Beware the green peril (of St. Augustine grass)

May 17, 2004 8:19 AM

LawnAndGardenFilter: When they built our neighborhood last year, the builders gave us Bermuda grass and our neighbors St. Augustine grass. Now the neighbor's very healthy St. Augustine is, of course, sending runners all over my lawn. What's the best way to stop this lush green menace?
posted by vraxoin to Home & Garden (2 answers total)

I have no experience with it, but I would imagine a physical barrier is your only alternative to pulling pulling pulling. If gardenweb has a lawn forum that would be a good resource.
posted by sudama at 10:38 AM on May 17, 2004

I would second that physical barrier comment. When planting bamboo it is frequently recommended to put a stainless steel fence into the earth surrounding the bamboo to prevent it from spreading. Apparently, it is essentially really tall grass and spreads with runners. I am not sure whether that is practical for a whole lawn. For even a small plot of bamboo I think you can spend more for the stainless steel than for the bamboo itself.

Another solution might be weed killers. St. Augustine is not very tolerant of some week killers so you might be able to find one that kills it without harming the Bermuda grass. The effect should be most pronounced during the hot weather. Your local nursery should be able to help.
posted by caddis at 6:31 PM on May 17, 2004