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Invasive grass #770364

Asked September 02, 2021, 10:43 AM EDT

Hi: We have some property that we try to keep as meadow. In it a type of grass is spreading and crowding out other plants. Can you tell me what this grass is and how I may either remove it or keep it from spreading? -- Thank you.

Van Buren County Michigan

Expert Response

Good Afternoon,

I believe what you have is smartweed or a relative.  Info taken from below article.

Management:

Mechanical

Tillage: Tilling at night (dark tillage) will reduce smartweed emergence by 30-50%. If perennial smartweed is present in the field, clean tillage equipment before moving to another field- the rhizomes will wrap and hang on the tillage equipment.

Rotary hoeing: Hoe smartweeds before they exceed 1/4" in height.

Flaming: Flaming is effective on small smartweeds (less than 1" in height).

Cultural

Crop rotation: Smartweeds are not a weed of small grains and forages.

Planting date: Tilling in the spring triggers smartweed to germinate. Therefore, tilling in early May and planting later (mid-May) will reduce smartweed infestations because many smartweed plants will have emerged and been controlled by tillage.

Chemical

Application timing and effectiveness: Herbicides are available to control smartweeds. Control can be difficult in sugar beets.

Smartweeds (Pennsylvania smartweed and ladysthumb) - Weeds (msu.edu)

Smartweed, Pennsylvania — Department of Plant Science (psu.edu)

I hope this helps.  Thanks for using our service.

V/r, Replied September 02, 2021, 6:24 PM EDT

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