Kyllinga in the fall now rears its ugly head as brown rust colored patches throughout the lawn. Homeowners are taken by surprise at what these unsightly patches could be. Kyllinga is a warm-season perennial weed that emerges in late spring/early summer when soil temperatures increase, and it grows rapidly throughout the summer months before going dormant after the first frost in the fall and turning an ugly rusty brown color. The rusty brown colored patches stand out among the cool season grasses that stay green throughout the year. An Autumn frost will kill the Kyllinga leaves above ground, but the plant survives from rhizomes, tubers and seed that survive and overwinter in the soil. Dormant tubers germinate and emerge throughout the following season.
Just because it turns brown does not mean that it is dead and will not come back. Since the color is so distinct in the fall it is easily identifiable, and this is the time to make sure you have a plan to start to control it next season. It is important to understand that a well-coordinated, long term program is needed to suppress kyllinga. Catching the problem early before the kyllinga mats become large, applying an active herbicide correctly, and being persistent are keys to suppressing the weed and eventually achieving control. A 3-step herbicide application in the spring and summer that specifically targets the kyllinga when it is vulnerable is required for proper control. The problem kyllinga spreads through transference (animal droppings, mowers, foot traffic, etc.) so it is next to impossible to prevent. Only curative measures are available at this time for cool season grasses. Call Green Side Up and get on our schedule for Kyllinga Control. If you are not sure whether the weed on your lawn is Green Kyllinga, contact us and we will properly ID the plant for you.