Dallisgrass has started to rear its ugly head again. I've talked about it before, but it's certainly worth discussing again because this weed causes more frustration for homeowners in Midlothian, Prosper, and throughout North Texas than any other.
Dallisgrass is the most difficult weed to deal with in our area. It's incredibly invasive, and there are two specific reasons why it's so problematic.
Why Pre-Emergent Won't Prevent Dallisgrass
First, dallisgrass is a perennial plant. That's why there's no way to prevent it from coming up. Pre-emergents work by killing weed seeds before they germinate, but they're not effective against plants that simply go dormant and come back to life the following season. And thank goodness for that—otherwise pre-emergent would keep your turf from coming back too.
Dallisgrass does produce seeds every year, and a good pre-emergent will keep those seeds from germinating. But once a dallisgrass plant has established itself, it's there to stay.
Here's the important thing: don't let the presence of dallisgrass disappoint you if you did get your pre-emergent out. That application has prevented—and will continue to prevent—a lot of different weeds throughout your lawn. It just isn't going to prevent this particular weed. Your pre-emergent is still doing its job.
Why You Can't Just Spray It
Second, there is no product on the market that will effectively kill dallisgrass without damaging your existing turf. It takes a "Roundup" type product to do any real damage to dallisgrass, and as you probably know, those products kill just about anything they touch.
This is what makes dallisgrass so frustrating for homeowners across Waxahachie, Midlothian, Prosper, and the DFW area. You can't prevent it, and you can't selectively spray it. So what can you do?
The Only Real Solution: Manual Removal
Unfortunately, the best solution isn't a popular one—manual removal.
And I don't mean just trying to pull it out by hand. Dallisgrass has an extensive root system, and if you leave any of it behind, the plant will come right back. You're going to need a shovel to dig deep enough and wide enough to completely remove the entire plant, roots and all.
Once removed, fill in the void with some soil and use sod to patch the areas. Yes, it's labor-intensive. But it's the only method that actually eliminates the problem.
Do It Now, Not Later
It's still early in the season, so the best time to tackle dallisgrass is right now. Get out there and remove it before it takes over, that way you don't have to stare at it all summer long.
Keep this in mind: if dallisgrass is not removed, it is guaranteed to come back year after year. It doesn't go away on its own. Every season you ignore it, it spreads further and becomes a bigger job to remove.
Watch the video below to learn more about why dallisgrass is so difficult and how to properly remove it from your lawn.
For professional lawn care in Midlothian and Prosper, contact Vista Lawn and Pest.
