We have a front lawn that some years ago was laboriously covered with
blue couch (Digitaria didactyla), but has since steadily been colonised
by broadleaf carpet grass (Axonopus compressus), despite my father's
weeding efforts. The lawn is now about half each type of grass, and is
looking quite patchy (as the two types of grass look very different), so
ideally we'd like to get rid of the carpet grass.

To kill the carpet grass, my uncle suggested steady treatment with
sub-lethal concentrations of glyphosate, and I've suggested something
similar using MSMA instead, but my father doesn't want anything to go
wrong and end up with a dust bowl of a front lawn instead.

Does anyone know of an effective way to remove the carpet grass (apart
from weeding!)? Failing that, can someone suggest a replacement grass
that will not be colonised by the carpet grass? We live in Far North
Queensland, Australia (17 deg. S), and the lawn is in partial shade. I
can supply climate details if it'd help.


Thanks in advance,

Mark Pinese

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On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 15:11:12 +0000, Mark Pinese wrote:

We have a front lawn that some years ago was laboriously covered with blue
couch (Digitaria didactyla), but has since steadily been colonised by
broadleaf carpet grass (Axonopus compressus), despite my father's weeding
efforts. The lawn is now about half each type of grass, and is looking
quite patchy (as the two types of grass look very different), so ideally
we'd like to get rid of the carpet grass.

To kill the carpet grass, my uncle suggested steady treatment with
sub-lethal concentrations of glyphosate, and I've suggested something
similar using MSMA instead, but my father doesn't want anything to go
wrong and end up with a dust bowl of a front lawn instead.

Does anyone know of an effective way to remove the carpet grass (apart
from weeding!)? Failing that, can someone suggest a replacement grass
that will not be colonised by the carpet grass? We live in Far North
Queensland, Australia (17 deg. S), and the lawn is in partial shade. I
can supply climate details if it'd help.


Thanks in advance,

Mark Pinese

Please remove NOSPAM- from email address to reply.


You could spot treat the infested area with Roundup. The treated area
would turn brown in a couple of weeks. Once gone, you could then repair
the areas and plant anew.

Would a product like weed-b-gon work? That's a broadleaf killer and
doesn't affect normal turfgrass.

On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 15:11:12 GMT, Mark Pinese
wrote:

We have a front lawn that some years ago was laboriously covered with
blue couch (Digitaria didactyla), but has since steadily been colonised
by broadleaf carpet grass (Axonopus compressus), despite my father's
weeding efforts. The lawn is now about half each type of grass, and is
looking quite patchy (as the two types of grass look very different), so
ideally we'd like to get rid of the carpet grass.

To kill the carpet grass, my uncle suggested steady treatment with
sub-lethal concentrations of glyphosate, and I've suggested something
similar using MSMA instead, but my father doesn't want anything to go
wrong and end up with a dust bowl of a front lawn instead.

Does anyone know of an effective way to remove the carpet grass (apart
from weeding!)? Failing that, can someone suggest a replacement grass
that will not be colonised by the carpet grass? We live in Far North
Queensland, Australia (17 deg. S), and the lawn is in partial shade. I
can supply climate details if it'd help.

I would take the easy road. Sounds like the carpet grass is going to
overtake the blue couch. Why fight it?

Roy - Carpe Noctem

On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 15:11:12 GMT, Mark Pinese
wrote:

We have a front lawn that some years ago was laboriously covered with
blue couch (Digitaria didactyla), but has since steadily been colonised
by broadleaf carpet grass (Axonopus compressus), despite my father's
weeding efforts. The lawn is now about half each type of grass, and is
looking quite patchy (as the two types of grass look very different), so
ideally we'd like to get rid of the carpet grass.

To kill the carpet grass, my uncle suggested steady treatment with
sub-lethal concentrations of glyphosate, and I've suggested something
similar using MSMA instead, but my father doesn't want anything to go
wrong and end up with a dust bowl of a front lawn instead.

Does anyone know of an effective way to remove the carpet grass (apart
from weeding!)? Failing that, can someone suggest a replacement grass
that will not be colonised by the carpet grass? We live in Far North
Queensland, Australia (17 deg. S), and the lawn is in partial shade. I
can supply climate details if it'd help.

I would take the easy road. Sounds like the carpet grass is going to
overtake the blue couch. Why fight it?

Roy - Carpe Noctem