Torpedo Grass

20 years ago

Have the dread torpedo grass in centipede and bermuda (Tifway) lawns. So far, only thing I've read is Drive 75 and (Vantage or Manage); one for centipede, one for bermuda.

Questions: I'm leary of commercial lawn care companies. Is there a prayer of a chance that I can manage to control the torpedo grass on my own without killing the centipede in one lawn and bermuda in the other? When's the best time in lower Alabama, how often, and anything else I need to know and/or read.

Thank you so much,

Dianne

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Comments (6)

yarddoctor
20 years ago
Dear Dianne,

Thank you very much for the inquiry. One option for you is to apply the herbicides yourself. You can obtain Drive in small quantities from LESCO stores and possibly other places as more and more are starting to carry it. I believe you can get the Manage as well. The summertime is the best time to combat this weedy grass. It will take patience and multiple applications. Follow the directions on the label, please.

Again thanks for the inquiry.

Respectfully,

Trey Rogers
The Yard Doctor
ccollins_knology_net
18 years ago
i have torpedo grass in zoysia and asiatic jasmine. will the drive 75 work on this too?
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If you are watering deeply and infrequently, and mowing at the mower's highest setting once every week or two, the St Aug should be extremely dense and definitely dominate all the grasses you mentioned. I've converted a bermuda or weed yard to St Augustine several times. It's really easy. Here's a picture of my current project. All the green in that picture is new St Augustine. Despite the optical illusion in the picture, it only covers about 1/3 of the yard. When I moved in 2 years ago the only St Aug was about an inch of it growing under the spigot in the shady corner by the brick. The rest was weeds and bermuda. Now it's almost too dense to walk in. This is in the Texas Hill Country so we don't get a lot of rain. I've watered it about 10 times and it's rained maybe 10 times in the 2 years. You can't see this years runners in this picture, but you will next year. They extend 10 feet out beyond the real green looking area. Zoysia, on the other hand, is often more of a pain than any other grasses. The main problem with it is the inability to recover from damage or disease within a reasonable time. In my experience with it, once it gets stressed, it is down for the entire rest of the growing season and only comes back the following April. There are many other varieties of zoysia, so if you are going to do that, be sure you get one adapted to your neighborhood. But as a warning, the zoysia installs I've seen almost all got switched out for St Augustine within a few months. Those that did not get changed out were either because they sunk too much money into it or because they had unlimited resources to spend on fixing it.
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awildrose60_msn_com
17 years ago
I have the Torpedo grass in my rose bed. It is in the center and surrounding the bushes ....it is everywhere! How can I kill it and not harm my roses and other plants? I heard one person say that it does not harm some plants but which ones???? I have roses, lilies, annuals, salvia, gaura and others... it is growing like wildfire! I see it all over Jacksonville!
richardweekley_bellsouth_net
17 years ago
I originally saw a small bit of odd grass among my centipede about 3 years ago but my lawn service technician said it was an early form of centipede. Little did he know! This stuff has grown to large patches in several areas of my back yard. It's awful, and I'm wondering what threat it is to my trees, since it has such a network of bamboo-like runners deep under the surface, as well as rhiizomes that also resemble bamboo. It has gotten much worse this year, in spite of my attempts to control its further spread and encroachment into flower beds. I dug up a sample and took it to the county extension office, and the agent identified it as torpedo grass. Do you agree that's what this is, and do you have a suggestion for eradication? I hate the sound of "control" because I see this invasive grass as a threat to desirable grass. The beautiful centipede has been totally replaced by the invasive grass in large areas, and I only see this getting worse. I also see the possibility that this grass will rob the shrubs and trees of water and nutrients, and eventually it will be the only thing left. It seems hopeless, but I hope you're going to tell me it's not. And I'd also love to know where this came from-----potted plants from South Florida, perhaps?
werthcontracting_netzero_com
17 years ago
I recently put down some zoysia in pool area. It is getting taking over by torpedo grass. What can I do to control or kill this type of grass because it is starting to take over the beds and other areas of the subdivision? I have all types of different foilage. What will it harm or not harm? Please, please respond. I am desperate to get this matter under control and noone seems to be able to help me. Thank you.
gbskinnerjax_aol_com
16 years ago
I found the cure. I have ripped up all my grass and am in the process of replacing it with an "Arizona" yard. Full strength cooncentrate Roundup I applied with a smile. The project may cost a bit, but nothing compared to battling this stuff from Hades while the expenses of lawn maintenance pile up...I'm 61, so it's about time I sell the yard stuff and just enjoy the pool and trips to the gym.

Torpedo Grass

Comments (6)

yarddoctor

ccollins_knology_net

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