Strange Grass - Ask Extension
The attached showed up in our lawn a couple of years ago and seems to be spreading. Can you tell me what it is and how I get rid of it? Thank you.
Knowledgebase
Strange Grass #929910
Asked April 28, 2026, 1:22 PM EDT
The attached showed up in our lawn a couple of years ago and seems to be spreading. Can you tell me what it is and how I get rid of it? Thank you.
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
My guess is it's quackgrass. My first question is whether you treated your lawn with a preemergent herbicide. If you did and this grass still appears, it is likely quackgrass. If you did not, then it is possible this is an annual grass and treating with a preemergent will control it. To identify quackgrass, look for the definitive marker for quackgrass, "clasping auricles" (which I cannot see with these photos):
https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/quackgrass
Lookalikes for quackgrass include tall fescue (a perennial) and crabgrass (an annual). If it is quackgrass, your treatment choices are limited, and likely include glyphosate (Roundup). See the link above for options.
https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/quackgrass
Lookalikes for quackgrass include tall fescue (a perennial) and crabgrass (an annual). If it is quackgrass, your treatment choices are limited, and likely include glyphosate (Roundup). See the link above for options.
