Tips For Killing Invasive Ornamental Grasses

While there are a variety of perfect ornamental grasses for your yard that will elevate your landscaping, there are also many species that are highly invasive. From Japanese silver grass to Chinese fountain grass, these types of grass species are considered very harmful to the environment. Getting rid of these invasive ornamental grasses can be incredibly difficult, but not impossible. When you focus your time on certain techniques, like mowing practices, hand removal, and herbicides, you can have great success.

Although some of these ornamental grasses may look lovely to the eye, they can quickly overtake your yard and grow where you don't want them. In many cases, invasive grasses spread via thick rhizomes that are difficult to pull out because they are deep in the ground. Of course, when many ornamental grasses were first introduced to areas in the U.S., these concerns were typically not considered a problem because they grow so well in poor conditions. Although not all introduced species become invasive, it's important to check before you buy and plant anything in your yard. If you already have invasive ornamental grasses to get rid of, its possible with the right amount of dedication. With a combination of natural and chemical control methods, you can say goodbye to unwanted invasive ornamental grasses.

Safely removing invasive plant species from your lawn and garden is possible with natural control methods. However, it does require a plan of action and patience to see it through to the end to eradicate grasses that have taken over your yard. Popular natural methods include repeated mowing and using sharp tools to dig out the thick root systems. Invasive ornamental grasses may still come back if you fail to remove every bit of plant material from the soil. Burning is recommended as an option for some ornamental grass species, but often requires chemical control afterwards to be fully effective. Always contact your local fire department before beginning any controlled burn.

If you need a way to get rid of maidenhair grass or any other invasive ornamental grass, chemical control can make a big impact. Things like herbicides, when used in tandem with manual extraction and prevention, enable you to fully remove unwanted species. The best way to deal with ornamental grasses is to remove the foliage above the ground as much as possible. Once tender new growth begins to come back, applying a strong glyphosate-based herbicide will help destroy the grass completely. Make sure to follow the instructions on the product label for proper herbicide use. Regrowth is likely with ornamental grasses that grow via rhizomes, so be prepared to apply chemical methods several times to fully kill individual clumps.