Creeoing grass - Ask Extension
Told this is ‘banyard grass’ and to rip entire lawn out and reseed. To drastic of an answer for me - any suggestions for eliminating?
Knowledgebase
Creeoing grass #875670
Asked July 02, 2024, 1:30 PM EDT
Told this is ‘banyard grass’ and to rip entire lawn out and reseed. To drastic of an answer for me - any suggestions for eliminating?
Allegan County Michigan
Expert Response
I hope you mean barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli) which is an annual grassy weed. I'm attaching links to several articles on its definition and how to control it both before it germinates and after:
https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-and-turfgrass-weeds-barnyardgrass-echinochloa-crus-galli-l-beauv
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/barnyardgrass/
https://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/fact-sheet/barnyardgrass-echinochloa-crus-galli/ - no turf chemical mgmt options
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/barnyard-grass
https://extension.psu.edu/control-of-summer-annual-grass-weeds-in-turfgrasses
IF your weed is barnyard grass you should be able to control it by using pre and post-emergent chemicals.
But after reading the descriptions for barnyard grass in the articles and looking at your photos I'm not sure you have a barnyard grass problem. I suspect you have photos of quack grass. Here are links to articles on quack grass identification & control:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/quackgrass_control_in_turf
https://turf.purdue.edu/quackgrass/
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/quackgrass/
https://extension.psu.edu/quackgrass-management-an-integrated-approach
https://www.canr.msu.edu/weeds/extension/quackgrass - more toward agricultural fields
Most quackgrass control methods recommend several applications of a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate. Tilling doesn't work because it breaks up the rhizomes into pieces which become new plants.
I'm also attaching a link to an article on how to take good up close photos to aid in plant identification in the future:
GRASS PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR ID-MSU
https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-and-turfgrass-weeds-barnyardgrass-echinochloa-crus-galli-l-beauv
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/barnyardgrass/
https://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/fact-sheet/barnyardgrass-echinochloa-crus-galli/ - no turf chemical mgmt options
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/barnyard-grass
https://extension.psu.edu/control-of-summer-annual-grass-weeds-in-turfgrasses
IF your weed is barnyard grass you should be able to control it by using pre and post-emergent chemicals.
But after reading the descriptions for barnyard grass in the articles and looking at your photos I'm not sure you have a barnyard grass problem. I suspect you have photos of quack grass. Here are links to articles on quack grass identification & control:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/quackgrass_control_in_turf
https://turf.purdue.edu/quackgrass/
https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/quackgrass/
https://extension.psu.edu/quackgrass-management-an-integrated-approach
https://www.canr.msu.edu/weeds/extension/quackgrass - more toward agricultural fields
Most quackgrass control methods recommend several applications of a non-selective herbicide like glyphosate. Tilling doesn't work because it breaks up the rhizomes into pieces which become new plants.
I'm also attaching a link to an article on how to take good up close photos to aid in plant identification in the future:
GRASS PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR ID-MSU
Here are some updated photos that are better for your review than the original ones. I dont have the latest iphone so hopefully these are better for your review. You have given me some encouragement on this problem rather than digging up the whole lawn!! Looking forward to any update you can provide me!
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 6, 2024, at 3:10 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Sending updated photos for your review. I dont have the latest iphone so hopefully these are adequate. Looking forward to your review
. You have given me hope for this problem!!
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 6, 2024, at 3:10 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
I'm even more sure it's not barnyard grass as that grass is an annual with mat type roots. This grass spreads by rhizomes or stolons. Unfortunately the photos do not give me enough detail to view auricles, ligules, collars and vernation. Suspects I think might be your culprit include: Roughstalk Bluegrass or Nimblewill. Definition of grass plant features in the attached:
Turfgrass feature ID - OSU - tips to help you ID grasses in your yard
Do a search of each suspect grass above by searching:
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AY/AY-41-W.pdf - roughstalk bluegrass ID & control
https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-and-turfgrass-weeds-roughstalk-bluegrass-poa-trivialis-l
https://turf.purdue.edu/nimblewill/
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-do-i-control-nimblewill-my-lawn
If you can't make a positive ID from the above info contact MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics (Plant & Pest Diagnostics-MSU). Go to the 'contact us' tab and send in focused photos to their email address asking for turfgrass identification.
Turfgrass feature ID - OSU - tips to help you ID grasses in your yard
Do a search of each suspect grass above by searching:
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AY/AY-41-W.pdf - roughstalk bluegrass ID & control
https://extension.psu.edu/lawn-and-turfgrass-weeds-roughstalk-bluegrass-poa-trivialis-l
https://turf.purdue.edu/nimblewill/
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-do-i-control-nimblewill-my-lawn
If you can't make a positive ID from the above info contact MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics (Plant & Pest Diagnostics-MSU). Go to the 'contact us' tab and send in focused photos to their email address asking for turfgrass identification.
