NJGIC Update:

Education & Information on Kyllinga!

Green Kyllinga is a serious problem for the residential lawns in South Jersey and our neighboring states of CT, NY, PA, and DE- a problem that has had many call for help from Rutgers! Samples have been collected and research on the weed problem is in the works.

Kyllinga management advice from Dr. Murphy is provided below:

Green Kyllinga and false Green Kyllinga are very similar in appearance, and both are referred to as green Kyllinga.
Green Kyllinga is very difficult to control once large mats form. As you have experienced, this is a troublesome invasive weed species that has moved northward into New Jersey.
These weeds thrive under mowing and are prolific in areas that are poorly drained or frequently wet. If you do not have control over irrigation, encourage property owners to reduce irrigation if you find that the turf is frequently wet; excess irrigation makes the problem worse.
Pre-emergence herbicides provide no control of Green Kyllinga.

There currently isn't a commercially available
post-emergence herbicide that will provide excellent control of green kyllinga in cool season turfgrass. Dismiss (sulfentrazone) is reported as providing good (80-90%) control and SedgeHammer (halosulfuron) is reported as providing poor (60% or less) control. Note that SedgeHammer is reported as more effective against False Green Kyllinga than Green Kyllinga.

It is very important to understand that control is achieved with MULTIPLE applications of Dismiss or SedgeHammer. For example, two applications of SedgeHammer will suppress Green Kyllinga and probably not kill it unless it is small. Additionally, the herbicide label instructions for Kyllinga must be followed or the products have no chance of working. For example, a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v must be added to the spray solution of SedgeHammer. Follow label instructions for herbicide rate, timing, and length of time between repeat applications.

Catching the problem early before the Kyllinga mats become large, applying an active herbicide correctly, and being persistent are keys to achieving control.

Our colleagues to the south were battling this problem long before us. They have posted information on herbicide options that can be found at: http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Weeds/Kyllinga_Green.aspx

or

http://www.tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org/admin/Lists/Fact%20Sheets/Attachments/23/W260%20Nutsedge.pdf