- What are grassy weeds?<\/a><\/li>
- Grassy weeds vs. turfgrass: weed identification<\/a><\/li>
- Common grassy weeds<\/a>
- Annual bluegrass<\/a><\/li>
- Crabgrass <\/a><\/li>
- Goosegrass <\/a><\/li>
- Sandbur <\/a><\/li>
- Foxtail <\/a><\/li>
- Nimblewill <\/a><\/li>
- Dallisgrass<\/a><\/li>
- Quackgrass <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to control grassy weeds<\/a><\/li>
- How to prevent grassy weeds<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ about grassy weeds<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
What are grassy weeds?<\/span><\/h2>
As their name implies, grassy weeds are unwanted plants that look like grass. In fact, many of them belong to the family Poaceae<\/em>, commonly known as true grasses. <\/p>
When <\/a>comparing grassy weeds to broadleaf weeds<\/a>, grassy weeds have the characteristics of monocots, including: <\/p>
- Long, narrow leaves similar to blades of turfgrass<\/li>
- Alternating leaves<\/li>
- Hollow, rounded stems with hard, closed nodes<\/li>
- Small, thin root systems (also known as fibrous roots)<\/li> <\/ul>
Grassy weeds vs. turfgrass: weed identification<\/span><\/h2>
Identifying grassy weeds from turfgrass can be difficult because they are both types of grass. However, you can identify many grassy weeds by comparing them to your turfgrass. Some characteristics to take note of are:<\/p>
- Leaf blades<\/li>
- Seed heads<\/li>
- Colors<\/li>
- Flowers<\/li>
- Root system<\/li>
- Growth habit<\/li>
- Growing season<\/li> <\/ul>
Common grassy weeds<\/span><\/h2>
Here are some common grassy weeds that you might find in your lawn and their defining characteristics:<\/p>
Annual bluegrass (Poa annua<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Annual](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Annual-bluegrass-Poa-annua.jpg\")
Ian_Redding<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Often contaminating Kentucky bluegrass seed packets, annual bluegrass<\/a> is a European native that grows throughout the United States. Like Kentucky bluegrass, it is a cool-season grass. However, it is annual with a short lifespan, only living for 12 months at most. <\/p>
Annual bluegrass has a shallow root system and thrives in moist areas with regular irrigation, although it will grow pretty much anywhere. It\u2019s also quite a nuisance on golf courses.<\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Winter annual<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Growing season<\/strong>: Germinates in the late summer or early fall, grows in the winter, and typically dies during the summer heat. <\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: Smooth and bright green with two lines and inward-curling leaf tips, similar to a canoe or a boat<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: White, pyramid-shaped<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Other weed grasses belong to the Poa <\/em>genus. Some of these are rough bluegrass (P. trivialis<\/em>) and bulbous bluegrass (P. bulbosus<\/em>). There\u2019s also a perennial variant of annual bluegrass that looks quite similar. It lives longer and is more difficult to get rid of.<\/p>
Crabgrass (Digitaria<\/em> spp.)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Crabgrass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Crabgrass-Digitaria-spp.jpg\")
NY State IPM Program at Cornell University<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Several crabgrass species terrorize lawns all over the United States. They\u2019re one of the most common lawn weeds<\/a>. These European summer annual grasses favor thin, weakened turfgrass and they get their name from the branches they form as they grow, which look like crab legs. <\/p>
It is an aggressive grower that will choke out any other plants and eventually take over your yard. Once it gets a foothold in your lawn, getting rid of crabgrass<\/a> is difficult. The weed produces up to 150,000 seeds which can lie dormant for years. <\/p>
It is important to prevent this sun-loving grass from resprouting even if you don\u2019t see any living plants left. Common crabgrass species that invade lawns include large or hairy crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis<\/em>) and small crabgrass (D. ischaemum<\/em>).<\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Summer annual<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Growth season<\/strong>: Germinate when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is usually in the early spring or late summer.<\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: Smooth crabgrass has wide and short leaves, while large crabgrass has longer ones. The leaves are yellow-green to blue-green.<\/li>
- Stems<\/strong>: Large crabgrass has hairy stems. Sometimes, the stems are purplish.<\/li>
- Flower spikes<\/strong>: Two to five finger-like branches<\/li>
- Growth pattern<\/strong>: Tufted, upright growth habit, meaning it spreads along the ground and its leaves spread outwards.<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Goosegrass (Eleusine indica<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Goosegrass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Goosegrass-Eleusine-indica.jpg\")
FabVietnam_Photography<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Because it looks similar to crabgrass, <\/a>goosegrass is also called silver crabgrass, white crabgrass, and wiregrass. You can differentiate this Eurasian summer annual from crabgrass by its white or silver-colored base stem.<\/p>
Often found in disturbed areas, goosegrass<\/a> grows in a wide variety of conditions. However, it is not cold-resistant. <\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Summer annual<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Growth season<\/strong>: Germinates in the late spring and grows during the summer. <\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: A darker green than crabgrass. <\/li>
- Stems<\/strong>: White or silver-colored at the base and flat, letting it survive low mowing heights<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: Has three to seven spikes. The seeds are arranged in two rows that look like a herringbone pattern.<\/li>
- Growth pattern<\/strong>: Clumping, upright<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Sandbur (Cenchrus spp.<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Sandbur](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Sandbur-Cenchrus-spp.jpeg\")
