Lawn - how to get rid of other plants/grasses in it?

[Bob12345]

So i got a nice lawn, which i like to maintain as it is used for the dogs to be outside and the kids to walk around on.

But there are some strange grasses or things growing in it that go a bit quicker than the grass. Result is ugly green sticking out. 

It is slowly taking over more and more of my lawn, so i want to get rid of it, but don't know how.

 

Two pictures to illustrate:

1 - what it looks like in the lawn if i let them grow too long

2 - one of them pulled out

 

So i pull them out one by one, but they keep coming back and it just becomes too much work this way.

 

What is it?

What can i do about it?

(dont mind the round things growing there, this pic was taken in the common park as i just cut my own grass and the round things are not a problem in my lawn)

[mogandave]

Unless you can get a decent lawn weed killer, pulling it out is about all you can do.

Once you get it cleared out it will be easy to keep up with.

Important to get the roots, and don’t let them go to seed..

[cooked]

These are fairly easy to pull out as long as the earth is moist. They do tend to spread out so you have to be on your toes.

You will not find a weedkiller that just wipes out the grass you don't like and leaves the rest.

The Doomsday solution would be to Roundup particularly badly infested patches, making sure that the ungrass is completely gone and then relaying turf, which you might want to start cultivating now (dig out bits at the edge of the lawn and get it to grow elsewhere).

If you water, mow and feed well, unwelcome seedlings have less chance of inviting themselves.

As I have said before, I just let the cows onto the green bit whenever it gets too long, and I was a lawn specialist, gave courses to green keepers.

[mogandave]

There are great lawn weed killers in the US that selectively kill weeds and unwanted grass without harming the lawn, but I have no idea what is available here.

Google lawn weed killer, might get lucky...

[cooked]

12 minutes ago, mogandave said:

There are great lawn weed killers in the US that selectively kill weeds and unwanted grass without harming the lawn, but I have no idea what is available here.

Google lawn weed killer, might get lucky...

You will be thinking about pre-emergence weedkillers, which prevent seeds from germinating in your lawn. The grass in this case isn't really spread by seeds, the tiniest piece of viable root will sprout again.

[mogandave]

You will be thinking about pre-emergence weedkillers, which prevent seeds from germinating in your lawn. The grass in this case isn't really spread by seeds, the tiniest piece of viable root will sprout again.

What kind of grass is it?

Round-Up on the spots would work well, but I would either use a brush to apply or use a tube around the weed to avoid overspray.

[Nemises]

 

This product works fine for me...kills everything except your lawn.

 

“Yates Bindii and Clover herbicide is an economical, broad spectrum weed killer designed to control bindii, clover AND OTHER BROADLEAF WEEDS in many types of lawns”

 

[cooked]

3 hours ago, Nemises said:

This product works fine for me.

“Yates Bindii and Clover herbicide is an economical, broad spectrum weed killer designed to control bindii, clover AND OTHER BROADLEAF WEEDS in many types of lawns”

Is grass a broadleaf weed?

[mogandave]

Have a look at “RoundUp 2”

 

Looks good for crabgrass, probably can’t get it here.

 

[cooked]

13 hours ago, mogandave said:

Have a look at “RoundUp 2”

 

Looks good for crabgrass, probably can’t get it here.

 

Oh dear, ANY Roundup or Glyphosate product will destroy any plant given sufficient application (s). This isn't crab grass anyway unless you want to call it Thai Crab Grass.

[mogandave]

Oh dear, ANY Roundup or Glyphosate product will destroy any plant given sufficient application (s). This isn't crab grass anyway unless you want to call it Thai Crab Grass.

Water will kill (most) any plant given sufficient application.

In any event, I assume (perhaps foolishly) that people will read and follow instructions.

RoundUp 2 is said to be a fine lawn-weed killer. Whether it kills the clump-crass in Thailand I could not say, but it kills hundreds of weed varieties. It will certainly get rid of the clover and flowering weeds.

