How To Selectively Kill St Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass taking over a portion of your lawn? Or is it interfering with another species of grass you’ve planted? 

Either way, you’ll need to eliminate the portion of invasive grass selectively. But I know this can be tricky as the soil quality and surrounding vegetation must be kept intact. So, to make things simpler for you, I’ve put together this concise guide on how to selectively kill St. Augustine grass. 

How To Selectively Kill St. Augustine Grass 

Though this grass can spread vigorously during its growing season, you can eliminate it with precision in a span of up to two weeks. All you’ll need is a good-quality herbicide and a pump-up sprayer. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out: 

Step 1: Prepare The Area 

First of all, you need to stop mowing the portion of St. Augustine grass that you’ve decided to eliminate. That’s because longer grass blades will provide more surface area for the herbicide to stick, making the process more effective. 

Then water the patch thoroughly for two to three weeks prior to eradicating it. This step will plump up the grass blades, giving you more area to work with to make the process more convenient.  

Step2: Apply A Fertilizer 

Next, use a lawn fertilizer to bring the grass to its healthiest state, as that will help the herbicide function better. At this point, you should also mark the section of grass you want to eliminate. 

Step 3: Keep Away Excess Water 

A day before you begin applying the herbicide, turn off the water supply to that area. After all, you won’t want excess water to wash away the herbicide from the grass blades. 

Step 4: Fill Up The Sprayer 

Now, fill up your pump-up sprayer with a grass and weed killer (herbicide) and prepare a solution as per the instructions on the label. Remember to choose a herbicide that won’t affect the soil quality in the long term, as you may want to replant the area in the future. 

Step 5: Apply the Herbicide 

Apply the herbicide early in the morning when it’s sunny, and there are no strong winds. Doing so will ensure that the solution dries on the grass blades, while exposure to sunlight will quicken the process. On a side note, you should thoroughly saturate the leaf blades of the grass you’re targeting. 

Thereafter, repeat this step within three to four days to kill any grass left in the targeted area. Also, don’t water the portion for about two weeks to allow the product to work. During this period, the grass should start turning brown and eventually die. 

Step 6: Remove The Grass 

After two weeks, when the grass has turned brown or yellow, you’ll have to remove it from the ground altogether. That said, you must dig the grass deep enough to bring out the roots. 

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