How do I get rid of nutsedge (also called nutgrass)? I live in zone 7 and am very tired of digging out nuts. I have heard of a series of cover crops to plant, but don't remember which ones nor their planting order. I will appreciate any and all advice.

There is two herbicides on the market that will control nutsedge, One is IMAGE and the other is MANAGE,I would read the directions before I purchased it. If I remember correctly, you should not use Image near food crops, I have used each one with some results.

Edelweis I will post some good tips as soon as I can, but meanwhile, I truly hope that people would think clearly before recommending chemical poisons on the ORGANIC forum.

Try planting thickly winter rye in the fall and winter and buckwheat in the spring and summer. Both grow fast in less than 4 weeks. Both are good weed killers. Both have good strong root systems that after green manuring (maybe multiple times within each season) will benefit the soil with calcium, phosphoru, potassium, and other trace minerals.

I thought that those were the crops to plant. Thanks for confirmimg them for me.

My sentiments exactly. I look forward to reading the advice you will give.

I apologize to any one that got offended over me suggesting the use of chemicals on an Organic page.
I guess that I misunderstood what Edelweis wanted, I thought that she wanted to rid her garden of nutsedge, not fight it forever , I have planted rye grass(no buckwheat) for six years and my ole faithful nutsedge has always come back to see me each spring, but it won't be back this year, I guess that I am just a 95% Organic Gardener.

Well lum I can understand the frustration of dealing with nutsedge because this is one tough, prolific weed.

Edelweis,
The problem with cover crops is that you will not be allowed to till, as the rhizomes will spread and re grow, crops must be tall enough to eliminate sunlight to the nutsedge leaves. Mature tubers can last in the soil for a few years so are you willing to maintain a tall thick cover crop to out compete the weed?

Unfortunately, the dig dig dig method is still a good consideration but only during the beginning of the year (before leaves sprout) to remove the larger nuts before rhizomes form, this will make it easier to kill the smaller ones by smothering with mulch.

Mulches will help to prevent photosynthesis as long as the needle like leaves cannot poke through, perhaps a thick layer of cardboard or newspaper, thin plastic sheeting will not work well.
Constantly burning the leaves (propane flame or infra red) so that they cannot gather the suns energy will slowly deplete the energy in the rhizomes, however the mature nuts will have sufficient energy to re grow leaves throughout the year so you have to burning them.
Drastically changing the soil pH with strong vinegar will do the trick, but that will
destroy the soil life and then you have to fix that problem.

I understand completely. I didn't mean to have a holy-er than thou attitude. I've been known to pull out the ... dare I say it ... Roundup to kill bermuda grass in a hurry. I guess patience is one of the great virtues of organic gardeners.

Rob,
Thanks for the info. I suppose it could be worse. I could be fighting Kudzu.

I dont know Edelweis, both are top candidates for the pain in the assparagus award ;o