How to Kill Dallisgrass in Your Lawn | Summer Weed Control & Fall Seeding

How to Kill Dallisgrass in Your Lawn (and Prevent It from Coming Back)

If you’ve ever walked out to your yard and noticed a large, clumpy mound of grass with wide blades and tall seed plumes shooting up, chances are you’ve found dallisgrass. This invasive perennial weed is one of the most frustrating problems homeowners face in the Charlotte, NC area – and once it takes root, it’s not going away on its own.

At RDS Lawn Care Services, we’ve dealt with countless yards overtaken by dallisgrass. The good news is, while it’s tough to control, it can be managed with the right timing, treatments, and lawn renovation strategies. In this article, we’ll explain exactly what dallisgrass is, why it’s such a problem, and step-by-step instructions on how to kill it and rebuild your lawn for long-term success.

What Is Dallisgrass?

Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) is a warm-season perennial weed that thrives in the southeastern United States. Originally introduced from South America in the 1800s as a forage grass, it quickly became a nuisance in home lawns because of its aggressive growth habits.

Key characteristics of dallisgrass include:

• Clump Growth Habit: Unlike grasses that spread evenly, dallisgrass grows in mounds or clumps. Each clump is essentially one massive plant.

• Wide Blades: Its leaves are much broader than most turfgrasses, making it stand out in a lawn.

• Seed Plumes: Dallisgrass produces distinctive tall seed stalks that allow it to spread quickly.

• Deep Root System: Its roots penetrate deeply into the soil, making it hard to pull out by hand.

Because of these traits, dallisgrass can quickly overtake fescue or Bermuda lawns if left untreated.

Why Dallisgrass Is a Problem for Homeowners

Homeowners in Charlotte and surrounding areas often call us in frustration when dallisgrass takes over their yards. Here’s why it’s such a tough weed:

1. It Spreads Quickly – The seed heads allow it to reproduce rapidly, especially in warm summer months.

2. It’s Hard to Pull Out – Each clump is a single plant with a strong root system. Pulling it often leaves roots behind, allowing regrowth.

3. It Stands Out – With its wide blades and tall plumes, dallisgrass creates an uneven, unattractive lawn surface.

4. It Survives Harsh Conditions – Dallisgrass thrives in compacted soil, poor drainage, and even heavily irrigated lawns.

Left untreated, dallisgrass can dominate your yard, leaving little room for desirable grasses like fescue.

How to Identify Dallisgrass

Before you treat it, make sure you’re dealing with dallisgrass and not a similar-looking weed. Signs include:

• Large, circular mounds or clumps in your lawn.

• Coarse, wide leaf blades compared to your turfgrass.

• Tall seed stalks with clusters of seedheads that resemble “fingers.”

• A wiry, tough texture when you run your hand over it.

If you’re unsure, an experienced lawn care provider like RDS Lawn Care Services can confirm it for you.

How to Kill Dallisgrass

Now for the big question: How do you kill dallisgrass? Unfortunately, there’s no easy one-and-done solution. Dallisgrass doesn’t respond well to selective herbicides (the kind that target weeds without harming grass). Instead, the best way to eliminate it is with a nonselective herbicide such as Roundup or Total Kill.

Here’s the step-by-step process we recommend:

1. Wait for Summer Growth

   • Dallisgrass grows most actively in the hot summer months (July–August).

   • Treating it when it’s actively growing ensures the herbicide penetrates into the roots.

2. Apply a Nonselective Herbicide

   • Carefully spray the dallisgrass clump with Roundup, Total Kill, or another nonselective herbicide.

   • Be cautious—these products will kill anything they touch, including desirable grass.

3. Let the Plant Die Completely

   • Give it time to wither and turn brown. Don’t rush to replant until it’s fully dead.

4. Prepare for Fall Renovation

   • Once dallisgrass is eliminated, you’ll need to repair the bare spot it leaves behind.

   • This is where fall aeration, overseeding, and fertilization come into play.

Why Fall Renovation Is Key After Killing Dallisgrass

Killing dallisgrass in summer is only half the battle. To ensure your lawn recovers, you need to reseed and strengthen your turf in the fall. Here’s why:

• Aeration Improves Soil Health: Core aeration opens compacted soil, making it easier for new grass to establish.

• Overseeding Creates Thick Turf: By overseeding with fescue in the fall, you replace bare patches with healthy, desirable grass.

• Fertilization Supports Growth: A balanced fertilizer provides essential nutrients to strengthen roots and prepare grass for winter.

• Prevention of Weed Comeback: Thick, healthy turf naturally crowds out weeds like dallisgrass, crabgrass, and broadleaf weeds.

Without fall renovation, you’ll just end up with bare dirt or more weeds filling the space where dallisgrass once grew.

Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Dallisgrass

Many homeowners try to tackle dallisgrass on their own but end up making mistakes that make the problem worse. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid:

• Pulling It by Hand: This usually leaves pieces of the root system behind, allowing regrowth.

• Mowing It Short: Cutting dallisgrass low won’t kill it—it may actually stimulate seed spread.

• Spraying at the Wrong Time: If you spray too early or late in the season, the herbicide may not be effective.

• Skipping Renovation: Killing dallisgrass without reseeding and fertilizing means weeds will quickly reclaim the bare space.

Professional Help for Dallisgrass Control

While DIY herbicides can work, dallisgrass control is often best left to professionals. At RDS Lawn Care Services, we know exactly when and how to treat dallisgrass for the best results. Our proven approach includes:

• Proper timing of treatments during peak growth.

• Safe application of nonselective herbicides.

• Fall aeration and overseeding to restore turf.

• Customized lawn care programs to prevent weeds from returning.

By partnering with us, you can stop battling dallisgrass every year and finally enjoy a healthy, uniform lawn.

Take Back Your Lawn from Dallisgrass

Dallisgrass is one of the toughest weeds you’ll encounter, but with the right strategy, you can beat it. By treating clumps with a nonselective herbicide in summer and following up with fall aeration, overseeding, and fertilization, you’ll eliminate dallisgrass and replace it with thick, healthy turf that lasts.

If dallisgrass is taking over your yard, don’t wait until it spreads further. The team at RDS Lawn Care Services is here to help Charlotte homeowners regain control of their lawns with expert weed control and turf renovation services.

👉 Learn more about our turf care programs: https://rdslawncare.com

RDS Lawn Care Services – Charlotte, NC Lawn Care Experts
Proudly serving Charlotte, Gastonia, Belmont, Fort Mill, Pineville, Tega Cay, and surrounding areas.

📞 Call us today at 704-822-1625 to schedule your lawn care program.

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