How to remove grass sprouting among ground cover?

[daven25]

Is there a smart way to remove / combat blade grass starting to spread among our ground cover (Dichondra Repens I think) instead of trying to pull it up bit by bit? Also a different species of thin tufty grass in 2nd pic.

[JacobZ]

Hi @daven25,

Thank you for your question about managing winter grass growing through your ground cover plants.

Unfortunately, I am not aware of a selective herbicide that could be used to manage the grass without potentially damaging the surrounding plants.

My suggestion is to carefully apply Amgrow 100ml Winter Grass Killer to the leaves of the grass with a sponge ensuring it does not come in contact with the other plants.

Ensure you follow the manufacturers guidelines for mixing and wear gloves, long sleeves and a mask while handling the herbicide.

Allow me to tag our resident garden expert @Noelle to see if they have any advice.

Jacob

[Noelle]

That's exactly what I would have suggested, @JacobZ 

[rlindsay1]

Hi Jacob

You recommended Amgrow there. But I went to your website to look at purchasing it. And it's got terrible reviews. It's rated as 3.2 on your site. Most people saying its basically useless. 

If the product does work as you say, maybe you need to do some education as to how to use it.

For myself. I have Dichondra sprouting through my Corsican mint. So I was looking for a method of killing the dichondra without digging out all the mint. I wouldn't buy Amgrow based on the reviews

[EricL]

Hello @rlindsay1 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us.

Thank you for your feedback regarding the Amgrow Winter Grass killer.  

I can understand how stressful it can be, especially when you’ve got a groundcover you actually like doing well and something else muscling in on it. Unfortunately, dichondra and Corsican mint are both broadleaf plants, which is what makes this so annoying. Most weedkillers that will kill dichondra will also damage or wipe out the mint, so there really isn’t a truly selective chemical option that solves it cleanly.

The safest approach is slow, targeted control rather than a single big fix. Dichondra has shallow roots and spreads along the surface, so gently lifting out runners and roots whenever you see them does help over time, even though it feels tedious. Keeping the mint dense and healthy also matters, because thick growth reduces the light and space the dichondra needs to spread.

If you do want to use a herbicide, the only realistic option is very careful spot treatment with a non-selective product like glyphosate, applied directly to dichondra leaves with a small brush Yates Zero Weeding Herbicide Applicator Brush. It will kill anything it touches, so this only works if you’re meticulous and accept the risk of losing a bit of mint nearby. Broadleaf lawn weedkillers are a no-go here, as they’ll damage the mint just as readily as the dichondra.

In practice, most people end up managing this as an ongoing maintenance issue rather than trying to eliminate it in one hit. If it gets out of hand in a particular patch, sometimes the least stressful solution is to clear that small area completely and replant the mint once the dichondra is gone. I know its not an ideal solution but this would eliminate the Dichondra in the mix.

Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when using chemicals in the garden.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric