I had seen several references to stilt grass here in the NJ forum and wondered what it was. I yahoo'ed it and darn if I don't have it. Not much of it but before I had pretty much left it alone. Guess I should plan to dig it up prior to mulching the plants I do want.
I still leave those little violets where ever they grow. I like them. I also leave any self-seeded rudbeckia alone. I'm not a lazy gardener, really I'm not, but I tend to let things grow until I have something in hand to plant there.

Sheila

Too late! It looks like it'll be pulling again this year. I've penciled it in for May, June, July, August, September, with vacation starting in October

Sheila - don't dig it up! That will only create a "disturbance" in the soil which will cause more seeds to germinate.

Although I just about have to tie my hands behind my back to stop from pulling it, if it's in a place where I don't want to use Round-up, I try very, very, very hard to wait until August to even pull for fear that more seeds will germinate. I don't know if waiting is helpful or not - I just know that I don't have to bend as far down if the stilt grass is taller.

Personally, I just rip it out as soon as it gets big enough to do so. If more seeds germinate, so be it. I'll let them grow a little bit, then rip them out too.

That means I have accelerated the process of seed bank exhaustion, as long as I don't let them go to seed. Seed bank exhaustion is my only hope for that scourge....

Ah, stilt grass revisted. If some sharp-eyed person notices when it starts to flower let us all know so we can cut and pull then.

My pre-emergent results - regular crabgrass control worked only when applied at three times recommended rate - I used the extra in my spreader on the heavily infested ends of my yard rather than save it, and it killed it quite dead. I have a solid stilt grass stripe in the back, where I missed a row, with nearly bare earth on either side - pretty much nothing grew there but stilt grass.

The pre-emergent compatible with grass seeding worked somewhat better but not perfectly - may have been a problem with uneven spreading and the dry weather we had then - watering just didn't dissolve the granules the way drenching rains would.

Corn gluten had a very definite effect. However DH applied it and he is not the most meticulous or observant guy around when it comes to yard work. Next year I will definitely try corn gluten at the heavy rate, and do a follow up application 2-3 weeks later - I thought the stilt grass seemed delayed rather than totally stopped by the treatments.

The part of my yard where stilt grass is the least problem is where I planted Rebel fescue, not that it is entirely immune.

Lisa

Lisa, it should start going to see around the end of August. Just this evening I looked at a patch that I did nothing but cut at the proper time last year - and it's lush and luxurient.

I found pre-emergent that I was able to get down worked very well, but like you, I sure know where I missed!

Where does one buy corn gluten in bulk - and how is it applied?