I have Bermuda grass spotted with various weeds. What is the best action to take to eliminate the weeds? I have been told that spreading winter rye will choke out the weeds while the Bermuda is dormant for the winter.
Is there any truth to this?

No, it will not choke out weeds. Let the bermuda go dormant and spray Image and 2,4 D. Should clean it up perfectly. If you are in the Dallas area or north, spray the yard with RoundUp at 1/4 rate. Since the bermuda is dormant, it will not be affected.

What is this Image and 2,4 D and where can I get it? I've never heard of spraying any concentration of round-up on any grass that you didn't want dead...you sure about that?

Yes, RoundUp is no problem..IF the grass is dormant. Are you in Rockport? If you are, then use Image and 2,4 D. They are both available at Home Depot or Lowes. 2,4 D is the active ingredient in broadleaf weed killers. I have been in the turf business since 1985.

I'm in Grapevine (DFW).
Grew up in Rockport.

What is the process for applying the Image and 2,4 D?

[This message has been edited by rockportag03 (edited 12/3/2008 2:02p).]

How big of an area?

50'x50'

Troutslime - semi-related question: is there an easy way to get St. Augistine to takeover from Bermuda? Everything I've read says you pretty much have to drop a nuclear bomb to get rid of the Bermuda (multiple roundup applications, digging several feet deep, etc.).

Scott, shoot me an email when you get a chance. I lost yours.

There is a broadleaf weed killer that attaches to the end of the hose, get that one. Make sure you are very careful around shrubs and flowers you like, as the 2,4 D will hurt them. Spray early in the morning on a day with no wind. The plants will start to twist as they die. After a few days, I would mix RoundUp or Image in a pump up sprayer, and spot spray the grassy weeds. If you use the RoundUp, go 1/4 rate. The Image is pretty expensive, so the RoundUp is the cheapest way to go. Subsequent treatments may be needed if the yard is heavily infested. Put a pre-emergent herbicide out in February to control Crabgrass, and again in June, and again in August. This will keep he yard clean.

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Troutslime - semi-related question: is there an easy way to get St. Augistine to takeover from Bermuda? Everything I've read says you pretty much have to drop a nuclear bomb to get rid of the Bermuda (multiple roundup applications, digging several feet deep, etc.).

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There used to be a product called Asulox that worked fairly well, but I don't think it is available any longer. Is the bermudagrass a problem in the entire yard or small areas?

So I'm just looking for a broadleaf weed killer with 2,4D as an ingredient?

Thanks for the info Troutslime, I'll let you know how it works out.

I appreciate it.

The easiest way to get St A to take over bermuda is to mow it tall so the St A shadows out the bermuda. It'll happen but may take a while.

Can you spray Roundup at the 1/4 rate on any dormant grass (specifically St A) safely?

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So I'm just looking for a broadleaf weed killer with 2,4D as an ingredient?

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That's correct. It will probably be one of three ingredients.
1. 2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
2. Dicamba
3. Mecoprop

It SHOULD be an amine formulation, but double check. If it is an ester formulation, keep looking.

Hope this helps you out.

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Can you spray Roundup at the 1/4 rate on any dormant grass (specifically St A) safely?

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Yes, but it must be dormant. Brown is not necessarily dormant. In the Houston area, dormancy rarely happens on St Augustine. I used to work on golf courses (Houston area) and only sprayed RoundUp in two years. There were other guys that did it every year and had no problems other than a two week delay in Spring green-up. In Dallas, we sprayed it every year with no problems at all. I personally would not put diluted RoundUp on St Augustine since I have never seen it completely dormant.