Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
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- Posts: 40
- Joined: May 23rd, 2019, 2:53 pm
- Location: Central Minnesota
- Grass Type: KBG, Rye, Fescue blend
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Some Experience
Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
Hey guys,
Pretty discouraged today. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I don't know that anyone else will either, but I'm at a loss. This is my second year with this lawn and I have been taking care of what looks to be a generic Northern Mix lawn. It has been looking fairly good, seven great at times, but the one thing I struggle with is weed control.
I had an issue with quackgrass last year that was already here and I figured by continuing to practice good habbits, with fertilizing, mowing and watering, that the grass would eventually start to outcompete it. I was fully aware that some areas might get bigger and just need to be killed off, but now it seems that quackgrass has over taken my entire lawn, even in areas that were completely free of it last year.
My assumption is that sonce the grass seems to be thriving, that the same things are helping quackgrass that was already in the lawn and now it's starting to thrive too. I had just hoped that a thick stand of turf would have kept it at bay.
Is there any hope for a lawn full of quackgrass? Part of me wants to kill it all and just start the lawn over, but I am concerned that the quackgrass will just grow in a new lawn too. Clearly I'm doing something wrong I just don't know what. The clover is much worse this year than last year too. The grass itself looks better than last year, but the weeds have gotten worse as well.
Any tips or advice? Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post.
I mow at 3 - 3.5 inches depending on weather.
I dont have irrigation, so i only water spots as they start to show signs of stress.
Use Scotts green max in spring and milorganite in summer. Just did double rate of milorganite 11 days ago.
Half shade half sun NoMix.
Just mowed. Looks good in pic, but quackgrass is sprinkled in everywhere.
Mowed 2 days ago
Close up of bad spot of quackgrass that wasn't here last year.
Pretty discouraged today. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I don't know that anyone else will either, but I'm at a loss. This is my second year with this lawn and I have been taking care of what looks to be a generic Northern Mix lawn. It has been looking fairly good, seven great at times, but the one thing I struggle with is weed control.
I had an issue with quackgrass last year that was already here and I figured by continuing to practice good habbits, with fertilizing, mowing and watering, that the grass would eventually start to outcompete it. I was fully aware that some areas might get bigger and just need to be killed off, but now it seems that quackgrass has over taken my entire lawn, even in areas that were completely free of it last year.
My assumption is that sonce the grass seems to be thriving, that the same things are helping quackgrass that was already in the lawn and now it's starting to thrive too. I had just hoped that a thick stand of turf would have kept it at bay.
Is there any hope for a lawn full of quackgrass? Part of me wants to kill it all and just start the lawn over, but I am concerned that the quackgrass will just grow in a new lawn too. Clearly I'm doing something wrong I just don't know what. The clover is much worse this year than last year too. The grass itself looks better than last year, but the weeds have gotten worse as well.
Any tips or advice? Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post.
I mow at 3 - 3.5 inches depending on weather.
I dont have irrigation, so i only water spots as they start to show signs of stress.
Use Scotts green max in spring and milorganite in summer. Just did double rate of milorganite 11 days ago.
Half shade half sun NoMix.
Just mowed. Looks good in pic, but quackgrass is sprinkled in everywhere.
Mowed 2 days ago
Close up of bad spot of quackgrass that wasn't here last year.
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
Who identified it as Quackgrass? Do you have a close-up of an unmowed plant, especially if you can find one with seedheads?I had an issue with quackgrass last year
When does it show up, and does it die back with the frost?the same things are helping quackgrass that was already in the lawn and now it's starting to thrive too
I see Clover and Quackgrass mentioned, but no mention of what herbicides have been tried. I also see no mention of a Pre-M being used.but the one thing I struggle with is weed control.
