Scientific Name: Paspalum dilatatum
Common Names: Dallisgrass, Dallas grass, sticky heads
Family: Poaceae
Brief Description: Dallisgrass is a troublesome perennial weed, meaning that it will come back from its roots year after year. You can identify Dallisgrass by its distinguishing clump which gradually grows in a circular fashion.
Related Weeds:
- Crabgrass
- Knotgrass
What is Dallisgrass?
Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) is a warm-season perennial grass native to South America introduced to the United States in the late 1800s. It is one of the most problematic weeds of turf grass in the southern and southeastern United States— it grows in bunches, has a coarse texture, and produces unsightly seed heads. It can adapt to low mowing heights and proliferate in managed turf grass. Its rhizomes make it difficult to remove using physical methods and even to control with herbicides.
How to Prevent Dallisgrass
A major component of Dallisgrass management is preventing establishment of new plants. Remove young plants from your turf by digging them up before they form rhizomes or set seed is the best strategy for control. Mature plants should be dug out, but will grow back if rhizomes are left behind.
Along with physically removing Dallisgrass, a good treatment program with pre-emergent and post-emergent will help keep your turf healthy and eliminate this and other problematic weeds.
Need Help with Dallisgrass?
Call Titan Turf Management today at 205-881-9339 and let’s talk about how we can help you with Dallisgrass and other lawn weeds.