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Nicole Alderman wrote:I found this info on the University of Florida's information page about Dove Weed (http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2015/04/10/doveweed-a-growing-problem-in-warm-season-turfgrasses/):
It is very important to keep in mind that doveweed prefers wet areas, so drainage issues or over-watering will favor the establishment and growth of this weed. For this reason, ensuring irrigation is not excessive is a key management practice to control this problem. Another cultural practice that plays a major role on doveweed management is mowing. Mowing too short and too frequently will favor doveweed because its leaves will grow horizontally avoiding the mower blades. Chose a mowing height that allows good ground cover , yet only removes a third of the turf leaf blades.
I'm wondering if watering every three days is making the soil more damp than it needs to be? It appears the dove weed likes wet ground and thrives in it. It also looks like it grows by runners and has shallow roots, whereas most grasses will have deep roots if given the right conditions. If grass is watered a bit more infrequently but with deeper waterings, it tends to grow longer roots to reach down to the water. Maybe watering 1 time a week, for 30 minutes would be better than 3 times a week?
I'm also thinking if you mow at around 2-3 inches, you won't be cutting and spreading dove weeds root-stems. And, cutting at a higher hight will allow the grass to get deeper roots (the roots die back when the grass is cut short. But, if the grass is taller, the roots are generally deeper). These deeper roots will give the grass more of an advantage over the dove weed.