Tired of Nutsedge Taking Over Your Lawn? We Can Stop It.
If you’ve spotted light green, wiry grass that grows faster than the rest of your lawn, you may be dealing with nutsedge — one of the most stubborn and persistent weeds in Northeast Ohio.
At Custom Lawns, we specialize in identifying and controlling nutsedge infestations to help restore your lawn’s healthy, uniform appearance with our nutsedge control services.
What is nutsedge?
Nutsedge (often called “nutgrass”) is not actually a grass — it’s a sedge, a different type of plant that thrives in warm, moist soil. It looks like grass but grows faster, stands more upright, and has a distinctive triangular-shaped stem when rolled between your fingers.
There are two common types found in the Cleveland area:
- Yellow Nutsedge – The most common, with light yellow-green blades and seed heads
- Purple Nutsedge – Slightly darker with reddish-purple hue at the base
why you have nutsedge
Nutsedge usually appears in lawns where the soil stays wet or compacted, or where drainage is poor. It spreads through underground tubers (called nutlets) and rhizomes, which can produce new plants even after pulling or mowing.
Common causes include:
- Overwatering or heavy rainfall
- Poorly drained soil or low spots in the lawn
- Thin turf or bare areas where sunlight reaches the soil
- Disturbed soil from construction or landscaping projects
how custom lawns controls nutsedge
Because nutsedge isn’t a true grass weed, it requires specialized treatments designed to target sedges specifically.
Our nutsedge control services includes:
- Accurate identification: We confirm the weed type to ensure proper treatment
- Targeted Control Applications: We apply several herbicides formulated to control nutsedge without harming your lawn
- Ongoing Monitoring: Repeat visits may be needed since nutsedge regrows from underground tubers
- Lawn Health Recommendations: We help improve drainage, soil structure, and turn density to reduce future outbreaks
With consistent care, most customers see a noticeable reduction within a few weeks — and a cleaner, more even lawn by season’s end.
Preventing nutsedge in the future
Along with professional lawn care from Custom Lawns, there are practices you can do to help prevent nutsedge in the future
- Avoid overwatering; water deeply but less frequently
- Improve drainage in low or compacted areas
- Keep your lawn thick and healthy through fertilization and aeration
- Repair bare spots quickly to prevent weeds from taking hold
