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Oklahoma Gardening

bermuda grass in my monkey grass

17 years ago

I have a bed of monkey grass and have bermuda grass growning in it. I would like to know how to remove the bermuda grass without hurting the monkey grass.

thanks

Featured Answer

Okiedawn OK Zone 7

4 years ago

I agree that digging the bermuda out and then putting in a garden barrier to keep it from creeping back into the liriope is the most effective way to remove the bermuda grass from the monkey grass area long-term because if you kill the bermuda with a herbicide, since bermuda is such an aggressive grower, it just will continue to infiltrate the liriope over time. For a short term solution, you can use one of the over-the-top weedkillers like Ornamec or Fertilome's Over-The-Top grass killer. I just checked Fertilome's Over The Top label online to verify, and it says it kills bermuda grass. It also lists liriope (monkey grass) as tolerant of the product, meaning that when the product is properly mixed and applied following label directions exactly, the liriope should not be harmed by the product. I do know people who have killed plants with these over the top herbicides by mixing them at a higher rate or applying much more heavily than the label specifies, so be sure you are careful to follow the label directions exactly. Here's the label, which includes extensive lists of plants that shouldn't be harmed by the proper use of the Over The Top product.

Label for Fertilome's Over-The-Top Herbicide

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Comments (10)

sammy zone 7 Tulsa
17 years ago
I didn't have a bed, but about 10 plants when that happened to me. I bought a product that was supposed to kill the bermuda, but never used it. I tried to pick out the bermuda when it was wet. That didn't work so I dug them up and planted Chrysanthemums. Another more reasonable choice might be to carefully paint Round Up on the bermuda. You must be careful, and use a small paint brush because whatever touches the Round Up will die. Be sure you do this before the bermuda goes dormant.

Sammy
susanlynne48
17 years ago
I didn't think anything killed monkey grass, or liriope, anyway. I've actually sprayed the liriope and it still grows anyway. The tops and portions of the rhizomes die back, but there's always more waiting underground just to pop back up somewhere close by.

Susan
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peachesrgood
17 years ago
I have had very good result killing bermuda grass in any beds using either "Poast" or "Vantage". These product take 2 weeks to work and will only work on green grass. They will not kill sedges or reeds only grass. It works and sure saves on labor.
sammy zone 7 Tulsa
17 years ago
Poast is what I bought. What you said is what I was told.
Sammy
decali
17 years ago
Vantage and Poast will work great but 41% Roundup at 1/2 rate will work as well and be a lot cheaper (obviously not this time of year but spring/summer/especiallly fall).
jamarlil
7 years ago
When you say 41% Roundup to what are your referring?
AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
7 years ago
I googled it and found numerous products that are 41% glyphosate (the active ingredient in Round Up). Be very careful this doesn't drift to plants you don't want to harm.
Deborah Richardson
4 years ago
What kills the bermuda in my monkey grass?
Nancy RW (zone 7)
4 years ago
I have that Bermuda problem with virtually every established perennial. I just keep digging at it, knowing it's always there to deal with.

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