How to Get Rid of Nutsedge in Your Lawn

Nutsedge is one of the most frustrating lawn weeds to control because it cannot be killed by standard broadleaf herbicides or grassy weed products, and pulling it by hand actively worsens the infestation. Effective control requires a sedge-specific herbicide applied at the right growth stage, combined with patience and often multiple seasonal treatments.

Identifying Nutsedge

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) are the two most common species in US lawns. Yellow nutsedge is more widely distributed and is the species most homeowners encounter in the northern US and transition zone. Purple nutsedge is predominant in the deep South and is more aggressive and harder to control.

Key identification features:

  • Triangular stem cross-section: The stem has three distinct sides when rolled between your fingers. “Sedges have edges” is the standard identification phrase. Grass stems are round or flat; sedge stems are triangular.
  • Shiny, yellow-green leaves: Leaves have a prominent midrib and glossy upper surface. The yellow-green color is noticeably different from most lawn grasses.
  • Grows faster than surrounding turf: After mowing, nutsedge regrows faster than turfgrass, making it visibly taller than the rest of the lawn within a few days.
  • Most visible in summer: Nutsedge thrives in warm, wet conditions and is most problematic from late spring through summer.

Why Pulling Makes It Worse

Nutsedge spreads through underground rhizomes and nutlets (small tubers). When a nutsedge plant is pulled, the rhizome typically breaks rather than coming out whole. Each broken rhizome node can produce a new plant, and the disturbance stimulates the production of additional nutlets in the soil. A single pulled plant can result in several new plants the following season. Do not hand-pull nutsedge.

The Right Herbicides for Nutsedge

Standard broadleaf herbicides (2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP) and standard grassy weed herbicides do not control sedges. Sedge-specific active ingredients are required.

Halosulfuron-methyl (Sedgehammer, Manage)

Halosulfuron is the most widely recommended homeowner product for nutsedge control. It is a selective sulfonylurea herbicide that inhibits the ALS enzyme pathway, which sedges require for growth. It is safe for established cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses at labeled rates.

Application: Mix as directed on the label and apply as a foliar spray to actively growing nutsedge. Use a non-ionic surfactant (a few drops of dish soap per gallon works for homeowner applications, or a labeled surfactant) to improve leaf adhesion and herbicide uptake.

Response time: Nutsedge plants turn yellow and die back over two to three weeks after treatment. Regrowth from surviving nutlets may appear in four to six weeks, requiring a follow-up application.

Application timing: Apply when nutsedge is actively growing and at least three to five inches tall. Treatment of young, actively growing plants is more effective than treatment of large, mature plants.

Sulfentrazone (Dismiss, Certainty)

Sulfentrazone provides faster knockdown of nutsedge than halosulfuron and also controls some broadleaf weeds. It is effective on both yellow and purple nutsedge. Certainty (sulfentrazone-based) is a professional product that is available to homeowners through some retailers and online.

Bentazon (Basagran)

Bentazon is an older active ingredient that provides contact activity on nutsedge. It is available in some consumer products but is generally considered less effective for long-term nutsedge management than halosulfuron or sulfentrazone.

Imazaquin (Image)

Image is a consumer product based on imazaquin that is labeled for nutsedge in warm-season turf. It is less effective on cool-season grasses and should be verified as safe for your specific turf type before use. It also controls some broadleaf weeds.

How to Apply Nutsedge Herbicide

  1. Mix the herbicide solution at the labeled rate, including a non-ionic surfactant if the label recommends one or if you are using halosulfuron.
  2. Apply to actively growing nutsedge on a calm day with no rain forecast for 24 hours.
  3. Thoroughly wet the nutsedge foliage. The herbicide is absorbed through the leaf surface.
  4. Avoid mowing for three to four days after application to allow the herbicide to translocate from leaf to root system.
  5. Monitor for regrowth from surviving nutlets. A follow-up application four to six weeks after the first is typically needed for heavy infestations.

Timing and Season

Nutsedge control is most effective when applied during active summer growth. Late spring to mid-summer (May through July) is the primary treatment window. Treating dormant or slow-growing nutsedge in cooler weather reduces herbicide uptake and effectiveness.

For heavy infestations, a two-application program, one in late May or early June, and a follow-up in late July, covers both the initial flush and the nutlet-driven regrowth that follows the first treatment.

Long-Term Management

Nutsedge thrives in wet, poorly drained soil. Improving drainage reduces the competitive advantage nutsedge has over turfgrass in waterlogged areas. Core aeration in affected areas, coupled with topdressing with compost to improve soil structure, reduces the conditions that favor nutsedge establishment.

Maintain dense turf coverage. Nutsedge establishes most readily in thin, stressed, or bare areas of the lawn. Overseeding thin spots and maintaining correct fertilization and mowing height reduces the openings that nutsedge exploits.

Related Guides

For help identifying nutsedge versus grassy weeds that resemble it, see how to identify common lawn weeds. For pet-safe herbicide options if halosulfuron concerns you, see best pet-safe weed killers for lawns.