I think careful spot-treatment with ordinary RoundUp (as you suggested) may be the best option for the clump-grass, as getting all the root out is difficult.

[Bob12345]

On 8/23/2018 at 7:58 AM, cooked said:

These are fairly easy to pull out as long as the earth is moist. They do tend to spread out so you have to be on your toes.

Thats also what i found out, but my lawn isnt even that big and pulling all out would take me quite some time already.

And it seems to spread also... not just my lawn but the whole moobaan.

 

I will give it another try by hand, and will try to find the weedkiller (Yates) that was also mentioned.

[cooked]

1 hour ago, Bob12345 said:

Thats also what i found out, but my lawn isnt even that big and pulling all out would take me quite some time already.

And it seems to spread also... not just my lawn but the whole moobaan.

 

I will give it another try by hand, and will try to find the weedkiller (Yates) that was also mentioned.

Last time.

NO weedkiller exists that will only take out only the grass that you don't like. Broadleaves, yes, grasses no. You don't need to go order exotic weedkillers from abroad, rice farmers use similar chemicals here. ( Dicamba, MCPA ) and they don't work on grasses although there is a product that kills young sedge.  With respect, the guy that recommended that knows little about lawn care.

 

By hand.

OR burn off affected areas with Glyphosate and start anew. Imported turf will doubtless also contain some weeds.

Frequent mowing, watering and feeding will help to keep the lawn in order.

 

[Nemises]

The Yates product mentioned above works exactly “as advertised” on our 6 acres of manicured 5 star resort lawns, and has done for 15 years. Resort owners, management & gardening staff could not be happier with it, as are our resort guests who frequently mention our beautiful (weedless) lawns in their favourable reviews. We spray it where required and it kills all weeds and all other unwanted forms of plants whilst not harming our lawns, nor the large number of kids who play on them. Definitely recommend giving it a try.

Hopes this helps.

 

 

 

[cooked]

9 hours ago, Nemises said:

The Yates product mentioned above works exactly “as advertised” on our 6 acres of manicured 5 star resort lawns, and has done for 15 years. Resort owners, management & gardening staff could not be happier with it, as are our resort guests who frequently mention our beautiful (weedless) lawns in their favourable reviews. We spray it where required and it kills all weeds and all other unwanted forms of plants whilst not harming our lawns, nor the large number of kids who play on them. Definitely recommend giving it a try.

Hopes this helps.

 

 

 

GOOD GOD! It doesn't work getting rid of undesired grasses.

Anybody else proposing this as a solution to the OP's question? I can think of a dozen other products that are better for killing weeds, THERE ARE NONE that will just specifically single out the grass (ungrass) that you don't like and leave the rest.

A weed, by the way, is an unwanted plant or a plant in the wrong place. This (un)grass is a weed but isn't a broad leaved weed.

Sorry OP, I did spend 30 years in this domain.

 

It

[Nemises]

LOL

 

So much aggression over a product that will cost the OP about 150b to give it a try [emoji846]

 

Amazing!!!

 

 

 

[topt]

7 minutes ago, Nemises said:

LOL

 

So much aggression over a product that will cost the OP about 150b to give it a try

 

Amazing!!!

 

 

 

150 baht seems very cheap........

Where do you purchase this stuff. Do you know if it is available in any national chains in Thailand?

 

[BEVUP]

27 minutes ago, topt said:

150 baht seems very cheap........

Where do you purchase this stuff. Do you know if it is available in any national chains in Thailand?

 

Yeh seems cheap

I have a product called Weed & Feed 

Attached to hose & control flow with thumb - Only ever used it once

These products only kill certain weeds & one is not suited for all grasses 

 

You can also make a spot weeder out of PVC with a tap on it & a wick coming out the bottom & just paint the weed 

 

Have a look at Bunnings Australia 

 

[Nemises]

150 baht seems very cheap........

Where do you purchase this stuff. Do you know if it is available in any national chains in Thailand?

 

Our resort is located in Australia. Resort management buy it bulk for about $A6.00 a bottle from a wholesaler. It’s also available from numerous shopping outlets across Aus. Not sure if sold in Thailand. Here’s a link to Yates’ outlets: https://m.yates.com.au/where-to-buy

 

Here’s a link to Yates’ “contact us” page:

https://m.yates.com.au/about/contact

Apart from allowing you to ask them if it’s available in Thailand, this page also allows you ask for help with any gardening problems.

 

Here is a link to the online store. It says they can deliver overseas:

https://www.gardenexpress.com.au/delivery/

 

Hope this helps.

[Nemises]

^^^

Edit: Appears above online store doesn’t deliver overseas ?

 

 

[Gold Star]

For broadleaf weeds, I use 24-D diluted to the manufacturer's instructions in a spray bottle that I walk around the lawn and shoot any broadleaf plant I want to kill. 

To kill all plant life, I use roundup in a different spray bottle that shoots a jet at the plant.

To kill the grasses the OP has a problem with, I use a stick with a small bit of cotton or rag tied on the end which I moisten in a roundup dilution, and just touch the offending plant once. It is absorbed into the entire plant structure, and even kills the roots. Apply when you know you will not have rain for at least a day to give the plant time to absorb the herbicide.  Repeat after a few days to get any new shoots in the clump that were missed.

 

My neighbour just uses a herd of turtles....

[JAS21]

I haven't found a produce available here in Thailand that will do the job.

 

Best way is to go into the garden just after heavy rain and give the ones you don't want a pull ... we have a 'helper' and it is one of her jobs when she has spare time ..MrsJ and myself also 'pull' .. it is a never ending process and if you leave it they seem to multiply like the proverbial ...

[jippytum]

I had the same problem with a small lawn .I offered my ex one baht for every weed she collected .cost me 218 baht but the lawn was perfect .

On the same subject golf courses have many Rai of perfect grass and not a weed in sight .

[malcolminthemiddle]

This easy to spot, prolific weed is called Hell Moo.

 

Use a de-weeding tool to take out the weed including the root. Eventually you and not the weed will be in control of your lawn.

 

Forget chemical weed killers.

[Stevemercer]

I've never had broadleaf weeds in my lawn in Thailand. However, there are many undesirable and weedy grasses such as onion and nut grass.

 

In my opinion, the best solution is just to keep mowing the lawn. This cuts off the faster growing weedy grasses before they have a chance to seed (plus most of the other weeds). It gives a competitive edge to the slower growing desirable grasses and, after awhile, the weeds aren't such a problem

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, malcolminthemiddle said:

This easy to spot, prolific weed is called Hell Moo.

 

Use a de-weeding tool to take out the weed including the root. Eventually you and not the weed will be in control of your lawn.

 

Forget chemical weed killers.

"Eventually" being the operative word. I have a large garden and have the same problem in many areas including gravel paths and driveway. On the gravel I use paraquat and that will get rid in a shorter timeframe with a lot less effort.

I have about 300 sq m of grassed area so main concern is fighting the broadleafs rather than trying to deal with grass looking weeds.

[superal]

17 minutes ago, sandyf said:

"Eventually" being the operative word. I have a large garden and have the same problem in many areas including gravel paths and driveway. On the gravel I use paraquat and that will get rid in a shorter timeframe with a lot less effort.

I have about 300 sq m of grassed area so main concern is fighting the broadleafs rather than trying to deal with grass looking weeds.

I had a good lawn 4 years ago that was remarked on by Thais . Had a sprinkler system from the UK which amused the locals as they had never seen one before ( just the 180 degree rotating sprinkler bar ) . Went away for 6 weeks and on my return I was pissed of at the lawns condition . Not only had there been a lack of watering but there was now many weeds infused within the grass . Well I spent many hours pulling the weeds out and they were the type that would have long runners , up to a meter . Trouble was , the more I took out the more bare the lawn was . Every morning there would be new weed spikes appearing above the grass . Gave up in the end and paved it . I have seen new turfs laid on a golf course here in Thailand , beautiful  but in 1 year full of these weeds .  Having said that there must be an answer as I have also seen good areas of grass on other golf courses , maybe go with your wife and offending weed and speak to the green keepers .