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- Posts: 40
- Joined: May 23rd, 2019, 2:53 pm
- Location: Central Minnesota
- Grass Type: KBG, Rye, Fescue blend
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
It is my identification. It seems like a fairly common weed around here. I had it at my last home too. I have never been 100% certain, but it has clasping auricles and rhizomes and based off of it's color and overall look the most likely thing seemed like quackgrass. I will see if I can find one with seed heads and post the pic. There might be one in a flower bed.
It's pretty much there right away in the spring. I can't say for certain if it dies back with the frost. I would say it is less prominant in the fall though, yes.
I use triclopyr on the clover with success, but it keeps popping up in different places all over the lawn. I DID NOT use a pre em. I always thought it was more of a crabgrass preventative and didn't consider it for other weeds, I'm not sure why. I just had it in my head that I don't have much crabgrass so I skipped the pre em so that i could use the green max. I wrote in my notes early on USE A PRE EM NEXT YEAR. However, do you think this would help the quackgrass (if it is quackgrass)?
It's pretty much there right away in the spring. I can't say for certain if it dies back with the frost. I would say it is less prominant in the fall though, yes.
I use triclopyr on the clover with success, but it keeps popping up in different places all over the lawn. I DID NOT use a pre em. I always thought it was more of a crabgrass preventative and didn't consider it for other weeds, I'm not sure why. I just had it in my head that I don't have much crabgrass so I skipped the pre em so that i could use the green max. I wrote in my notes early on USE A PRE EM NEXT YEAR. However, do you think this would help the quackgrass (if it is quackgrass)?
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Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
Following this thread because I get that grassy weed too. I usually pull it but I think tenacity also takes it out.
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
No, use it THIS year when the weather starts to cool a little bit (late August - Labor Day). *AND* next Spring.I wrote in my notes early on USE A PRE EM NEXT YEAR
There is an herbicide that can selectively take out Quackgrass. It works (as long as you don't have Tall Fescue), but it isn't labeled for Cool-Season grasses. It was, but the muddy, sick look that it can give your lawn for a while apparently had them take it off the label. It's far from cheap, but it works. It's "Certainty". If you find the original label document (easy to find), it could selectively solve the Quackgrass (assuming your ID is right).
Tenacity is hit-or-miss (mostly miss) on Quackgrass. Yes, it whitens, No, it doesn't kill.Following this thread because I get that grassy weed too. I usually pull it but I think tenacity also takes it out.
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- Posts: 40
- Joined: May 23rd, 2019, 2:53 pm
- Location: Central Minnesota
- Grass Type: KBG, Rye, Fescue blend
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
Okay! I will go ahead and start doing pre em in fall and spring.
I've read about Certainty, but wasn't sure if anyone was getting good control of quackgrass and not killing their good grass too. I think it's probably worth a shot.
Thanks for your advice.
I've read about Certainty, but wasn't sure if anyone was getting good control of quackgrass and not killing their good grass too. I think it's probably worth a shot.
Thanks for your advice.
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- Posts: 12
- Joined: June 20th, 2020, 2:36 pm
- Location: SoMn
- Grass Type: No Mix
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- Level: Experienced
Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
Dithiopyr as a pre-m in the fall, prodiamine as a pre-m in the spring, quinclorac with a sticker as a post em as early as it pops out.
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
- Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
- Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
- Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
I have never seen Quinclorac work on Quackgrass. But I'm not surprised that people claim it works, as there is often confusion between crabgrass and quackgrass.
I don't know of any formulations of Quinclorac that claim control of Quackgrass.
I don't know of any formulations of Quinclorac that claim control of Quackgrass.
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- Posts: 12
- Joined: June 20th, 2020, 2:36 pm
- Location: SoMn
- Grass Type: No Mix
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Weeds Are Out of Control In Otherwise Decent Lawn
I have quack- "furry" feel and stands upright , and crab that has a reddish color near the base and lays flat. It seems to work on both , maybe it stunts the quack allowing the real lawn to crowd out? Barring that I guess meso 2 or glyph may be the best bet?
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