By BJ Jarvis
Pasco Cooperative Extension
In the last year or so, the Pasco County Extension office has been getting lots of calls about a new weed in town.
Wavy basketgrass is an Australian native that landed on U.S. soil in the late 1990s and spread rapidly throughout eastern states.
A forest understory plant, this grass is forming dense mats in shady gardens, and has been described as “covering all our woodland habitats like Astroturf, killing all the other herbaceous plants.”
With a 97 percent seed germination rate, basketgrass grows so thickly that volunteers of desirable species cannot sprout through the carpet-like growth.
Gardeners should be quick to eradicate the wavy-leaved grass from shady garden corners, as it is a master at spreading. Sticky seeds easily adhere to passing animals such as furry dogs, gardener’s clothing and even vehicles. While it does grow under the shade of trees, thankfully it does not climb.
This plant may be confused with a close cousin that is native to Florida or an ornamental cultivated by the horticulture industry, which likely was bred for reduced weediness.
The horticultural variety appears to be a hybrid, and is believed to be sterile. If you find a look-alike sold in a reputable nursery, it is likely to be the desirable species. However, watch for it hitchhiking overlooked in containers, as it is likely the invader. That’s how it ended up in my garden.
Persistent gardeners can hand-pull the ground creeper, while larger, more homogenous patches can be killed though herbicide treatments with a 1 to 2 percent solution of glyphosate. This product is sold under many trade names, and is a nonselective plant killer. That means you must be cautious about when and where herbicides are sprayed or desirable plants may inadvertently be killed.
To prevent further weed development, either mulch or add desirable plants into the empty space for a more attractive and weed-free landscape.
–BJ Jarvis is Pasco County Director and Horticulture Agent for Pasco Cooperative Extension Service, a partnership between the University of Florida and county government.
