Till the area every six to eight weeks throughout the cogongrass growing period. Recently, surveys in Asia an East Africa for potential biological control agents, identified several insect herbivores , including several genera of stem borers and gall-forming midges, that show some promise. Listed as one of the world's ten worst weeds, cogongrass is an invasive perennial grass. Because of its density and high biomass, cogongrass provides a very high fuel load, enabling wildfires to burn faster, higher, and much hotter. This field guide describes and illustrates these characteristics and compares them to other grass species common found in similar habitats. Cogongrass Eradication Strategies  Identifying and Controlling Cogongrass in Georgia, A Better Approach to Controlling Cogongrass - BASF Factsheet, When Cogongrass attacks, fight back with Arsenal - BASF, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Only glyphosate (Roundup, etc.) Where selective treatment is not needed, tank mixes of glyphosate (3 to 4 pounds active ingredient per acre) plus imazapyr (Arsenal 1 to 4 pints per acre) are effective. Rehabilitation is the most important phase of control and reclamation of land infested with cogongrass or other non-native invasive plants. Conclusion. Repeated applications each year for several years are needed for control. Seedling native plants can be also collected and transplanted from suitable field sites. Cogongrass in small (less than 20 foot diameter) patches can be treated with a glyphosate solution in early fall (August through October). Do not use surfactant with this treatment, as severe tree injury and/or mortality will result. If it’s on your property, get rid of it. 3. Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles. After planting, apply herbaceous and release treatments of Arsenal AC following label guidelines over-the top of loblolly, longleaf and slash pine to control cogongrass. A piece of cardboard can act as a shield to protect desirable plants from the herbicide. In pastures, apply 8 to 48 ounces of Arsenal per acre. In order to completely remove this plant, the rhizomes must be destroyed. Keep the grass at this height with repeated mowing throughout the growing season. Treat larger infestations with glyphosate using a tractor-mounted boom sprayer calibrated to deliver 10 to 15 gallons of spray solution (water + herbicide) per acre. Glyphosate has no soil residual activity. Constant surveillance, treatment of new unwanted arrivals, and finally, rehabilitation following control are critical to preventing reinfestation on a specific site. This will help prevent the grass from spreading to other areas. In 2009, she received master gardener certification from the Master Gardeners of Summit County, Ohio. Allow 12 inches of re-sprout before applying herbicide. Based on lif… In Florida alone, it has spread to more than a million acres. Physical Management Options. We recommend that you contact your local Master Gardener for tips on eradication if several applications of a professional strength RoundUp does not seem to help. Their establishment will be more challenging than the commonly available nonnative plants so often used for soil stabilization and wildlife food plots. A new fact sheet, Cogongrass Biology and Management in the Southeastern U.S. (link is external) , is now available that outlines identification, biology, and management options for cogongrass. There are no selective herbicide options for controlling cogongrass. Cogongrass has a unique combination of characteristics that make field identification possible. herbicides have been found to be effective, but long-term control is rarely achieved. Sulfometuron (Oust XPd) at 2 ounces per acre has been shown to increase cogongrass control when applied with imazapyr, but should not be applied as a stand-alone treatment. Imazapyr is an … and imazapyr (Arsenal AC®, Chopper® and Chopper Gen2®) have shown the most significant control. Imazapyr (Arsenal, Chopper, others): Application of imazapyr at a 1% solution is effective for spot treatment of cogongrass. Georgia Forestry Commison and private tree nurseries are good sources of many species of native trees and shrubs. Roundup Ultra, Roundup Pro, or other brands of glyphosate (41% active ingredient formulations) at 5 quarts per acre or as a 1.5% solution will suppress cogongrass. Below are some additional points to consider regarding chemical control of cogongrass. Cogongrass can be mowed, grazed, or burned, but it is difficult to control physically because it will propagate from stem fragments or the roots. 2002), in biological control studies insects and fungi have been shown to be generally ineffective (Ivens 1980, Brook 1989, MacDonald 2007). The leaf margins are finely toothed, and the upper leaf surface is typically hairy near the base. Dry periods during the summer will aid in the control of cogongrass. The area can be planted to a fall cover crop and then followed the next season with perennial or annual grass or broadleaf crops. per gallon of water. Listed as one of the world's ten worst weeds, cogongrass is an invasive perennial grass. Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is an aggressive colony-forming perennial grass, often forming circular infestations. Shake the sprayer lightly for several seconds to mix the water and herbicide. “Although cogongrass looks like a superb forage, we learned animals that consume cogongrass as the sole forage lose weight rather than gain weight,” Byrd said.” Just Kill It! It is often necessary to establish fast growing tree species during the later control phase to hinder reestablishment of cogongrass. These species are available from commercial nurseries specializing in native plants. Cogongrass control varies according to the age and rhizome mat density and depth. It costs millions each year to control in Florida¹. Pour 1 gallon of water in a handheld pump sprayer. cogon grass. Repeated applications each year for several years are nee… When Cogongrass attacks, fight back with Arsenal - BASF. Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is an invasive, non-native grass that occurs in the Southeast region of the United States. In general, applying a 3% solution of glyphosate is sufficient for top kill and some root kill with a single application. This is hot enough to kill most competing plants, including trees. It was first introduced to the U.S. at Mobile, Alabama, via shipping crates that contained cogongrass as a packing material. Select your state and county for their contact information. A minimum of two applications per year is needed, realizing that older infestations may require 2 to 3 years of treatment to eliminate rhizomes. Cogongrass is found on every continent and is considered a weedy pest in 73 countries. Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is one of the greatest invasive plant threats in Alabama and in the southeastern United States.Although it has been here for more than a century, the problem has dramatically increased in the last 20 years. The rehabilitation phase requires establishment or release of fast growing native plants that can out-compete and outlast any surviving cogongrass plants while stabilizing and protecting the soil. Cogongrass is a very aggressive perennial grass. b Glypro and Accord are registered trademarks of Dow Agrosciences, 9330 Zionsville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46268. Unsuspecting homeowners discover that the red color van- Cogongrass can be mowed, grazed, or burned, but it is difficult to control physically because it will propagate from stem fragments or the roots. Monitor the site throughout the growing season; spot treat any recurring infestations with appropriate herbicides. Over the past decade, U.S. Forest Service researchers have been working with university cooperators to find some way to slow down or stop the relentless spread of cogongrass. Cogongrass is an aggressive, rhizomatous, perennial grass that is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. For example, all of the commonly used pasture herbicides such as metsulfuron, 2,4-D, triclopyr, Velpar, and other combinations have little to no activity on cogongrass. Grass is 1-5 ft. tall, often leaning into mats when over 3 ft. tall, tufts of long leaves, yellow-green, blades with off-center midvein, silver plumed flowers and seeds in spring, arising from sharp-tipped white-scaly rhizomes. It is also effective on large areas such as … Consider planting a cover crop in the fall and a desirable grass or crop the following spring. Cogongrass is a horrible weed. Oust XP (1 to 2 ounces per acre) can be tank-mixed with Arsenal AC (4 to 6 fluid ounces per acre) for improved control in loblolly pine only. Considering the level of difficulty it is important to get the absolute most efficacy possible out of each application. 2. Nope. Soil tiller are available to rent at some home improvement stores and tool rental centers. For slash and longleaf pines use a 4 ounce rate of Arsenal AC per broadcast acre without surfactant for herbaceous control after planting. Even at high rates and using tank-mix combinations, cogongrass often regenerates within a year following a single application of either product. Cogongrass usually invades open areas like golf courses, roadsides, pastures, and natural areas where it displaces native plant species. Chemical Control. Pour 1 gallon of water in a handheld pump sprayer. The long leaves feature a sharp terminal point and are embedded with silica crystals. A 4% solution of 41% active ingredient material (5 1/3 fluid ounces per gallon of water) sprayed on the green leaves and allowed to dry for 2 to 3 hours will kill the top growth of cogongrass. However, with determination you can rid your landscape of this problematic plant. Replace this cover crop with a perennial grass or with shrubs planted in a high-density pattern to provide shade over the area. Secure the sprayer closed. Optimizing the timing of applications is a key first step. In the United States, cogongrass is found primarily in the Southeast. Although cogongrass has many natural pests, including more than 80 pathogens, 90 insects, and several nematodes and mites reported worldwide (Van Loan et al. Because cogongrass is such a difficult weed to eliminate, we would recommend using a glyphosate product, such as Killzall Weed and Grass Killer. Physical and chemical control methods will kill most young stands of cogon grass in a single growing season. d Oust XP is a registered trademark of Dupont, Wilmington, DE 19898. After a fire, cogongrass will recolonize the area using their … 1. CAUTION: glyphosate herbicide spray mixtures should be considered non-selective when sprayed o… Replacement species should be planted in the area following the last treatment (either spring or second fall after 90% control is achieved) to suppress reinfestation. The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) began treating cogongrass in 2007. Till the soil in the spring to a depth of at least 6 inches in order to kill the plant's underground rhizomes. Be sure, as with any herbicide, to read the label in its entirety prior to application. Also known as Japanese bloodgrass, cogongrass (Imperata cylindrical) is an invasive perennial grass-like plant that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. In Florida alone, it has spread to more than a million