chemical care
4 8 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m M AY 2 014
when the turfgrass surround-
ing it has not, which defi nitely
draws attention. In addition, it
will grow faster in early spring
compared to the other turf.
If a client is willing to be pa-
tient, though, the ryegrass even-
tually can blend in with other
grass if mowed consistently.
"When the other grasses start
to come in by mid-spring, it
starts to blend in. By May, you
don't notice it as much," Land-
schoot says.
This can be a good option if
you have perennial ryegrass in
patches throughout the lawn,
given the only other options for
control are more severe.
If you or your client want
to get rid of isolated clumps of
perennial ryegrass for good, spot
treating with a non-selective
and suffering through the wait
with some bare batches is your
only chemical option.
"There is no pre-emergence
herbicide that is going to take
it out," Landschoot says. "The
only thing that ever worked on
selective removal of perennial
ryegrass (Nufarm's Corsair, a
chlorosulfuron-containing prod-
uct used to eliminate undesir-
able clump grasses like rye-
grass), was taken off the market
for cool-season turf. Since that
has been removed from our ar-
senal, there is nothing selective
that will take it out."
If you decide to spot treat
with glyphosate, Landschoot
recommends doing it late spring
(around the end of April).
"If you have patches all over,
you may as well just clear it
with glyphosate and start over,"
he says.
If you're waiting for extreme
temperatures to help knock it
out, don't, unless you live in
the southern states. The tem-
peratures don't get hot enough
in the north to do the trick, not
even normally in the Midwest.
Mixing it up
The best defense against
ryegrass in turf is to not get it
started in the fi rst place.
Join the Conversation
Stay updated on green industry news, network with
other pros, find project ideas, watch equipment
videos and much more on Total Landscape Care
magazine's website and social media pages.
www.TotalLandscapeCare.com
facebook.com/totallandscapecare
pinterest.com/tlcmagazine/
Total Landscape Care magazine (group)
twitter.com/tlcmagazine
youtube.com/tlcmagazine
houzz.com/user/tlcmagazine
Total Landscape Care magazine
