Paspalum Control in Your Lawn & Garden

Leaves are long, green, hairy, flat with a deep line (midrib) running along the leaf blade.

If left to grow naturally, Paspalum can grow up to 1.5 m tall, but in a lawn situation where it is constantly mowed it grows low to the ground.

Roots are thick and fibrous making mature weeds difficult to remove by hand.

Flower/seed head is long and somewhat rectangular, and grows along long stems with 2-11 flower/seed heads per stem. Flower heads are covered in short black furry threads which are the individual flowers.

Paspalum flowers and seeds in spring and summer.

The main reason for the spread of Paspalum is due to it's seed. Seed can be brought in by the wind, or carried in by foot traffic (humans or animals). It's important to control Paspalum in the lawn and garden before it sets.

In cool areas, Paspalum can become dormant in winter. Even though the top of the plant has died off, the roots are still alive and will regrow again with the return of warm weather in spring.

Paspalum is considered an environmental weed for various reasons:

Paspalum is an introduced species that spreads easily by seed.

Some people are allergic to the pollen.

Animals can sometimes be poisoned by flowers infected with a fungal disease (ergot fungus).

For large plants or dense areas of Paspalum weed, spot-spray with Yates Triple Strike Garden Weedkiller Concentrate. It's glyphosate-free and kills weeds roots and all. Avoid spraying the lawn with the product as it may kill or injure the lawn where sprayed. To reduce over-spray, when spraying keep nozzle as close to the weed as possible. You can also use Yates Triple Strike Garden Weedkiller Concentrate in the Yates Zero Weeding Brush to apply the product directly where it is needed.

Spray Paspalum weed with Yates Triple Strike Garden Weedkiller Concentrate. It's glyphosate-free and kills weeds roots and all. Avoid spraying nearby plants or lawn with the product as it may kill or injure the plants or lawn where sprayed. To reduce over-spray, when spraying keep nozzle as close to the weed as possible. You can also use Yates Triple Strike Garden Weedkiller Concentrate in the Yates Zero Weeding Brush to apply the product directly where it is needed.

If you notice Paspalum growing in your neighbour's property, it's a good idea to (politely) ask that they too control it to help minimise the spread of seeds into your lawn and garden.

Keep a garden weeder handy, and pull a few Paspalum weeds out every now and then as you notice them. Just make sure you dig the roots out.

Once Paspalum has been controlled (if any), in garden beds apply a thick layer (5-8 cm) of mulch like pine bark or sugar cane. You can also use weedmat, but this doesn't allow any of the organic matter to go into and improve the soil. Only use weedmat if necessary.

Paspalum weeds clump out as they grow, but the main way it spreads throughout the lawn and garden is by seed. Mow the lawn as soon as you notice flower stems starting to grow. You can just do a light mow if doing a proper mow is too time consuming. Paspalum flowers in spring and summer so be extra vigilant around then.

In spring and summer, cut the lawn to about 7 cm and avoid cutting any shorter.

Bare patches of soil, grass that is cut too short, and thin grass gives Paspalum seeds the chance to germinate and grow. So by having a thick and healthy lawn, there is less light, water and nutrients available for new Paspalum weeds to thrive. Keep the lawn well watered, in spring and summer mow the lawn no less than 7 cm high, and for better growth and health feed with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Lawn Food.