Invasive Grasses - Ask Extension
My Kentucky Bluegrass lawn is being overtaken by 2 different types of invasive grasses. The first is shown in the first 2 photos. It is a softer typ...
Knowledgebase
Invasive Grasses #851292
Asked September 26, 2023, 1:03 PM EDT
My Kentucky Bluegrass lawn is being overtaken by 2 different types of invasive grasses. The first is shown in the first 2 photos. It is a softer type of grass that is slowly replacing the Kentucky Bluegrass. The second is shown in the 3rd photo. It grows much faster than the Bluegrass. I've tried pulling them out individually but they keep coming back. Can you identify these 2 types of grass/weeds and have any suggestions on how to get rid of them? Thank you for your help.
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
I believe you have creeping bentgrass in the first 2 photos. More info in these links:
Turfgrass species ID & Cultivar Selection (E2912)-MSU
Cool Season Turfgrass Identification - PSU
https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/diseases/creeping-bentgrass
possible control methods:
https://u.osu.edu/athleticfieldmanagement/2017/04/06/selective-creeping-bentgrass-control/
https://turf.purdue.edu/poa-annua-poa-trivialis-and-or-creeping-bentgrass-in-lawns-and-sports-fields/
Creeping Bentgrass is extremely fine textured with high density and uniformity. It has a stoloniferous (spread by aboveground stems) growth habit which make it easy to pull up. Characteristics include: auricles absent, rolled venation, blades have many equal-sized veins (no dominant mid vein) running lengthwise over the entire width of the leaf blade, leaf blade dull underneath, pointed leaf tip.
Turfgrass identification - Ohio State
The 3rd photo is less clear but I think it is yellow nutsedge. Here is more info on yellow nutsedge for you to confirm my identification or not:
https://extension.psu.edu/yellow-nutsedge-id-and-control-in-home-gardens - sedges have edges!
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/yellow-nutsedge/
Yellow Nutsedge-Purdue
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/TURF-46-W.pdf
Another MSU Extension person thought it might be liriope, an ornamental ground cover. If my id of yellow nutsedge is incorrect, take more detailed photos and contact MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics at: Plant & Pest Diagnostics-MSU for more expert identification.
Turfgrass species ID & Cultivar Selection (E2912)-MSU
Cool Season Turfgrass Identification - PSU
https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/diseases/creeping-bentgrass
possible control methods:
https://u.osu.edu/athleticfieldmanagement/2017/04/06/selective-creeping-bentgrass-control/
https://turf.purdue.edu/poa-annua-poa-trivialis-and-or-creeping-bentgrass-in-lawns-and-sports-fields/
Creeping Bentgrass is extremely fine textured with high density and uniformity. It has a stoloniferous (spread by aboveground stems) growth habit which make it easy to pull up. Characteristics include: auricles absent, rolled venation, blades have many equal-sized veins (no dominant mid vein) running lengthwise over the entire width of the leaf blade, leaf blade dull underneath, pointed leaf tip.
Turfgrass identification - Ohio State
The 3rd photo is less clear but I think it is yellow nutsedge. Here is more info on yellow nutsedge for you to confirm my identification or not:
https://extension.psu.edu/yellow-nutsedge-id-and-control-in-home-gardens - sedges have edges!
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/yellow-nutsedge/
Yellow Nutsedge-Purdue
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/TURF-46-W.pdf
Another MSU Extension person thought it might be liriope, an ornamental ground cover. If my id of yellow nutsedge is incorrect, take more detailed photos and contact MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics at: Plant & Pest Diagnostics-MSU for more expert identification.
