I need some help in identifying this nasty beast that has started marching across one corner of my lawn.
As my couch starts its descent into a gentle slumber, this strand is now easy to spot in its dark green state. It has the appearance of couch in that it looks to like running above ground, to periodically send bits down to start roots. It also has a smaller leaf but upon tearing one piece up it looks to be more like kikuyu in how it sends shoots sideways and then stalk is quite hard.
Whatever it is, removing it by hand appears to be the only option and if anyone can confirm what it may be, I'd appreciate it.
It's honestly hard to tell in that picture. I'd say it's the less intrusive Buffalo, but the grass blades look more like Kikiyu but hard to conclude without seeing it in the flesh.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I have a similar problem with Kikuyu in my Couch. I use undiluted Glyphosate and a small paintbrush, and paint it whenever I see it. I've found pulling it out by hand may not get everything, and leaves the chance of regrowth. You obviously need to be super careful not to spill any or paint anything you don't want killed. I would also recommend good gloves as we all know how nasty Glypho is supposed to be nowadays. I couldn't confirm what the grass type is either. Another option would be to try a herbicide that isn't safe for Buffalo but is for couch. Some wintergrass killers i believe may do this, but you would have to check the product label. Some of these may kill Buffalo, and will knock back Kikuyu but not completely kill it. Just be sure to double check any herbicide labels if you choose to use one. The undiluted Glypho is a choice I make knowing the associated risks. I wouldn't want you to do any serious damage to your self or lawn.
I have been painting undiluted Glyphosate on problem plants for years, works a treat but as in all sort of things you just have to be careful. You can't protect all of the people all of the time and then when a problem crops up they want to sue anybody they can. Next time I am going to give this 680 Glyphosate a try, I might even give it a try through the fence on my neighbours 7 pencil pines planted right up against the fence. Drill a half inch hole down low, push in a length of half inch copper tube and keep filling it with Glyphosate till the tree gives up, then move onto the next one
I have a similar problem with Kikuyu in my Couch. I use undiluted Glyphosate and a small paintbrush, and paint it whenever I see it. I've found pulling it out by hand may not get everything, and leaves the chance of regrowth. You obviously need to be super careful not to spill any or paint anything you don't want killed. I would also recommend good gloves as we all know how nasty Glypho is supposed to be nowadays. I couldn't confirm what the grass type is either. Another option would be to try a herbicide that isn't safe for Buffalo but is for couch. Some wintergrass killers i believe may do this, but you would have to check the product label. Some of these may kill Buffalo, and will knock back Kikuyu but not completely kill it. Just be sure to double check any herbicide labels if you choose to use one. The undiluted Glypho is a choice I make knowing the associated risks. I wouldn't want you to do any serious damage to your self or lawn.
Cheers,
John[/quote]
Thanks John - I'll give it a go on the weekend. I pulled out a number of the runners the other week and the stuff looks just like a thin Buffalo runner. I've always thought it was a mutant Couch stem and each Spring/Summer the main grass grows to snuff it out... This past season I started putting much more effort into improving the lawn and even though it will be a multi-season exercise, getting help on this forum has proven again to be invaluable.
Hi Norm - did a similar thing with a neighbours tree a number of years ago... Was a useless thing, with white flowers that just got into everything (yard, pool, gutters etc)... Looking to do it again as they've got palms in the front yard and they always drop their dead bits on my boat! I like the copper pipe idea .........
Hi TC, I have a long 1/2 inch drill bit I extended many years ago, so I can drill through the fence down at ground level at the base of the trees and nobody will ever see it, then just poke the copper pipe through the fence and pour in the Glyphosate, hopefully that will do the job. Next problem is I will end up with looking at dead trees because the grubs next door will never do anything about them. They step over anything rather than pick anything up. Always a problem, you can't choose your neighbours, always a lottery
