

 

[aTotal360]

Will that same prescription work for Bermuda? I have some in my yard as well.

 

[randystewart]

you should add a preemerge to that regimen

 

[willi13]

Oher says "Don't use Blindside."

 

[T-45fixer]

Thanks to everyone for their input.

 

[Mr Todd French]

Most people over use the weed and feed. Sounds like you are using it correctly. Add a pre emergent in spring and fall. Other that that your doing most all you can. You should have your soil analyzed by MSU. Just call the county office they will tell you what to do. It's cheap and gives you the exact formula and timing for fertlizing YOUR grass. Not just what Scott's says.

To help thicken or strengthen your grass. Mow on a high setting. Water once or twice a week just do it really well when you do. Also water at 5 am. You may want to aerate twice a year. You can rent them cheap too. If you are on clay like most of us are you may want to top dress with soil amendment like gypsum.

Or if you live near Hattiesburg you can pay me to do all this.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I had about 2 acres cleared recently and it's good ol ms clay. Without testing the pH, I bought a couple rolls of centipede and plugged it in a small area to see if it would take. I should add that my new paw-in-law lives about a quarter mile thru the woods and did this same thing around 20 years ago, but on a larger scale. Anyway, it's been 3 weeks now and it looks to have taken to the ground. It's growing, not spreading, and probably 5% of it looks to have not made it. So, my question is what can I do to feed it, or whatever i can do to help it start spreading. I water it nearly every day due to our semi-drought (I live in Hancock county) and my hard *** ground. I thought I'd start fertilizing it and maybe the surrounding areas. If that's would help, what type of fertilizer is recommended? Thanks in advance.

 

[Wooly17er]

Get to them before they get to you!

View attachment 2479

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely add a pre-emergent. I haven't worried about the centipede v Bermuda fight going on in the front yard, thinking that centipede would eventually win out on its own. That doesn't seem to be happening, so I might try to figure something out about that next year. But I would rather have a green front yard with 2 grasses than a half-brown front yard waiting on the green centipede to take over.

Thanks again.