Quackgrass
 Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) is an undesirable,
cool season, perennial grass that reproduces by seed or underground rhizomes
and can reach 3 1/2' high. It establishes itself in dense mats and is
often introduced to the garden by rototillers or soil movement.It detracts
from the overall uniformity of a "well maintained" lawn.
Quackgrass is native to Europe and Western Asia. It moved around the
world with the movements of man in cereal crops. Today, it is often considered
one of the three most serious weeds because it infests 37 different crops
in 65 countries.
Problem
Quackgrass is one the most troublesome perennial grassy weeds in our lawns.
Also called couchgrass, this herbaceous perennial dies back to "rhizomes"
for the winter, only to appear again early the following spring. Rhizomes
are underground stems capable of producing new plants. Because quackgrass
is very aggressive and produces many rhizomes, it can quickly dominate
a lawn.
Quackgrass is more complicated to control than other weeds. Many weeds
can be controlled with "selective" herbicides - ones that kill
specific plants and leave all others unaffected. Unfortunately, there
is no selective herbicide available to control quackgrass in lawns. To
control quackgrass chemically, a "non-selective herbicide" is
required. A non-selective herbicide will kill all growth it contacts.
Control with
Chemicals
If most of the lawn has been affected by quackgrass, spray the entire
lawn with glyphosate (Erase, Roundup, Sidekick or other commercial products)
according to the manufacturer's instructions. Spray when the lawn is growing
actively, preferably in the spring. The application will kill the lawngrass as well as the quackgrass. In about two weeks, when all the
grass is dead, rototill thoroughly and remove as much dead sod as possible.
Then prepare the soil for seeding or sodding.
If a small area of the lawn is affected, spray only the affected area
with glyphosate; in this case, it is not necessary to spray the entire
lawn. If the problem amounts to no more than a few spears of quackgrass in an
area of your lawn, paint the individual spears with diluted glyphosate,
taking care toavoid painting the lawngrass.
Control without
Chemicals
If only a small area of the lawn is affected, it may be worth trying to
dig out the quackgrass; but all the rhizomes must be removed because rhizomes
as small as 1/2 in. can produce new growth if left in the soil.
Frequent, close mowing can be an effective way to control quackgrass
on lawns of bluegrass or fescue. Quackgrass grows faster than bluegrass
and fescue and is therefore more susceptible to damage from the mowing.
If you use this method, fertilize and water your lawn according to recommended
practice. A healthy lawn is less likely to be damaged from the stress
of close, frequent mowing - though there is always the risk of some damage,
even to a healthy lawn. For bluegrass and fescue lawns, mow not closer
than 1.5 in. |
