Sand grass is a “sticker” plant that looks like grass. It usually invades thin lawns, especially in dry years. Therefore, the best control of this weed is a thick and healthy lawn. However, if your lawn is very thin this spring and last year’s grass sand is a problem, use a pre-emergence herbicide before the sand bur appears. However, not all pre-emergence herbicides are effective. Three products that can help reduce grass clippings are straw, pendimethalin and propylene diamine.
Oryzalin is sold under the brand name Ageruo. It can be used on all warm season grasses and tall fescue grasses. Except for fescue and other tall fescue grasses, it should not be used on grasses in cool seasons, such as Kentucky bluegrass. Oryzalin can also be sold with benefin as a combination product of Green Light Amaze. As with straw alone, it can be used for all warm season grasses and tall fescue grasses. Except for fescue and other tall fescue grasses, it should not be used on grasses in cool seasons, such as Kentucky bluegrass.
Pendimethalin is sold as Pendulum on the market, and there are also several other names. On the homeowner side, it is sold as Scotts Halts. It is best to use Pendimethalin separately, the first half will be applied around April 15th, and the second part will be applied around June 1st. Or, perform the first application when the bauhinia tree is in full bloom, and six weeks after the second week.
Propylenediamine is sold under the trade name Barricade. It is also sold as homeowner products Howard Johnson Crabgrass Control Plus and 0.37 Prodiamine 00-00-07. It can be used on all our common lawn grasses. About April 15th or when the bauhinia blooms, spartina is still applied. Only one application is required per year.
No “herbicide” can be completely controlled, but each one should help. Quinclorac (drive) can provide some post-emergence control, especially if the sand bur is in the seedling stage.