Sounds impossible if the roots are 9" down. How hard is the soil? You need a shovel to turn the soil. Wanna borrow a shovel?

Wouldn't take me long to be rid of it, because I'd use Roundup.
Jim

The soil is good. You *can* get down there. I'm thinking a spade would work best. My boss got upset with me bacause it took me longer than half an hour.

Dittos, Jim. I'd hate to think about finding every one of those rhizomes with a shovel!!
J.D.

How about a fork thingie, can't think of the name. Your boss should be glad that you did it. It would have taken me hours & hours. Bev

No kidding - if you are going to get all the grass roots out, you have to sift through the whole thing

Jim & JD, digging was the onliest option. Bev, I didnt' get it done, I had to stop because I was too slow. Whatever. I don't see how you can do it quickly. Whacking the tops off won't do one bit of good.

Tell em you only know how to do it right.

I think your boss should try it for 30 minutes. He would hire some type of front end loader etc. People have spent like times trying to eradicate Johnson grass. One of the problems with JG is where ever you break a root (rhizomes) it will send up more shoots and put out more roots.

"Sorghum halepense (Johnson Grass) a native of southern Europe and Asia it has spread nearly world wide. This is a widespread noxious weed that invades prairies, stream banks and riverbank communities as well as pastures, crop fields, roadsides, and open, disturbed areas. It spreads easily both from seeds and pieces of the white, fleshy rhizomes".

Here is a link that might be useful: @#%**@!! grass

About 3 hrs. Of course, I am 62 yrs. old. Someone young and energetic might do it in half the time. Maybe.

I second what TXGardenlady said

I use a mattox, too. If you are really ticked off and venting, it will go quickly!
Just see your boss with every 'whack' and it will be finished in nothing flat :)

I use chickens. It takes them longer to get down far enough for nut grass' fruit but they will work at it if you let them. They like nutgrass!PJ

Seeing how fast your boss can do it sounds like a perfect idea, ask him to show you how it's supposed to be done !!!!
PJ thank you, you may have just given me the perfect way to convince DH to have chickens. We have nut grass !!! Bev

The nut grass was a breeze. It was on a strata waaaay above the JG's thriving, fleshy and succulent white rooties going off everywhere.

Natvtxn, I had the feeling that any piece would happily root and grow with enthusiasm. Vile stuff!