acres. It was accidentally introduced into Alabama in the early 1900s, and purposely introduced as a potential forage and soil stabilizer in Florida (and other states) in the 1930s and early 1940s. The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) began treating cogongrass in 2007. Think you’ll just graze goats or cows to make lemonade out of the cogongrass lemons you’ve been given? Tillage may not be an option on many sites such as steep slopes, established tree plantings, or around dwellings. The grass spreads through seeds and rhizomes, and competes for resources with native plants and trees. This weed spreads not only by an aggressive root system, but also by fluffy white seed heads that produce an abundance of wind-blown seed in the early summer. It costs millions each year to control in Florida¹. paillotte. Learn to identify it here. Regrowth must be treated the following spring and possibly the next fall to ensure rhizome kill. Cogon grass infestations can reduce pine survival and growth, and in fire situations, may result in complete mortality of overstory trees due to flammable oils in the grass blades raising the intensity and severity of prescribed burns. Glyphosate is not a product name but is the active Most managers recommend a foliar application of 2% glyphosate (e.g. Because of its density and high biomass, cogongrass provides a very high fuel load, enabling wildfires to burn faster, higher, and much hotter. Cogon grass rhizomes exhibit apical dominance (English, 1998), which may be an important factor both in limiting the local spread of cogon grass via rhizomes (Wilcut et al., 1988a), and reducing the efficacy of herbicidal control due to sub-lethal herbicide sink activity in … Be sure to be careful when using this product because it will kill whatever it roaches. Deep plowing may be effective in the removal of cogongrass if the plow reaches up to 6 inches deep. Roundup Ultra, Roundup Pro, or other brands of glyphosate (41% active ingredient formulations) at 5 quarts per acre or as a 1.5% solution will suppress cogongrass. Applications of Arsenal, Imazapyr, Polaris, or Habitat (2 pounds imazapyr per gallon formulation) at 48 ounces per acre can be used in certain areas and provide … Always follow the instructions and warnings printed on the label of the herbicide. This translates into 3 to 4 quarts of herbicide per acre for the 41% active material. This last fall, Auburn University researchers reported results that demonstrate, for the first time, that patches of cogongrass can be … Photo by Charles T. Bryson, courtesy of Bugwood.org. As with all pesticides, proper handling and usage is of utmost importance and always read and follow label directions. Roundup Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate Plus is perfect for use around flowers, shrubs and trees, on patios, walkways, driveways, gravel areas and mulch beds and along fences, edging and foundations (not for use around existing edibles). Out of dozens of herbicides tested for significant activity on cogongrass only two, the active ingredients glyphosate (Roundupa, Glypro, Accordb, etc) and imazapyr (Arsenal, Arsenal AC, and Chopperc), have much effect on this grass. Remove any cogongrass that may be clinging to the tiller, shovel or spade and place it inside a garbage bag. Cogongrass was introduced to the United States both accidentally and intentionally. To increase application effectiveness, prescribe burn, if feasible, during winter before treatment to eliminate logging debris and cogongrass thatch at harvest. kunai. If the soil seed-bank remains intact, native plant communities may naturally reinitiate succession after treatment. Select your state and county for their contact information. Regrowth must be treated the following spring and possibly the next fall to ensure rhizome kill. This last fall, Auburn University researchers reported results that demonstrate, for the first time, that patches of cogongrass can be … In 2 to 5 year old slash and longleaf plantations apply Arsenal AC only after August 15 with a rate of 12 to 16 ounces per acre without a surfactant. This species is wide-spread in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi and is starting to spread in Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Cogongrass is one of the world's worst invasive weeds, and is firmly established in several southeastern states. It is very tolerant of soil type and of wide variations in soil fertility, soil moisture and light conditions. A nonionic surfactant not to exceed 1/4 percent of spray solution volume can be used only for loblolly pine. For newer patches, tillage can eliminate cogongrass from an area if continued during the course of a growing season. For selective treatment of cogongrass in unimproved bahiagrass and bermudagrass turf, apply Arsenal at a rate of 8 fluid ounces per acre. We recommend that you contact your local Master Gardener for tips on eradication if several applications of a professional strength RoundUp does not seem to help. Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles. Roundup/Accord), or 1-1.5% imazapyr (e.g. She attended the University of Akron, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. Use glyphosate at the rate of 3 to 4 pounds active ingredient per acre. For loblolly pine seedlings, Arsenal AC may be applied following planting at a rate of 6 to 10 ounces per broadcast acre. But of recent, only a few of those herbicides have proven to defeat cogon grass. Chemical. Light seeded native species are usually present in the seed-bank while heavier seeded plants will gradually be deposited on a site by birds and other animals. 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