Kyllinga is a weed that comes from the sedge family and has become a rising problem that started in the southeastern part of the United States and is moving aggressively throughout the northeastern tri-state area. Kyllinga is a crafty grassy sedge-like weed that has been reported to move its way from landscape beds to nearby turf with ease and usually goes under the radar until later in the summer because it strongly resembles grass. In the last 10 to 15 years, Kyllinga has developed into a major problem for turfgrass and landscape managers. The main issue with Kyllinga is that it grows in dense mats that can quickly take over a garden or lawn and be an eyesore especially when it becomes dormant leaving brown patches throughout the lawn. Kyllinga produces little nutsedge seed heads which can make 5,000 seeds per year. These seeds grow all year round before going dormant in the wintertime. Pulling or digging them out and mowing disperses the seed. This also disturbs the roots and encourages more root hairs to grow so the best way to control is by using specialty products exclusive to Kyllinga.
When Kyllinga matures, they make little nutsedge-like seedheads. A group of three long leaflike structures (or bracts) stick out from the stalk beneath the flower head. There are thirty to seventy-five white spikelets within each flower head, each one capable of producing one seed. They are known to form large mats wherever they have established. Kyllinga tends to thrive in soil that remains wet for long periods of time and receives full sun, although it can manage to thrive in areas of partial shade. Kyllinga is also a perennial which means they grow all summer and from spring to fall so they grow all year round and stay dormant in the wintertime. Kyllinga seeds can be spread via mowing equipment and even by walking over it. It will stick to clothing and other materials that come in contact with it, taking it from property to property. Close mowing is also known to cause a Kyllinga invasion as the lawn grass is unable to spread and compete.
After extensive research, Lawn Doctor now offers a program to control and minimize the spread of Kyllinga. This program consists of 2 granular applications, 1st one applied mid to late Spring and the 2nd around early Summer. Each application needs to be watered in and we highly recommend keeping on as annual treatment plan due to reoccurring infestations due to mowers carrying seed heads from lawn to lawn.
