Probably Bermuda.

 

Nothing strange about it at all it's Bermuda. Now on to the fight

 

No doubt... it's Bermuda.

 

If you figure out how to beat it, please let us know. I asked my pest control guy to spray ethofumesate but he refused. See the link:

https://ugaurbanag.com/postemergence-bermudagrass-control-in-turf/

I put out some atrazine, but probably not nearly enough to make a difference. My plan for this year is to cut high, cut often, and fertilize. There is anecdotal evidence that St. Augustine can crowd out Bermuda.

https://youtu.be/r_tbZAw7qTs

I'm very doubtful, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

Best solution may be to resod with ProVista.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://provistaturf.com/&ved=2ahUKEwiriPf47uboAhUQW60KHehSAtMQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw33X_cRi-RnE2klvpewRbtW

 

Thanks guys. Now I at least know who my enemy is. Disappointing to know there almost is no fight back without a major "surgery."

 

Am I seeing gray leaf spot in picture number 2?

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LyraEDISServlet?command=getImageDetail&image_soid=FIGURE%201&document_soid=PP126&document_version=63208

 

I've had success keeping bermuda contained with sethoxydim. If you mix it with a surfactant, it will kill everything. The "Bonide" label says safe for centipede and SA. The others do not. The difference is the others are 18% and Bonide is 13.x%. So, I mix at 3/4 oz per gallon and no surfactant. It wounds the bermuda. Hit it every six weeks or so, and it keeps it knocked down. It has popped back this spring, but is still relegated to the same area of the yard after two seasons. It's a very slow kill, o don't go out the next day and expect a change.

 

If you figure out how to beat it, please let us know. I asked my pest control guy to spray ethofumesate but he refused. See the link:

https://ugaurbanag.com/postemergence-bermudagrass-control-in-turf/

I put out some atrazine, but probably not nearly enough to make a difference. My plan for this year is to cut high, cut often, and fertilize. There is anecdotal evidence that St. Augustine can crowd out Bermuda.

I'm very doubtful, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

Best solution may be to resod with ProVista.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://provistaturf.com/&ved=2ahUKEwiriPf47uboAhUQW60KHehSAtMQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw33X_cRi-RnE2klvpewRbtW

I know for a fact st Augustine could win out. It's going to take years depending on the size of your lawn etc. Ethousmate+ atrazine+ surfactant works but it is a long term commitment. Mow high as your mower can go. You will have to take your lawn in your own hands more than likely.

 

I'd start by sucking it up and hand pulling as much as you can. Try to pull up as much root as you can. Then mow high and make absolutely sure the SA is not drought stressed at all. When the SA is shriveling up for lack of water the Bermuda attacks. And if a section of grass dies, the Bermuda will resurrect itself while laughing at your SA trying to recover via stolons only. Every day just pull a little bit out focusing on the roots. Like checking the mail, just a couple minutes a day.
I don't know about Ethousmate, but atrazine can stunt the SA growth, and shouldn't be used when temps are high. You can end up discouraging the thick SA growth that will eventually keep your Bermuda at bay. Not saying that mixture above won't work, in fact I'd like to try it. Just giving pros and cons. Either way unfortunately it still sounds like work. One thing that definitely works is shade, usually not an easy solution to implement unless you plant a tree. Oh also pre-em can help prevent any seeds taking root. Some people paint glysophate on the Bermuda... Tedious. They really need to develop a SA focused Bermuda killer.

 

I'd start by sucking it up and hand pulling as much as you can. Try to pull up as much root as you can. Then mow high and make absolutely sure the SA is not drought stressed at all. When the SA is shriveling up for lack of water the Bermuda attacks. And if a section of grass dies, the Bermuda will resurrect itself while laughing at your SA trying to recover via stolons only. Every day just pull a little bit out focusing on the roots. Like checking the mail, just a couple minutes a day.

Alright I started pulling some up to see how it goes.

 

I think pulling it is going to be a total waste of time.

 

I think pulling it is going to be a total waste of time.

You would definitely be correct in that assessment.

Anywho I've seen with my own lawn that st Augustine will push. Keep it healthy with water, low nitrogen, plenty of sun and watch it do its thing. Im spraying my whole yard but really documenting and focusing on how much st Augustine I can get to spread in my backyard.

 

Well I had an area with bermuda and I hand pulled it for a while, as well as made sure the SA was really healthy. Bermuda is mostly gone now. That area just looks too big to hand pull it all... Can you mow your grass higher?

