Quackgrass

(More Lawn Weeds)

Quackgrass
Agropyron repens

Lifecycle 

Perennial, cool season weed.

Growth habit

Creeping, can grow up to 3 ft. tall; blue-green color. Leaf blades have rough texture.

Reproduction

Sharp-tipped, creeping rhizomes. The seed head forms in the summer and resembles wheat.

Developing rhizomes

Conditions that favor growth 

Poor lawn maintenance practices.

Management In Lawns

• Cultural Practices
  Maintain healthy, dense turf that can prevent and help lawns outcompete a weed infestation.
  
  
• Mechanical Management

         Hand pulling or using an appropriate weeding tool are the primary means of mechanical                weed control in lawns. This is a viable option at the beginning of an infestation and when              weeds are young.  Hand pulling when the soil is moist makes the task easier. Weeds with              taproots like dandelions or have a basal rosette (leaves clustered close to the ground), like            plantain, are easier to pull than weeds such as Bermudagrass (wiregrass) or creeping                    Charlie (ground ivy) that spread with stolons or creeping stems that root along the ground.

• Chemical Treatment in Lawns
  Herbicides should be used as a last resort because of the potential risks to people, animals, and the environment. Be aware of  these precautions first. 
  Herbicides for controlling perennial grass weeds are limited and usually available to lawn care companies and landscapers who are certified applicators. Small infestations can be dug out or sprayed with a non-selective herbicide (glyphosate). Reseed the area after you are certain that you have 100% kill.

Publication: TT 46 Perennial Grass Weeds and Their Control in Cool-Season Turf