05/30/2026
Turf Titans got a call to evaluate a mysterious lawn invader.
At first glance, some suspected St. Augustine grass. After further inspection of the plant structure, runners, and growth habit, I’m leaning more toward torpedograss, an aggressive perennial grassy w**d commonly found throughout South Carolina.
Unfortunately, treatment options are limited since there are no reliable selective herbicides that will remove torpedograss from Bermuda without causing injury. In most cases, the best approach is targeted glyphosate applications followed by monitoring for regrowth.
Since torpedograss spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes, a 10–13 inch underground barrier may also be necessary to prevent it from migrating back into the lawn from surrounding areas.
The moral of the story: sometimes the real problem isn’t what’s above the ground. It’s what’s hiding below it.
