Question

Is there anything that can be used to treat Torpedo Grass in a Floratam lawn?

Travis, FL

Answer

Everyone has questions. And BASF Professional Turf has answers.

Thank you for your question on torpedograss control.

Unfortunately because you are working with St. Augustinegrass there is nothing I know of that can be used in that turfgrass to take out torpedograss. You may have heard that BASF's product Drive and Drive XLR8 works on torpedograss. That is correct. Our product has good activity when applied in 3 sequential spilt applications in bermudagrass. However, Drive is not registered for use on St. Augustinegrass because it will severely injury this turfgrass.

If you are renovating an area of your turfgrass or spot spraying then our product could be used since it will remove the torpedo grass along with any of the St. Augustinegrass that is in that area. You would need to wait at least 6 weeks before you could go back into this area to do any sprigging since any Drive residue that remains in the soil would still be injurious to the St. Augustinegrass sprigs.

You might want to call or write to Dr. Barry Brecke at the West Florida REC in Milton, FL, Univ. of Florida Extension Service since he has done a lot of work on torpedograss control programs for Florida turfgrass managers.

Kathie