The grassy like leaves emerge green and ready to soak up the spring sun. Unfortunately, not all are the turf preferred for home lawns.
Purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus, grows from every possible sunny location with soil capable of supporting the plant. This non-native pest is a rapidly spreading perennial which will take every opportunity to colonize new locations.
The identifier “purple” is in its common-name because there is a purple-tinged section of this sedge where it emerges from the ground. The plant is sometimes referred to as purple nut grass because of its long narrow leaves and erect growth pattern originating from a nutlike basal bulb.
Purple nutsedge emerges early in spring and typically gets a head start on desirable turfgrasses. Pre-emergent herbicides will suppress growth if applied just prior to this pest species’ spring sprouting.
The root system’s design assures this plant continued success. If pulled, the rhizomes break off and leave a large number of nutlets to develop and emerge at a later date.
There are other sedges in Florida, but only yellow nutsedge is identified by a specific color. It is sometimes called chufa and is a popular feed for both wild turkeys and turkey hunters.
The dark green, smooth leaves blend in easily with many turf grasses during the spring and summer. Beneath the soil’s surface and out of sight, the root system grows in every direction.
Rhizomes and bulb-like nutlets branch out in all directions from this sedge. They easily detach if the plant is pulled from the ground.
Purple nutsedge’s roots are a series of spreading rhizomes and tubers or bulbs identified as nutlets. Each nutlet sprouts a new bunch of grass-like leaves and continues growing the rhizomes.
The dense population of this sedge quickly crowds out most other plants, but especially turf and forage grasses. It can reach a height of 18 inches on its triangle shaped stem.
If plowed or tilled, the nutlets are detached and spread to new and inviting locations. Many times, nutlets lodge in tillage equipment only to shake loose and deposit in un-colonized locations.
Most herbicides have limited effect on this sedge’s hardy root system. Selected pre-emergent herbicides will prevent many of the nutlets from germinating in spring, if properly applied.
Most herbicides have limited effect on this sedge’s hardy root system. Timing and careful pre-emergent herbicide selection are vital to control efforts.
North Florida’s generally sandy soils provide an ideal growing environment for purple nutsedge. The occasional periods of saturation from storms do not deter this plant’s rapid growth and expansion to new areas.
Purple nutsedge’s extreme competitive nature is a heavy consumer of plant nutrients. It robs rivals of important compounds necessary for their survival and produces an allelopathic substance which is toxic to some plants.
Purple nutsedge is found in many locales in North America where the environment is hospitable to its growth. The autumn cool and shorter days send this exotic pest into dormancy, but the seeds of next year’s crop, and landscape problems, are just under the surface.
Just like desirable turf in the state’s homesites, purple nutsedge will not grow in heavy shade. Typical of most unwanted weeds, it only grows where it is not wanted.
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