Weeds In Perth Lawns
Winter Dormancy of Warm Season Grasses
Weeds in Perth lawns are generally more prevalent in winter because the grass varieties go dormant. A dormant grass does not use many nutrients or grow significantly, leaving food and space available for weeds. Essentially, a weed will grow in an area with a weak grass sward. This is why breeding grass varieties that have lower winter dormancy is an important factor in turf breeding. New age turf varieties such as DNA Certified Sir Walter and TifTuf have very good winter dormancy properties, so they are better able to fight off weeds.
How to Fight Weeds
Fighting off winter weeds starts in summer. Making sure you have full grass coverage and a healthy grass sward will eliminate bare patches. To do this means you need an effective watering system and fertilising program
Another important weapon in fighting winter weeds is making sure you feed your lawn in May. This feed is the most important of the year for stopping your lawn going to sleep and becoming dormant
Most weeds in Perth lawns can be grouped into the following categories:
Winter Weeds (Broadleaf weeds)
These weeds include clovers, flatweeds and dandelions. Basically, anything that looks like a plant growing in your lawn. There are two main types of active chemicals for the home gardener; Bromoxynil for Buffalo varieties and Dicamba for couch and kikuyu varieties.
Type of weed – Bindii / Onehunga / Jojo
Grass Type – Buffalo, Velveteen, Zoysia, QLD Blue
Product – Bin-Die, Bow and Arrow and Oxafert
Grass Type – Couch and Kikuyu
Product – Bow and Arrow, Double Time
Type of weed – Clover
Grass Type – Buffalo, Velveteen, Zoysia, QLD Blue
Product – Bow and Arrow and Oxafert
Grass Type – Couch and Kikuyu
Product – Bow and Arrow, Double Time
Type of weed – Flatweed / Cats ear
Grass Type – Buffalo, Velveteen, Zoysia, QLD Blue
Product – Bow and Arrow and Oxafert
Grass Type – Couch and Kikuyu
Product – Bow and Arrow, Double Time
Other Weed Types
Guildford Grass (Onion Grass)
Guildford Grass (onion grass) is very shiny and come up in sandy soil areas that have a weak grass sward during winter. They are very difficult to cut with a cylinder-type mower and grow from a bulb.
Product - Metsulfuron Methyl Grass Types – All Lawn Types
Nutgrass / Sedge
Nutgrass, Sedge and Mullimbimby Couch has a rhizomatous root system and a very shiny leaf that resists chemical penetration. For this reason, it is recommended that you use a good quality wetting agent (surfactant) mixed with your chemica
Grass Type – ONLY Couch
Product – Grab Grass & Clover Killer (DSMA)
Grass Type – All lawn types
Product – Sedgehammer
Wintergrass (Poa Annua)
Winter grass is a tiller type grass that has its own root system like rye and fescue. It is difficult to control as it has built up resistance to most chemicals. The best control is a preemergent application around May. Alternate your chemicals where possible to minimise resistance building.
Grass Type – All lawn types
Product – David Grays Winter Grass Killer, Amgrow Winter Grass Killer, Oxafert
Creeping Oxalis
Creeping Oxalis is a small weed that resembles clover with bright yellow flowers. It moves very quickly and is tricky to pull out by hand as the crowns break of leaving the roots in the soil.
Grass Type – Buffalo, Velveteen, Zoysia, QLD Blue
Product – Buffalo Master and Oxafert
Grass Type Couch and Kikuyu
Product – Double Time and Casper
Wetting Agents
Many weedkillers are more effective when mixed with a wetting agent. The wetting agent helps the herbicide to penetrate the leaf and get into the soil.