Don't Nurture Nutsedge

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What's that annoying stuff sticking up a few days after your lawn is cut? Likely nutsedge!

Each year seems to have its worst weeds, and this year's rain gave the nutsedge a boost. Sedges are thin-leafed plants that at first glance look a lot like grass to most of us - but they are different, 'sedges have edges' as a rhyme goes to teach botany, and if you look closely at nutsedge, you'll see a triangular stem with three distinct edges.

While there are pretty sedges, many of them native, nutsedge is an invasive alien you don't want to nurture. It's hard to control and it makes your lawn look messy and uneven because it grows faster than most grasses so it sticks up after your lawn is cut - which at least makes it easy to find.

If you only have a little bit of it, nutsedge pulls out pretty easily - roots and all. But don't let it go, its underground tubers grow and spread over time. And like all weeds, don't let it go to seed as it's doing this time of year, or you'll have even more nutsedge to deal with for years to come.