Yellow nut sedge (Cyperus esculentus) is a herbaceous perennial weed that grows throughout the spring and summer and goes dormant in the fall. It regrows from underground tubers and rhizomes the following year. With little competition, a single nut sedge plant can produce thousands of tubers. Yellow nut sedge, like most sedges, prefers moist conditions such as low-lying areas where water accumulates. To suppress and eliminate yellow nut sedge infestations, use cultural and chemical controls. Keep your centipede grass lawn at a competitive advantage with proper fertilizing and mowing and by maintaining a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.0. Insect and disease infestations should be monitored to avoid producing thin, bare areas that can be overtaken by the nut sedge. Pulling the plants out by hand is relatively ineffective because this leaves tubers in the ground for new plants to regenerate. As mentioned, nut sedge thrives in moist areas. Therefore, reduce excess moisture by moving standing water out of poorly drained sites and avoiding excessive irrigation. Yellow nut sedge can be controlled chemically in centipede grass lawns with postemergence herbicides containing the active ingredient bentazon, halosulfuron, or imazaquin. Follow the instructions on the herbicide for the proper way and most effective application rate. Refer to the Clemson Extension publication Nutsedge

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