Long ago, this invasive weed was imported from Africa to the US as forage food for cattle. These days, it's simply a nuisance in many lawns in Gulf Coast states. You'll find it most often intermingling with your bermudagrass lawn or in your landscape beds. Not only is this pesky plant drought-tolerant, but it can survive many days in standing water.
Torpedograss thrives in moist, sandy soil in subtropical areas of the US. This aquatic weed can be found on lawns that are around bodies of water, such as the marshy areas in Florida. Keep your lawn in top condition, as this weed will capitalize on weak turf.
Contrary to other weed problems, you can't solve this one by pulling individual plants out of the ground. This actually encourages torpedograss to spread its roots through underground stems called rhizomes. The only way to rid your yard of a torpedograss infestation is to apply an herbicide directly to problem areas. Try not to spray your turfgrass, as it will be killed off during treatment. For an existing problem, apply a Roundup® Brand Weed & Grass Killer. Since this weed is so difficult to control, you may have to put up with killing the surrounding turf grass and re-seeding.
Torpedograss gets its name from its sharply pointed leaf blades that can grow up to 3 feet tall. The stiff, flat blades have a waxy coating and are hairy near the top. The flowering stems have many branches that contain many yellowish seed spikelets.
