Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - May 16, 2015
From: Wimberley, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Problem Plants, Turf, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Controlling weeds in Habiturf lawn
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What's the best way to get rid of weeds in a Habiturf lawn? Habiturf seems like a great idea, but even with no extra water and no fertilizer, it seems the weeds take over - K.R. Bluestem and various broadleaf weeds. Thanks.ANSWER:
We have been blessed this year with adequate rainfall—sometimes more than adequate. It is great for all plants, but with your Habiturf lawn it creates lots of weeds that can out-compete the buffalo, blue grama and curly mesquite of the mix. I am sorry you are having to fight the weeds in your Habiturf, but I'm NOT sorry we are finally receiving good rainfall.
The best way to remove weeds/unwanted plants from Habiturf is the pull them up early and be persistent. There is a possibiliy of using a broadleaf herbicide on non-grass weeds, but the only way to rid your lawn of KR Bluestem and other grasses is to pull them up. Any herbicide that would kill them would also kill the Habiturf grasses.
If you haven't already read all the instructions for establishing your Habiturf Lawn, then you should visit the site on our webpage. In particular, read the following "Warning".
"Warning.
* If you do not prepare the soil adequately, your lawn will suffer and you will get weeds
* If you mow too often and too short, you will get weeds
* If you over-water, you will get weeds
* If you over-fertilize, you will get big weeds"
More Problem Plants Questions
Will the
May 27, 2015 - I'm becoming interested in rain gardens, and although Silphium perfoliatum does not appear to be a host for butterfly caterpillars and like most of the "giant tall grass prairie daisies" may be a b...
view the full question and answer
Live Oak Suckers Reprise, Austin TX
July 06, 2014 - Referring to an entry dated March 11, 2011 about Live Oak suckers - what happened to the suckers covered with newspaper and cardboard?
view the full question and answer
Can fibrous roots of Chasmanthium latifolium damage house foundation
May 03, 2013 - Dear Mr.Ms. S-P,
Can the fibrous roots of inland sea oats cause foundation problems? I was digging around my foundation and found a root about 1" in diameter that I am afraid might be from sea oa...
view the full question and answer
More on bluebonnets
March 10, 2003 - Clover has taken over and just about covered the Bluebonnets. Is there any way of removing the clover such as with fertilizer or something else?
view the full question and answer
Removal of weeds in buffalograss mix in Houston
June 15, 2009 - I recently attempted to seed a small lawn area with a buffalo/blue grama grass mix, unfortunately for me the area has been hit hard with weeds.
Is there an environmentally friendly method to reduce...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |