My farm in North Carolina is infested with wire grass. It’s growing in the fields, the paths, and even tangling in the grapevines. It feels like everywhere I look I see the infestation. Next to poison ivy, it’s probably the single most insidious weed here.
Sometime ago, I briefly mentioned wire grass in my article on How to Control Bermuda Grass. Wire grass is an uncultivated type of Bermuda grass. But as someone who’s dealt with it many times in my life, I’m here to tell you that it can be hard to get rid of.
It grows under garden edging, and over landscape paper, mulch, gravel, sidewalks, and forgotten rakes. It even twines up into shrubs, where it reaches out to wave and laugh at you as you walk by. The roots are so deep that when you try to pull it out, they break. And just when you think you’ve got common Bermuda under control, it releases seeds that fly into all the areas you just weeded. Remember my Weed-Proof Vegetable Garden? Well, it was — except for the wire grass.
How to Deal With Wire Grass
Historically, tobacco farmers patrolled their hundred-acre fields and hand-dig every tiny sprout of wire grass. They wouldn’t dare allow even one patch to take hold.
Wire grass is one of those plants that doesn’t like gentle methods. If you want to get rid of it, you’ll need to use aggressive methods. You’ll need to use grass killer or completely remove the infestation, and that’s likely to need doing more than once.
Like other forms of Bermuda grass, wire grass turns brown during the winter, so you can easily spot the telltale patches in a fescue or bluegrass lawn. If you’re planning to dig wire grass up, it’s best to do it while it’s brown and dormant. If you’re going to spray wire grass, take note of the patches in your lawn, then spray the regrowth.
To control wire grass in your yard, you can use weed killers, dig the plants up, use solarization, raised beds, or lawn edging, and prevent the spread of seeds by not mulching your lawn clippings.
Weed Killers
Routine weed killers are no match for wire grass. If you’re going to use a sprayer, I suggest mixing it double-strength and planning on 2–3 sprayings about 10 days apart. It will also need to be resprayed any time it comes back. If you’re planning to overseed with a cool-season grass seed spray in midsummer so you can plant by fall.
Glyphosate (Roundup) is effective, but non-selective. You’ll likely need to apply the Roundup multiple times. Another option is Fluazifop, which is a selective grass killer. It will selectively kill grasses but leave ornamentals alone. Read the label to be sure of what plants it will kill and those it will leave alone.
Digging
To pull or dig wire grass, you’ll need to go several inches deep, to make sure you get all of the rhizomes. I’ve even heard of wire grass growing up to a foot deep, so be sure you get it all, especially if you’re coming back with expensive sod on top.
Solarization
For new gardens and flower beds, solarization can help give you a blank slate. Solarization is when you cover the bed with clear plastic during the summer heat. You leave it covered for about six weeks to let the sun burn everything that’s growing under the bed.
Raised Beds
If wire grass is a big problem where you live, I’d recommend not messing around. Plant in raised beds with edges at least 6″ to 8″ above ground level, and line the bed with two crisscrossed layers of landscape fabric before adding dirt. Dig up every blade of wire grass that sprouts inside the bed, as soon as you spot it.
Lawn Edging
To keep wire grass out of flower beds, edging should be several inches above ground and buried several inches deep to help stop underground roots. Even with edging, you’ll need to keep an eye out for stray sprouts growing over or under the edging, as well as seedlings.
Grass Clippings
Don’t mulch wire grass clippings — you don’t want to spread the seeds around.
Good Luck!
Once upon a time, I made peace with wire grass. At that time, I had a large fenced-in backyard with four dogs running around in it, and the wire grass was the only thing that stood up to their energetic paws. As they trampled the regular lawn grass, the wire grass crept out into its place, so I fed it, watered it, mowed it, and everybody was happy. It’s not a bad-looking grass if you can keep it out of your flower beds.
And I must admit that I didn’t pull it out of my vegetable garden this year. With the garden surrounded by wire grass, it seemed like a losing battle. And for all my preaching, I’m really not much of a weeder either. The veggie plants did just fine, though by summer’s end the garden was a bit of a tangle!
Wire grass is one of those plants that you can either live with or fight with. But if you’re willing to take an aggressive approach and stick with it, it’s possible to keep wire grass at bay.
FAQs About Controlling Wiregrass in Your Lawn
Does vinegar kill wire grass?
Vinegar can be used as a natural herbicide to kill wire grass (also known as Bermuda grass), but it’s not as good as other methods.
Vinegar can damage or kill the above-ground parts of wire grass and is most effective on young, tender growth. Spray the vinegar on the wire grass on a dry, sunny day to make it work best. You may need to do this more than once.
A downside to using vinegar is that it’s a non-selective herbicide, meaning it can harm or kill any plant it contacts. It also doesn’t penetrate to the roots, so wire grass often regrows.
For persistent wire grass problems, a combination of methods or professional herbicides may be more effective.
Is wire Grass a form of Bermuda grass?
Wire grass is a common name for bermuda grass, but wire grass is also a term used for other species of grass. These grasses are low-growing perennials, and spread via stolons (above-ground runners) and rhizomes (underground stems). They are drought-tolerant and heat-resistant, and can be invasive in some areas
In most contexts, however, especially when discussing lawn care or weed control, “wire grass” is referring to Bermuda grass. However, it’s always good to confirm the specific species if precision is needed, as the term can vary regionally.
Will dish soap kill Bermuda grass?
Dish soap alone is not an effective method for killing Bermuda grass. However, it is sometimes used as part of homemade herbicide mixtures as a surfactant (wetting agent). Dish soap is usually combined with vinegar and salt, and this mixture can damage the grass, but it rarely will kill the grass completely.
Rather than serving as the active ingredient, dish soap (when used in a herbicide mixture) helps the mixture stick to the grass blades. It can break down the waxy coating on leaves, allowing other ingredients to penetrate.
Downsides to this method are that the mixture can temporarily burn the surrounding grass, and the wiregrass typically regrows. For effective Bermuda grass control, especially for established patches, professional herbicides or mechanical removal methods are generally more reliable.
