Grass - Ask Extension
What type of grass is this?
It's spreading quickly, should I get rid of it?
Knowledgebase
Grass #876606
Asked July 10, 2024, 7:30 AM EDT
What type of grass is this?
It's spreading quickly, should I get rid of it?
Cuyahoga County Ohio
Expert Response
Thank you for your question.
There are so many grassy weeds that it is difficult to identify your grass without seeing the seed head. There are several aquatic grasses that have similar narrow blades. But even in lawns, there are numerous grassy weeds with narrow blades.
Without seeing the seed head, I believe this could be nimblewill. See pictures at
Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi J.F. Gmel.) (psu.edu)
If you scroll down, there is a closeup of the leaves.
Most grassy weeds tend to be invasive, so you should probably remove it. The site above gives advice about removing nimblewill. If you follow their advice, you must follow the directions on the herbicide exactly.
It is interesting that for other weeds including some grass weeds, a preemergent herbicide is recommended, but not for nimblewill.
The safest way to remove the weed is by hand if it is not too widely spread already.
Please feel free to submit another photo with the seed heads. That will help narrow down the type of grass. Good luck!
There are so many grassy weeds that it is difficult to identify your grass without seeing the seed head. There are several aquatic grasses that have similar narrow blades. But even in lawns, there are numerous grassy weeds with narrow blades.
Without seeing the seed head, I believe this could be nimblewill. See pictures at
Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi J.F. Gmel.) (psu.edu)
If you scroll down, there is a closeup of the leaves.
Most grassy weeds tend to be invasive, so you should probably remove it. The site above gives advice about removing nimblewill. If you follow their advice, you must follow the directions on the herbicide exactly.
It is interesting that for other weeds including some grass weeds, a preemergent herbicide is recommended, but not for nimblewill.
The safest way to remove the weed is by hand if it is not too widely spread already.
Please feel free to submit another photo with the seed heads. That will help narrow down the type of grass. Good luck!
Thanks, I try to send seed head photo but I've never seen any seed heads on this "grass".
Hi again, it's great that you have no seed heads so the plant can't reproduce that way. It looks like it'll spread by runners or roots. Can you pull it out? Good luck!
