Garden Tasks and Yard Pest Tips for Mid-Sunner

There’s always so much to talk about this time of year, but space is limited—so let’s start with a quick Garden To-Do List:

• Strawberries: Renovate beds now that harvest is over. Cut back leaves, apply fertilizer, and narrow rows to about 10 inches wide.
• Fall Crops: Now’s the time to plant fall squash and pumpkins.
• Brambles: Prune or tip blackberries, black raspberries, and purple raspberries as needed.
• Tomatoes: Sidedress when fruit is full-sized but still green. Be careful not to overfertilize, as it can reduce fruit production.
• Lawns: Core aerate zoysiagrass to prevent thatch buildup.

With those tasks in mind, let’s shift focus to a pesky yard invader: yellow nutsedge.

This aggressive weed often appears in moist soil and quickly outgrows surrounding turfgrass. One of the easiest ways to identify it is by its triangular stem. Other features include:

• Pale green to yellow leaves
• A sharp, tapered leaf tip
• A yellow flower cluster (inflorescence)
• Leaves that grow in three directions
• Fast growth that towers above your grass shortly after mowing

The best way to manage yellow nutsedge is by maintaining a dense, healthy lawn. The plant spreads through underground tubers, which can lie dormant and re-sprout—especially if you try to pull it. However, with patience and persistence over a few seasons, manual removal can help eliminate it.

If you choose to use herbicides, timing is key. Apply before tuber production—ideally by late June—to prevent future outbreaks. Here are a few options for home lawns:

• Halosulfuron-based products: SedgeHammer, Hi-Yield Nutsedge & Horsetail Control
• Sulfentrazone-based products: Bonide Sedge Ender, Ortho Nutsedge Killer, Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns plus Crabgrass Killer

Always read and follow label directions carefully, and check that your turfgrass species is tolerant to the product you’re using.

For more information you can reach out to me at jlcarr@ksu.edu.