Quackgrass — Elytrigia repens — Family: Poaceae — Grass
Quackgrass is a common grassy weed of turfed areas. Quackgrass is a perennial and can often be spotted by its dull blue-green appearance. Because quackgrass spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) it responds very well to cultivation practices. It is not uncommon to have quackgrass contamination in unscreened topsoil. Each rhizomes section has the ability to produce a new plant.
Oter weeds in the Grass (Poaceae) family:
- Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)
- Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)
- Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis palustris)
- Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi)
- Goosegrass (Elusine indica)
- Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis)
- Large Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)
- Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi)
- Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata)
- Smooth Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum)
- Tall Fescue (Festuca arudinacea)
- Yellow Foxtail (Setaria glauca)
Quackgrass is a common grassy weed of turfed areas. Quackgrass is a perennial and can often be spotted by its dull blue-green appearance. Because quackgrass spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) it responds very well to cultivation practices. It is not uncommon to have quackgrass contamination in unscreened topsoil. Each rhizomes section has the ability to produce a new plant.
Also Known As...
- Agropyron repens
- quitch grass
- couch grass
- wheat-grass
- shelly-grass
- knot-grass
- devils-grass
- scutch-grass
- quick grass
- twitch-grass
- blue-point
- pond-grass
- quickens
- stroil
- wickens
- sear-grass
- Colorado blue-grass
- leaves rolled in the bud
- ligule membranous, very short
- collar broad, continuous
- auricles claw-like, slender, clasping the stem
- sheaths not compressed, lower sheaths with short hairs, upper sheaths smooth
- blades flat, 1/4 inch wide, rough on the upper surface, smooth below, pointed
Quackgrass can be confused with tall fescue and ryegrass. The dead give-away for quackgrass are the auricles that clasp the stem. Homeowners complaining of crabgrass in the early spring are most often seeing quackgrass or tall fescue. Quackgrass lacks the prominent mid-rib of ryegrass and is more prostrate than tall fescue.
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Quackgrass is not easy to manage with cultural practices. Hand digging is not very effective because of the well developed rhizomatous root system. Increased nitrogen fertilization and mowing frequency can be very effective at masking the presence of quackgrass in a turf. The quackgrass is most obvious during the spring and during drought conditions.
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