 

I'm testing out a 4.25" cut over in the side yard. But it's palmetto, so I'm not sure if it will ever make a difference. See my recent journal entry for details. I'm also watching @CenlaLowell to see what works for him before I spend a bunch of money.

The area I pulled up is just a test to see what happens. It's a little thin in the front yard... Doesn't look real good at 4.25" so I'm thinking about pushing growth to increase the density before I bring it up to that height. Currently it's at 3.75"

 

Another thought.....

Bermuda does not like acidic soils so much, and SA can tolerate them decently. Maybe apply something with some sulfur in it to bring the pH down and give the SA a competitive edge? Would certainly be a cheaper approach.

P.S. -- If you don't know your soil pH, might be a good thing to check. if it's over 7, my bet is that the bermuda is going to win out no matter how many chemicals you apply

 

I'm testing out a 4.25" cut over in the side yard. But it's palmetto, so I'm not sure if it will ever make a difference. See my recent journal entry for details. I'm also watching @CenlaLowell to see what works for him before I spend a bunch of money.

The area I pulled up is just a test to see what happens. It's a little thin in the front yard... Doesn't look real good at 4.25" so I'm thinking about pushing growth to increase the density before I bring it up to that height. Currently it's at 3.75"

This was mixed at label rates, but I over sprayed this spot. Been like this ever since.


That's common Bermuda

 

I'm testing out a 4.25" cut over in the side yard. But it's palmetto, so I'm not sure if it will ever make a difference. See my recent journal entry for details. I'm also watching @CenlaLowell to see what works for him before I spend a bunch of money.

The area I pulled up is just a test to see what happens. It's a little thin in the front yard... Doesn't look real good at 4.25" so I'm thinking about pushing growth to increase the density before I bring it up to that height. Currently it's at 3.75"

This was mixed at label rates, but I over sprayed this spot. Been like this ever since.


That's common Bermuda

I've got a good feeling I'll end trying something like @CenlaLowell's mixture at some point. I'm definitely following his thread, it's an important mission for mankind. Maybe something you could try in the fall.

 

I'm testing out a 4.25" cut over in the side yard. But it's palmetto, so I'm not sure if it will ever make a difference. See my recent journal entry for details. I'm also watching @CenlaLowell to see what works for him before I spend a bunch of money.

The area I pulled up is just a test to see what happens. It's a little thin in the front yard... Doesn't look real good at 4.25" so I'm thinking about pushing growth to increase the density before I bring it up to that height. Currently it's at 3.75"

This was mixed at label rates, but I over sprayed this spot. Been like this ever since.


That's common Bermuda

I've got a good feeling I'll end trying something like @CenlaLowell's mixture at some point. I'm definitely following his thread, it's an important mission for mankind. Maybe something you could try in the fall.

Chiming in...

This will, imo, work to get rid of Bermuda, but the problem is alot of people want instant gratification and this is not it. This project will take time and for me it's worth it because there's no way in hell I'm renovating my yard.

Good luck

 

If you're willing to hand pull repeatedly then you probably have the patience required...

 

I live in Florida and have St. Augustine. In my ugly lawn, I see some strange grass mixed up, which is clearly not St. Augustine. I don't know what kind it is. Here are some photos: Overall, it looks very ugly. What kind is this grass? Is there any way to remove those grass only, without doing the entire lawn again? Very annoying and very painful to watch the ugly mix.

Bumping this for the folks here that might choose a different option - I’ve had lawns at 2 houses that were combo St. Augustine/Bermuda, and have seen many others here (especially closer to the beach) - and they were/are both the lushest, smoothest, most naturally weed-free lawns in the neighborhood. They blend nicely between the areas of more or less of each grass, and where the Bermuda is denser (and even in the mixed areas) any weeds that take root are a fraction of the size they are in all St. Augustine areas, and spread by runners or stolons is almost nil so they are easy to see and just pluck out by hand when they pop up. It does make a difference that some of these neighborhoods suffered from severely neglected lawns, and if the same landscapers cut multiple lawns they are basically loading broadcasters with weed seeds and running them across all the lawns. I suppose someone in a neighborhood with perfect St. Augustine lawns without a bunch of weedy yards would consider a starting patch of Bermuda as an affront to the monoculture that nature abhors. I don’t want to toxify my yard and environment with noxious chemicals - I like to be able to walk around barefoot with my dog, dig in with my hands, plant and eat edible stuff without worrying about adding to the already ubiquitous cancer-causing chemical load surrounding us.