Q&A for How to Get Rid of Quack Grass

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How long do I have to wait to plant seeds in the vegetable garden after spraying Roundup?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

If you use Roundup, it is best to wait at least 3 days before planting anything new.

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What about de-thatching?

Community Answer

De-thatching is just a means of removing "excess" litter in the lawn. It will not help remove quack grass, but it will give it much more opportunity to move in and out-compete other plants.

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Question

Would sod be better than seeding?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

If you have a lot of space to fill, using sod is probably more efficient than spreading seeds. However, make sure you treat the area thoroughly for quackgrass or else you may end up with an unpleasant surprise breaking through the sod.

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Question

I was advised that aeration in the fall and overseeding the lawn would assist in eliminating the quackgrass, is this true?

Community Answer

No. Aerating doesn't work. Theoretically it's supposed to bring air to the soil and reduce compaction but it doesn't, it just puts a bunch of little holes in the garden leaving more space for quackgrass to grow in. Overseeding may help, quackgrass releases a chemical in the roots that suppresses the growth of other plants, but not so much that it won't fully suppress germination of the new seed that is put in.

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By putting plastic over grass, won't this kill blue grass too?

Community Answer

Yes, it will. It will smother all vegetation, including quack grass, because it prevents sunlight from getting to the plants.

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Will Round-up damage a spruce tree if I spray the quack grass under it?

Community Answer

No. Round-up is deactivated with soil contact and has no residual activity. It won't affect the spruce as long as you do not spray the green part of the spruce directly.

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Does a lawn fertilizer with crabgrass prevention help get rid of quackgrass?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

It most likely will help because the fertilizer helps grass seeds and other plants grow. The nitrogen in the fertilizer helps, although the fertilizer itself doesn't kill off quackgrass. You don't have to get a specialty fertilizer to do this, though.

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I used the tarp and killed the quackgrass. I need to sod that area. Will the quack grass root come through sod?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

Quackgrass is such a pain that it can ruin sod. It's strong enough to grow up through spaces in concrete. However, if you have successfully eliminated the quackgrass, you have nothing to worry about.

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Would boiling water kill the quackgrass?

Brett Gilbert

Top Answerer

It isn't likely to be very effective because quackgrass has such a deep root system. The heat won't reach the roots, so the quackgrass will regrow. Plus, the hot water may harm any other plants in the area.

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