newly planted turf grass - Ask Extension
This came up in my grass seed mix this spring. It does not go with the rest of the lawn.
What is it?
Will you give me some information on this ...
Knowledgebase
newly planted turf grass #864452
Asked April 14, 2024, 8:49 AM EDT
This came up in my grass seed mix this spring. It does not go with the rest of the lawn.
What is it?
Will you give me some information on this grass?
Summit County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello,
The plant in the picture appears to be a cool weather grass. It could possibly be quackgrass, but because the picture is not clear enough to see the important plant structures ( ligule, sheath, auricle) , I cannot say for sure if that is the correct identification.
One way to identify a grass is by looking at where the leaf blade emerges from the sheath. This part of the grass is called the collar region and contains a ligule and auricle. If the plant is quackgrass, then it has a clasping auricle (See the picture contained in the turf.purdue.edu link below). That being said, the picture that you sent is not clear enough to see the grass's collar region. If it is quackgrass, the sheath beneath the auricle would be hairy. I cannot see the the sheath detail either.
For help in identification, I have reached out to the OSU Turf Department. Professor Dave Gardner has written back to me and has offered to help identify the plant. Here is the information that he emailed to me today. "If you want confirmation you can mail a sample in a moist (not wet) paper towel placed in an unlocked ziplock bag to me at the OTF center, 2710 North star road, Columbus, OH 43221."
If you decide to send a sample of the plant to Professor Gardner, please follow those instructions.
You may also send me another picture. Before doing so, please read the articles listed below. These have the information that will explain grass identification basics. I have listed two articles about quackgrass on the chance that the plant is, in fact, quackgrass.
The best defense against the establishment of grassy weeds, such as this, is to encourage and maintain a healthy turf. I have also listed two articles below on dealing with cool weather grassy weeds.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://turf.purdue.edu/quackgrass/
https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1212
https://ag.purdue.edu/department/btny/ppdl/potw-dept-folder/2021/perennial-grssy-weeds.html
https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2018/10/02/biennial-and-perennial-weed-control-is-best-in-the-fall/
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/how-to-identify-grass-like-plants/
The plant in the picture appears to be a cool weather grass. It could possibly be quackgrass, but because the picture is not clear enough to see the important plant structures ( ligule, sheath, auricle) , I cannot say for sure if that is the correct identification.
One way to identify a grass is by looking at where the leaf blade emerges from the sheath. This part of the grass is called the collar region and contains a ligule and auricle. If the plant is quackgrass, then it has a clasping auricle (See the picture contained in the turf.purdue.edu link below). That being said, the picture that you sent is not clear enough to see the grass's collar region. If it is quackgrass, the sheath beneath the auricle would be hairy. I cannot see the the sheath detail either.
For help in identification, I have reached out to the OSU Turf Department. Professor Dave Gardner has written back to me and has offered to help identify the plant. Here is the information that he emailed to me today. "If you want confirmation you can mail a sample in a moist (not wet) paper towel placed in an unlocked ziplock bag to me at the OTF center, 2710 North star road, Columbus, OH 43221."
If you decide to send a sample of the plant to Professor Gardner, please follow those instructions.
You may also send me another picture. Before doing so, please read the articles listed below. These have the information that will explain grass identification basics. I have listed two articles about quackgrass on the chance that the plant is, in fact, quackgrass.
The best defense against the establishment of grassy weeds, such as this, is to encourage and maintain a healthy turf. I have also listed two articles below on dealing with cool weather grassy weeds.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://turf.purdue.edu/quackgrass/
https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=1212
https://ag.purdue.edu/department/btny/ppdl/potw-dept-folder/2021/perennial-grssy-weeds.html
https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2018/10/02/biennial-and-perennial-weed-control-is-best-in-the-fall/
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/how-to-identify-grass-like-plants/
