Grassy Weed Problem in my Yard - Ask Extension
I have been noticing a grassy weed in our yard (in Brookings) over the past few years. It is lighter in color and grows faster than the rest of the d...
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Grassy Weed Problem in my Yard #794568
Asked June 06, 2022, 5:06 PM EDT
I have been noticing a grassy weed in our yard (in Brookings) over the past few years. It is lighter in color and grows faster than the rest of the desirable grass, though is not particularly dense. It has been spreading slowly each year. Can you identify it from the accompanying photos? How can it be treated/eliminated without killing the rest of our yard? Thank you.
Brookings County South Dakota
Expert Response
Todd,
I recruited help from one of our weed specialists; based on the photos we can narrow down the invading grass to either quack (https://turf.purdue.edu/quackgrass/) or brome grass or possibly a tall fescue that would have been in the seed mix. With any of these perennial grasses there isn't a selective herbicide available to just spray out the unwanted grass. You would need to spot spray with a nonselective herbicide that would kill ALL the grass and reseed the area. At this point in the summer, re-seeding would be most successful in late summer/early fall: https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/seeding-and-sodding-home-lawns.
I recruited help from one of our weed specialists; based on the photos we can narrow down the invading grass to either quack (https://turf.purdue.edu/quackgrass/) or brome grass or possibly a tall fescue that would have been in the seed mix. With any of these perennial grasses there isn't a selective herbicide available to just spray out the unwanted grass. You would need to spot spray with a nonselective herbicide that would kill ALL the grass and reseed the area. At this point in the summer, re-seeding would be most successful in late summer/early fall: https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/seeding-and-sodding-home-lawns.
