Quackgrass is a cool season perennial that
reproduces by seeds and rhizomes. It is a patch-forming, coarse-textured
grass that spreads by slender, white, long-lived rhizomes. Quackgrass
can grow up to 4 feet tall. The root system is fibrous. Root hairs
ring the rhizomes every 3/4 to 1 inch. The rhizomes develop 2 to
8 inches deep. Quackgrass stems are smooth. The upper sheaths of
quackgrass are smooth or with short hairs, round to somewhat flattened,
with split, short hairs on lower portion. The blades are flat and
the margins may be rough. It is dull green to light blue-green and
taper to a pointed tip. It grows 1/8 to 1/2 inch wide and 3 to 12
inches long. It is soft, smooth to rough to the touch on upper surface,
occasionally sparsely hairy on the upper surface, smooth or slightly
hairy on lower surface. It develops claw-like, slender auricles
that clasp the stem. Quackgrass flowers are narrow, dense, and occur
in terminal spikes 2 to 6 inches long. They are borne late May to
September.
Occurrence - This aggressive grass is found in
many lawns throughout growing season, especially during cool weather
in spring and fall. Quackgrass thrives in well-drained soils with
slightly acidic pH and favors thin, droughty lawns. It is often
brought into landscape sites in agricultural soils.
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Non-Chemical Control – To control quackgrass
without herbicides, mechanically remove, although removing the entire
underground portion of the plants may be difficult; Maintain turf
density and health through proper culture; low mowing and fertility
maintenance may decrease population.
Chemical
Control - Apply nonselective herbicides when actively growing;
selective herbicide controls for quackgrass are currently unavailable.
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