Sedge Biology and Management in Turf1
Members of the sedge family have leaves that are composed of a blade, sheath, and ligule. The leaf sheath is closed and the ligule is often absent, and when present is tiny. Stem structure is often triangular.
Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a perennial with underground runners that continue from tuber to tuber, forming chains. The tubers are bitter to taste. Purple nutsedge produces a purple or reddish seedhead and has a boat-shaped leaf tip (Figure 1).
Credit: D.E.P. Telenko
Yellow nutsedge (C. esculentus) is a perennial with underground runners that stop at tubers. The tubers are sweet to taste or have little flavor. Yellow nutsedge produces a yellow seedhead and the leaf tip is needle-shaped (Figure 2).
Credit: D.E.P. Telenko
Globe sedge (C. croceus) is a perennial that forms a clump. Globe sedge has shiny leaves, a hard base, and seedheads shaped like globes (Figures 3 and 4).
Credit: D.E.P. Telenko
Credit: D.E.P. Telenko
Perennial (green) kyllinga (Kyllinga brevifolia) is a mat-forming perennial with reddish to purple rhizomes. Leaves and stems are dark green. The seedhead is simple: nearly round or oblong with three short leaves just below. Green kyllinga reproduces by seed and rhizomes and is found in low areas or where moisture is excessive.
Annual sedge (C. compressus) is an annual that spreads by seed. The seed forms in clusters of flat, greenish, sometimes glossy spikes up to 1 inch long (Figures 5 and 6).
Credit: D.E.P. Telenko
Credit: D.E.P. Telenko
Herbicide Options for Controlling Sedges in Florida Turfgrass
(Always refer to the label for specific uses, application rates, and turfgrass tolerance.)
* Indicates intermediate safety use at reduced rate according to label.
Bermudagrass
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Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
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Postemergence: 2,4-D+MCPP+ dicamba+MSMA (yellow and annual), bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), carfentrazone+quinclorac (yellow), flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), mesotrione (yellow), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga), sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), trifloxysulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
St. Augustinegrass
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Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine* (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
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Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), mesotrione* (yellow), sulfentrazone* (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine* (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
Centipedegrass
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Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
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Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), carfentrazone+quinclorac (yellow), flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), mesotrione (yellow), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga),sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
Bahiagrass
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Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
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Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr* (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
Seashore paspalum
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Preemergence: sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
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Postemergence: flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga)
Zoysiagrass
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Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
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Postemergence: 2,4-D+MCPP+ dicamba+MSMA (yellow and annual), bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), carfentrazone+quinclorac (yellow), flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga), sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), trifloxysulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
Perennial ryegrass
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Preemergence: sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga)
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Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), mesotrione (yellow), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga)
Refer to the publication Pest Control Guide for Turfgrass Managers at https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/files/2015/04/2012_UF_Pest_Control_Guide.pdf for brand names associated with chemical names listed.
