Jessica Paster The Future is Green
Weeds that look like grass can be an eyesore on your lawn. Not only that, they take nutrients from the soil and hinder the growth of your grass. Get to know different types of weeds that look similar to grass and learn how to get rid of them effectively.
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is a warm-season weed that commonly grows on the lawn. The weed spreads horizontally with a distinctive crab shape. It is characterized by apple-green leaves that are wider than common lawn grasses. Full-grown crabgrass will create a patch in your lawn that makes it look less attractive.
How to get rid of weeds that look like grass is fairly simple. You can use herbicides that contain quinclorac to control crabgrass without killing the turf. Spreading crabgrass control to the soil before germinating new grass also helps prevent the growth of crabgrass.
Quackgrass
Quackgrass, also known as a common crouch, is one of the weeds that look like grass. The cool-season perennial can be identified by its pointy leaves called auricles. The weed spreads on its rhizomes and forms blue-green patches in your lawn.
Digging the patches up is the most effective way to get rid of these weeds. But you can also use a chemical weed killer or homemade solution to kill them off. Be careful when using weed killers as they may kill your grass.
Nutsedge
There are two species of nutsedge commonly found in lawns, including yellow nutsedge and purple nutsedge. Their leaves grow much longer than common grasses so you can spot them easily in the lawns. They also have brush-like flowers in yellow or reddish purple.
Killing nutsedge can be tricky because you have to dig up the soil and find the roots and nutlets to prevent them from regrowing. Using herbicides and avoiding overwatering the lawn also helps prevent
Creeping Bentgrass
Creeping bentgrass grows into a fine-textured, dense mat that spreads on its stolon. If you have these weeds in lawns, you will notice a gray-green patch with a lighter hue compared to your turfgrasses. It can turn into a puffy patch, especially if left uncut.
As one of the weeds that look like grass, creeping bentgrass is often used for golf courses. But if you want to control these weeds, use herbicides that contain mesotrione.
Annual Bluegrass
Annual bluegrass comes in a lighter hue than Kentucky bluegrass, making it rather difficult to identify. This weed can be recognized by its curvy leaf tips and a membrane on the base of its leaf. This cool-season plant prefers moist conditions and it will dry when temperature rises.
If you find bluegrass in lawns, foramsulfuron can help you get rid of it without risking your grass. You can also prevent its growth with herbicides like oryzalin and bensullide. Apply these herbicides in the fall so they don’t come up in spring.
There are several types of weeds that look like grass you need to know. Controlling their growth is essential to ensure the healthy and visual appearance of your lawns. You can use a chemical weed killer or homemade solution that doesn’t harm your turfgrasses.