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How to Get Rid of Sage Grass in Tennessee

Prevention

The best way to get rid of sage grass is to prevent it from establishing in the first place. This can be done by:

* Mowing your lawn regularly. Sage grass is a low-growing grass that can easily be outcompeted by taller grasses. Mowing your lawn at least once a week will help to keep sage grass from taking hold.

* Watering your lawn deeply and infrequently. Sage grass is a drought-tolerant grass that can survive with very little water. However, deep watering will help to encourage the growth of taller grasses, which will crowd out sage grass.

* Fertilizing your lawn. Fertilizing your lawn will help to thicken the turf and make it more resistant to invasion by sage grass.

Control

If you do have sage grass in your lawn, there are a few things you can do to control it.

* Hand-pulling. Sage grass is a relatively shallow-rooted grass, so it can be easily pulled out by hand. Be sure to get the entire root, or the sage grass will simply grow back.

* Spot-treating with herbicide. You can also spot-treat sage grass with a glyphosate-based herbicide. Be sure to follow the directions on the herbicide label carefully.

* Overseeding. Overseeding your lawn with a tall grass, such as tall fescue or perennial ryegrass, will help to crowd out sage grass. Be sure to seed at the proper time of year and water the lawn regularly to help the new grass establish.

Patience

Getting rid of sage grass can take time and patience. It is important to be persistent and to use a combination of prevention and control methods.