[Bundooman]

You may find this option too tedious and repetitive to consider. What ever you do, this problem will re-occur throughout the year.

 

1.   ensure the lawn is well watered so the soil is really moist. (Now is a good time because we have the right season. leave it for December and the ground start to become hard. in summer, it will be impossible to get down to the roots).

2.   Work by area estimating the area you choose to do that day area. Estimate what you will do each day or weekend. I use one of the low plastic stools. armed with an old long screwdriver,  gloves, bucket for the weeds and a bottle of water to0 keep hydrated. A hat is useful to wear.

 

After soaking the lawn, wait an hour or so - have another coffee - check emails, whatever and then start. stick the screwdriver down into the earth. and gently lever the earth up until you can also, (gently), prise the grass/weed out by the other hand. If you have watered/waited correctly - the weed will come out intact. You get to know which weeds/grass come out whole and those that don't.  You're now on your way.

It takes a long time. It took me six months of persevering - to systematically draw the unwanted stuff out of my lawn. Often, I would look back at what I had already accomplished - only to find that they were either re-growing or new stuff was coming up. It's a tedious but worthwhile task if you love your lawn.

Keeping the soil soft is the key and you will notice that the rogue stuff seems to grow faster than your treasured grass. You can extract them at your leisure.

If you keep at it, you can win.  But remember that you will have to scour your lawn daily/weekly and keep going over it time and time again until you have it under control. Then it is maintenance. But leave it too long and the problem seems to erupt all of a sudden.

I did the lawn of my rented house over one year. I started with about 25% Chinese grass, (soft , enjoys water and the sun). It grew rapidly and covered the area  100% vacant from weeds and, what in your pictures, looks like that tough buffalo grass that roots laterally. Always a bitch to eradicate.

Sadly, as I proudly stood back and admired my beautiful lawn - we moved house!

I am now in the final stages of achieving the same in my new home!

It is hard work but rewarding to see a beautiful lawn 

[sandyf]

10 minutes ago, superal said:

I had a good lawn 4 years ago that was remarked on by Thais . Had a sprinkler system from the UK which amused the locals as they had never seen one before ( just the 180 degree rotating sprinkler bar ) . Went away for 6 weeks and on my return I was pissed of at the lawns condition . Not only had there been a lack of watering but there was now many weeds infused within the grass . Well I spent many hours pulling the weeds out and they were the type that would have long runners , up to a meter . Trouble was , the more I took out the more bare the lawn was . Every morning there would be new weed spikes appearing above the grass . Gave up in the end and paved it . I have seen new turfs laid on a golf course here in Thailand , beautiful  but in 1 year full of these weeds .  Having said that there must be an answer as I have also seen good areas of grass on other golf courses , maybe go with your wife and offending weed and speak to the green keepers .

Getting too old now, Just try and keep everything reasonably tidy. In fact my wife does most of the work on the grass, I just do the edges with the petrol strimmer and look after the shrubs.

About 4 years ago my brother in law acquired 2 pumps in lieu of a debt. One was a standard on demand pump which I installed for him so he gave me the other. It was a bit specialised with a 2hp motor capable of around 70 ltr/min. I decided to create a sprinkler system with it, laid pipe all around the area with 8 directional sprinkler heads. Took a couple of months to get it done and balanced and finished just before the end of the dry season about Easter 2015. Looked great when it was running but we have had so much rain I haven't used it since.

When it comes to gardens there can be a great deal of wasted effort.

[cooked]

6 hours ago, topt said:

150 baht seems very cheap........

Where do you purchase this stuff. Do you know if it is available in any national chains in Thailand?

 

Yes but it's too expensive if it doesn't do the job that the OP wants doing.