Finding bufflegrass on your property can be a headache, especially in the Southwest where it's a major fire hazard and an aggressive invader of native ecosystems. Since buffelgrass can transform a desert landscape, it's best to act quickly using the steps below to remove it from your property.
Be aware that new buffelgrass plants will likely grow back from seeds in the coming months/years after they have been pulled/sprayed, but the population will decrease with diligent re-treament efforts. Continue to monitor your property for returning buffelgrass, removing it as soon as possible, and you should see improvement. It’s highly recommended to put native plants where you pulled the buffelgrass to provide competition unless clearing it from an area around structures where you are trying to create defensible space.
Remove it with a tool or by hand
The key is to remove the root ball of the plant, and the best tool for the job is a digging bar, pickaxe or mattock - available at any hardware store. If you don’t have one of these available, a shovel is another option. It is recommended to wear leather work gloves to protect your hands. Be sure to check for snakes or other critters that may be hiding under the plants before swinging at them with your tool. After removing the plants, seal them in a plastic trash bag and dispose of them in the regular trash (not the green waste dump).
Use herbicide
Buffelgrass can be sprayed with glyphosate if the plant is at least 50% green. This is because the plant must be actively growing to be affected by the herbicide. A 2-4% glyphosate solution works well to kill buffelgrass, and these products are readily available at hardware stores.
Herbicide should be applied directly to the green parts of the plant and especially in the center of the plant near the bottom where the greatest amount of growth activity happens. Spray until the plant is wet but not so much that the liquid is dripping off the plant, and try to avoid spraying non-target plants or the ground. Don’t spray herbicide when outdoor conditions are windy. It’s recommended to wear gloves, face mask, and safety glasses when handling glyphosate, in addition to the required minimum of long pants, long sleeves, close-toed shoes, and socks. Consult a professional for more recommendations for safe handling of herbicide.
Remember to read the label carefully and avoid spraying chemicals any more than necessary. The label is the law!
Call a professional
If you are unable to remove or spray the buffelgrass on your own, there are several landscaping companies who have attended the UA Pima County Cooperative Extension “Urban and Suburban Weeds and Fire Risk” Smartscape course in Tucson. View a list of companies that have completed the course.
Thank you for taking action to keep your community safer from fire! Email tucsonbuffelgrass@gmail.com if you have any questions about removing buffelgrass in Tucson, Arizona.