Lovegrass Control: How to Get Rid of Lovegrass

This page is a general DIY guide for controlling lovegrass. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of lovegrass. Follow this DIY article and use the recommended products; we guarantee 100% control of lovegrass.

While some species of lovegrass are native to the United States of America and do not have the same negative impact, most of the problematic varieties are non-native. They can become aggressive, crowding out native plants and altering local ecosystems.

Depending on the region, lovegrass is known by other names, such as canegrass, stink grass, and other plants in the genus Eragrostis. However, one thing each species of lovegrass will share is its ability to spread aggressively and become poisonous if consumed in large enough amounts for livestock. 

Another major issue is its potential to increase wildfires since it dries so quickly. Furthermore, lovegrass can cause soil degradation by altering soil composition and making it difficult for native plants to grow. For all of these reasons and more, should prompt property owners to remove and control lovegrass, which can be done with the products in our DIY guide.

Identification

Before proceeding with a treatment program, you need to be certain that the weed infesting your property is lovegrass. Careless identification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods, which can waste time and money. Depending on the species, it will vary in features, but generally, each species will share these characteristics:

• Most species of lovegrass grows to be 1-3 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide, and in low-growing bunched or tufted clumps with thin, wiry stems.
• The leaves are narrow and range from green, bluish-green, lavender, pink, tan, grayish-green, and reddish purple. During the fall, these leaves will lose their coloration and turn brown, reddish purple, tan, or reddish.
• Depending on the species, you will see tiny, delicate flowers appear in the summer and fall. They will grow in delicate, airy, open clusters with numerous spikelets at the top of the stems. 

Use the description and image above to help you properly identify lovegrass on your property. If unsure, contact us and send a photo of your weed through email or in-person at one of our store locations so we can help you identify the weed and suggest treatment options. 

Inspection

Once it is confirmed that you are dealing with lovegrass, you can move on to inspection. During this phase, you will locate areas where lovegrass thrives and observe the conditions allowing it to succeed. This information will help you in knowing where to focus your herbicide application.

Where to Inspect

Many species of lovegrass are drought tolerant and prefer to grow in sites with full access to the sun. They can also grow in various soils, especially sandy, rocky, clay, and loamy. 

Depending on the species, they can commonly be found in prairies, open woodlands, along roadsides and trails, open fields, grasslands, savannas, meadows, rangelands, crop fields, sand dunes, coastal regions, hillsides, parking lots, driveways, walkways, and other disturbed areas.

Some types of lovegrass are used for lawns and ornamental grass plants in sites with sandy, rocky, or loamy soils. It is uncommon to find this plant in your lawn or ornamental garden. 

What to Look For

As a warm-seasoned plant, lovegrass can be expected to bloom from July to August. By early fall (July to October), some species may turn brown, tan, or reddish before going dormant for winter.

Treatment

Before you begin any herbicide application, be sure to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

A herbicide containing glyphosate, imazapyr, sethoxydim, or flupropanate would work best against lovegrass.

The best time to control lovegrass is when the foliage is actively growing and before it sets seeds. 

Step 1: Mix Herbicide

Cimarron Plus Range And Pasture Herbicide is an effective water-dispersable granule post-emergent herbicide that delivers control over a broad-spectrum of weeds on rangelands, pastures, non-crop areas, and other terrains. 

Determine how much Cimarron Plus Range And Pasture Herbicide to use by measuring the square footage of the treatment area. Find the square footage by measuring the treatment areas' length and width in feet, then multiplying them together (length X width = square footage). 

To use Cimarron Plus Range And Pasture Herbicide as a general spot treatment use one gram of product per one gallon of water along with a surfactant. Approximately 40 gallons of solution should be used per acre.

To enhance this product’s efficacy, mix in a surfactant like Nanotek. Nanotek is a non-herbicide product designed to improve the adhesion and penetration of pesticides onto treated surfaces.

For spot applications, use 1 oz. of Nanotek Surfactant per gallon of spray solution. For broadcast applications, apply 8 oz. of this product per 100 gallons of spray solution.

To treat rangelands, pastures, grass hay fields, and CRP as a spot treatment, you would use 1.25 to 2.0 oz. of product per 100 gallons of water. 

Spot treatments are recommended using a backpack sprayer, ATV, or hand sprayer.

Fill your spray tank with half the amount of water, add the proper amount of product and surfactant, and then pour in the remaining half of the water. 

Close the tank lid and shake until the solution is well-mixed.

Step 2: Apply Herbicide

Spray the top and bottom of weed leaves until wet, but not to the point of runoff. 

On tall, dense stands, it is often necessary to spray from all sides to obtain adequate coverage.

Make a foliar application of Cimarron Plus Range And Pasture Herbicide during the period from full leaf expansion in the spring until the development of fall coloration.

Prevention

Once you have eliminated lovegrass from your property, you will want to make sure it does not return. Take on the following preventative measures to prevent lovegrass from returning:

• To prevent lovegrass, we recommend making pre-emergent herbicide treatments with Barricade Pre-Emergent Herbicide. This product is a granular pre-emergent herbicide that will prevent grassy and broadleaf weeds from appearing in residential lawns, commercial lawns, landscape ornamentals, and wildflower plantings. Depending on your turf species, you may use anywhere from 1.5 to 4 pounds of Barricade per 1,000 sq. ft. For landscape ornamentals, the application rate will be between 2.5 and 5.94 lbs. of product per 1,000 sq. feet. You will need to use a push spreader, handheld spreader, or broadcast spreader. Calibrate your spreader to the proper setting and load with the correct amount of granules. Spread the granules evenly across the treatment area. Once the application is complete, you will water the granules in with 0.5 inches of irrigation. 
• Overgrazing can promote lovegrass growth, so maintain a proper grazing plan with your livestock. 
• Clean equipment such as tractors, mowers, sprayers, and other tools used in property care to prevent the spread of seeds into an uninfested area. 
• Introduce native grasses or cover crops that can outcompete lovegrass.

Key Takeaways

What is Lovegrass?

• Lovegrass is a warm-season bunchgrass that forms dense stands and grows rapidly in infested areas.

How to Get Rid of Lovegrass

• You will need to use a post-emergent herbicide such as Cimarron Plus Range And Pasture Herbicide. To increase its effectiveness, we suggest using Nanotek Surfactant. 

Preventing Lovegrass Reinfestation

• To prevent lovegrass, apply a pre-emergent herbicide in the early spring and again in the fall when soil temperatures are between 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Barricade Pre-Emergent Herbicide would do the job against lovegrass.