Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Tuesday - March 20, 2012

From: dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Turf, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Need help with lawn that was sodded with Buffalo Grass in Dallas, TX.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

I had buffalo sod put down last March. It greened up beautifully until weeds just about covered it up. I tried hand pulling. My landscaper showed up with something that appeared to damage the buffalo grass as much as the weeds. Continued hand weeding. This spring I have massive weeds again. There is still some buffalo grass there, but it will be completely eradicated if I do not find something to kill the unwanted grass and weeds. apprx 2000 sq feet of sod. Help! What can I put on it.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants is sorry to hear you are having trouble with your Buffalo Grass. It holds promise for an eco-friendly  lawn when the installation is successful.

You didn’t mention the names of the weeds you are battling, so without that information, I am at a loss as what to recommend to put on it. I suggest that you contact the folks at the Dallas County office of Texas AgriLife Extension who can look at the lawn, identify the weeds, and suggest possible treatments. In addition, you can get  more information from our How to Article on the planting and care of Buffalo Grass.

Dr. Mark Simmons, the Director of our Ecosystem Design Group, offers these observations on Buffalo Grass sod:

1. sod often is a great way to import weeds (particularly nut sedge)

2. Sod is usually installed on poorly prepared ground which leads to buffalo turf which is weed prone

3. Weeds will proliferate if buffalo is mowed too short. or too much fertilizer is used



 

More Turf Questions

Las Vegas lawn grass for Dallas
February 13, 2009 - Dear Smarty Plants, Every time we go to Las Vegas I admire the beautiful grass in the lawns of most of the strip casinos. It looks like a fescue but it is just as beautiful on the hottest summer day...
view the full question and answer

Native grasses for lawn in Michigan
June 14, 2009 - I want to plant a lawn of grasses that are native to Michigan specifically. My soil is a little sandy in some spots and is moderately moist. I have been researching on the internet and I *think* tha...
view the full question and answer

Problem with Habiturf. Is it dormant or dead?
July 24, 2013 - We planted habiturf in spring 2012. It's beautiful. But since last summer, we have had one area that seems to go dormant much more rapidly than the rest, even though it receives the same amount of ...
view the full question and answer

Mixture of native grasses as opposed to buffalo grass monoculture
November 26, 2003 - My husband and I just built our home on Lake Travis. Our lot is very rocky and is on the side of a hill. We would like to plant something on the incline at the front of our home that doesn't need a l...
view the full question and answer

Need shade friendly native grass for lawn under pine trees in Carthage, TX.
September 07, 2010 - My home is situated on six acres of woods in the East Texas piney woods area. Other than a few beds I have tried to plant, the yard has not been landscaped. I am trying to cover dirt and weeds in a p...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.