David E Mead<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Also known as sandspur, <\/a>sandbur gets its name from its spiky seed heads (burs). These prickly and weedy grasses thrive in sandy soils but can grow elsewhere.<\/p>
Common sandbur<\/a> varieties include southern or spiny sandbur (C. echinatus)<\/em> and the perennial common sandbur (C. spinifex<\/em>, also known as coastal sandbur or stickyweed).<\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Summer annual or perennial grass (depending on species)<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Growth season<\/strong>: Germinates in the late spring and flowers in the late fall.<\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: Sandpaper-like texture<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: Produces burs that are thorny and painful to the touch<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Foxtail (Setaria<\/em> spp.)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Foxtails](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Foxtails-Setaria-spp.jpg\")
Olga Stock<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Foxtail is a summer annual weed grass that gets its name from its spiked seed heads, which look like a drooping fox\u2019s tail. There are many species of foxtail<\/a>, but the most common species are the yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila<\/em>), green foxtail (S. viridis<\/em>), and giant foxtail (S. faberi<\/em>). <\/p>
These common weeds can survive in many different environments but often grow on disturbed sites. They are a nuisance for homes with pets, as their barbs are dangerous to dogs and cats.<\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Summer annual<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Growth season<\/strong>: Germinates in the late spring, grows during the summer, and dies in the fall. <\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: Coarse, yellow-green to blue-green. Around 12 inches long and \u00bd inch wide<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: Cylindrical, 2 to 3 inches long. Looks like a fox\u2019s tail.<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Nimblewill](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Nimblewill-Muhlenbergia-schreberi.jpeg\")
Emily Summerbell<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Unlike most of the other grassy weeds on this list, <\/a>nimblewill is a warm-season perennial weed. Often mistaken for Bermudagrass, nimblewill spreads<\/a> through stolons and forms mat-like patches in your turfgrass.<\/p>
Its blue-green color, coarse-textured leaves, and a tendency for early dormancy make Nimblewill stick out in most cool-season lawns but blend in easily in warm-season lawns.<\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Perennial<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds and stolons<\/li>
- Growth season<\/strong>: It germinates in the spring and flowers from August through October. <\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: Tan when dormant, blue-green to blue-gray otherwise<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: Has long \u201chairs\u201d<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Dallisgrass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Dallisgrass-Paspalum-dilatatum.jpeg\")
Franz Xaver<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Related to Bahiagrass, <\/a>dallisgrass is another warm-season perennial grassy weed. Originally from South America, dallisgrass<\/a> migrated to the U.S., and you can find it throughout the southern half of the country.<\/p>
In lawns, dallisgrass is often mistaken for Bahiagrass. While it\u2019s young, it also resembles crabgrass.<\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Perennial<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds and rhizomes<\/li>
- Growth season<\/strong>: It is dormant during the winter, but it returns in the spring. It grows for most of the year, from the spring to the fall.<\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: Wider than most turfgrasses<\/li>
- Growth pattern<\/strong>: Clumping<\/li>
- Stems<\/strong>: Hairy with a purple-red base<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
Quackgrass (Elymus repens<\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>
![\"green](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/quackgrass-1.jpg\")
Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> A European native, quackgrass thrives<\/a> in moist or disturbed soils, though it isn\u2019t picky and can grow in most soil types. This cool-season grass is blue-green, forming dense patches. Its seeds can stay dormant for two to three years before germinating, making it resilient and hard to control. <\/p>
If not mowed regularly, quackgrass can grow very tall, up 4 feet. Quackgrass<\/a>, also known as twitch grass and couch grass, plagues weak and unhealthy lawns.\u00a0<\/p>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Perennial<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds and rhizomes<\/li>
- Growth season<\/strong>: Germinates in the spring or fall and flowers during the early summer. It grows until late summer or early fall.<\/li>
- Distinct characteristics<\/strong>:
- Leaves<\/strong>: Smooth and flat<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds and rhizomes<\/li>
- Growth pattern<\/strong>: Clumping<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds and rhizomes<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: Has long \u201chairs\u201d<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds and stolons<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: Cylindrical, 2 to 3 inches long. Looks like a fox\u2019s tail.<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: Produces burs that are thorny and painful to the touch<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Stems<\/strong>: White or silver-colored at the base and flat, letting it survive low mowing heights<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Stems<\/strong>: Large crabgrass has hairy stems. Sometimes, the stems are purplish.<\/li>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Seed head<\/strong>: White, pyramid-shaped<\/li> <\/ul> <\/li> <\/ul>
- Spreads through<\/strong>: Seeds<\/li>
- Life cycle<\/strong>: Winter annual<\/li>
- Crabgrass <\/a><\/li>
- Grassy weeds vs. turfgrass: weed identification<\/a><\/li>
![Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons |](\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Elymus_repens_15-p.bot-agro.repens-20.jpg\"){kind=link}