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Torpedo Grass - Any hope, or should I concrete the lawn?

Posted on 2/26/24 at 9:10 pm
Posted by Old Skule
Louisiana
Member since Jan 2008
40 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 9:10 pm
Someone recommended Otho Grass Killer, and it did just that - killed the good grass, left the Torpedo standing. A few years back I used a product called Poast with pretty good results, but I can't find it anywhere.

Any suggestions?
Posted by Antib551
Houma, LA
Member since Dec 2018
1190 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 10:04 pm to
What kind of grass?
Posted by Old Skule
Louisiana
Member since Jan 2008
40 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 10:07 pm to
Centipede, with some St. Aug creeping in from the neighbor's lawn
Posted by Antib551
Houma, LA
Member since Dec 2018
1190 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 10:18 pm to
I'll defer to Ronk and Craw for the definitive answer. But I'd say your screwed. Quinclorac is the only effective thing I know of, but isn't labeled for centipede and definitely not St aug.

Accept it or nuke the lawn before it gets out of control and stsrt fresh with zoysia or Bermuda. Easiest solution is to just move, not kidding. You'll ALWAYS have to spray to control it creeping in if it's in your neighbors yard.
This post was edited on 2/26/24 at 10:21 pm
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
59475 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 10:33 pm to
quote:

Torpedo Grass

Another well-intentioned, but terribly misguided non-native species introduced into the country.

quote:

Native to Africa and Asia, Torpedo Grass was introduced to the United States around 1876, primarily through seed used for forage crops. The real infestation came in the early part of the 20th century when the USDA imported and distributed seed for planting pastures as forage for cattle. It proved to be inferior for use as a forage crop. Now it is found in the Gulf South from Florida to Texas and in other coastal areas around the world.

Torpedo grass is nearly impossible to completely eliminate, so management of it is not a matter of how to get rid of it completely but instead how to prevent it from taking over an area. The only way that this can be accomplished is with repeated and frequent efforts. You will have to scout regularly and any time torpedo grass is seen, promptly take action.  Prevention of torpedo grass centers on removal of the entire plant, as the plant can regrow from fragments left behind in the soil.  There are few control options for torpedo grass.  Options will depend on its location and surrounding vegetation.


Nasty stuff.
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4801 posts
Posted on 2/26/24 at 11:08 pm to
Sethoxydim. Hit it twice over a few weeks.
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6530 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 6:19 am to
Your choice between a constant struggle or ending the shite as fast as possible. Sethoxydim will suppress it but you could just round the areas twice and resod.
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5558 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 8:01 am to
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5558 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 8:01 am to
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5558 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 8:02 am to
Posted by magicman534
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
1660 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 8:53 am to
I have centipede and fought the torpedo from all 3 neighbors for 2 years. Now I’ve given up and just keep it out of the gardens. After the drought last summer the torpedo looked great with no water. I’m just embracing it now and saving water.
Posted by TheDude854
Member since May 2019
333 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 10:04 am to
I’m with you. Accept your fate, learn to live with it and even appreciate its tenacity, keep it out of the garden beds…
This post was edited on 2/27/24 at 8:38 pm
Posted by Tifway419
Member since Sep 2022
1039 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 10:50 am to
quote:

Centipede, with some St. Aug creeping in from the neighbor's lawn

Others have stated your options to go nuclear or live with it. If your neighbor doesn’t want to spend the money to go nuclear then you’ll have to live with it. Consider this:

If you are going to live with it, try to keep it on that side of your driveway. Always cut the clean / non-torpedo side first, and always blow clippings into the torpedo side. It can go under your driveway and jump to the other side, but you’re more likely to bring it to the other side from your lawn mower or blowing the clippings. And yes, torpedo will find a way to grow from its clippings.

If it’s in your backyard, then glyphosate everything and convert to Bermuda. You’ll be able to suppress it with Quinclorac and you shouldn’t have much of a problem.
Posted by Art Vandelay
LOUISIANA
Member since Sep 2005
10957 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 12:16 pm to
Nuke it and re-sod patches. But make sure you get it all. So wait before you patch the sod. Then maybe you can control the border if it’s creeping from the neighbors side.
Posted by Delacroix
Member since Oct 2008
4005 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 12:41 pm to
quote:

Sethoxydim. Hit it twice over a few weeks.


This will only suppress Torpedo Grass, not kill it.

OP, I am in the same situation. A couple of years ago I nuked my whole yard with glyphosate then reseeded centipede. I thought I had won the war.. But just a year later, the torpedo started gaining control again.

This year I am converting my whole yard to Bermuda so I can spray Quinclorac and finally kill that stuff for good.
Posted by Old Skule
Louisiana
Member since Jan 2008
40 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 1:24 pm to
quote:

... You'll ALWAYS have to spray to control it creeping in if it's in your neighbors yard.


Yea, and the neighbor's lawn is the gift that keeps giving, Torpedo-wise. Always fills the yard with spillway dirt, which seems to be the birthplace of Torpedo in the NOLA area. Sounds like I'm resigned to fighting a losing battle, or accepting my fate.
Posted by Ziggy
Member since Oct 2007
21727 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:05 pm to
quote:

This year I am converting my whole yard to Bermuda so I can spray Quinclorac and finally kill that stuff for good.

To confirm, this stuff is harmless against Bermuda but will kill off torpedo, centipede, etc.?
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
19871 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:18 pm to
quote:

To confirm, this stuff is harmless against Bermuda but will kill off torpedo, centipede, etc.?

Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
19871 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:19 pm to
DO NOT apply more than 2 lbs. of Quinclorac 75DF Select per acre or 0.73 oz. (21.6 mL) per 1,000 sq. ft. in one year.
So for control of torpedo it's saying to put down the annual rate allowed over the course of three applications at 2-3 week intervals. Geez.

Damn, I could have used this stuff on clover in my PRG.

This post was edited on 2/27/24 at 2:26 pm
Posted by Ziggy
Member since Oct 2007
21727 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 4:00 pm to
quote:

bayoubengals88

Thank you sir.

Think I may spray the remaining centipede I have in my backyard with this soon so that my Bermuda can take over...
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