skip to main content

Renovation need help ID'ing bad grasses

16 years ago

Overall, my renovation is going pretty good as far as germination. I do have some spots that haven't filled in, but I seeded in the middle/end of September and much of that is coming in now. I'll be posting status pictures today.

The problem I had is that I RU'd my lawn at least 5-6 times in some places. In August, we had an incredible run of rain in my area every weekend, when I was RU'ing. We'll, I had thought I had killed everything pretty good. I now see the below grasses and I want to make sure of the ID of them before I decide to attack them (maybe RU in the spring if it's perennial grass).

How it looks on the lawn

{{gwi:119850}}

Closeup #1

{{gwi:119851}}

Closeup #2

{{gwi:119852}}

Closeup #3

{{gwi:119853}}

I feel like a real dumbo asking this question, but what is this grass? How bad is it? Is my renovation ruined wherever this grass is?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

subywu
16 years ago
I would not worry about those grasses this year. Your main job is to get your new grass healthy and growing. Next spring is when to concentrate on pre- and post emergent control of weeds.
zhotster
Original Author
16 years ago
subywu, thanks for your reply. The reason I'm worried is that my lawn was overrun by quackgrass before my renovation and I think this might be it again.

I'm so concerned that I just got in from a round of "ready to apply" Spectracide grass killer on my front lawn. Someone (I need to find that thread) suggested to put on a rubber glove and a cloth glove over that to work on individual plants. Since this grass is taller than my new grass, I just spent about 90 minutes wiping down this grass in my front yard. I think this is perennial quack, which means that it will come back in full force next spring.

That is why I was hoping for ID. It has started to spread and if it's quack I'm in trouble.

If anyone can confirm quack, or that it's just an annual, I would appreciate it! Thanks...
Related Discussions
Need Help ID-ing Grass
Q
Comments (2)
Hmm, it doesn't look like any of the common grass weeds around here. If it has round shoots I'd say it's more likely a spike rush (Eleocharis) which we have growing in all the low wet spots of our yard. I've never heard of it invading raised beds though. Are stems hollow?
...See More
Need help ID'ing (and getting rid of) this weed!
Q
Comments (6)
Definitely not Garlic Mustard, it does not spread vegetatively (thank goodness, it's bad enough as it is!!). Definitely not Wild Ginger, at least not the native one. Unfortunately, I don't know what it actually is! Reminds me of some Campanula I saw in another thread, at least that's the best ID they came up with (on Name That Plant). Doesn't it ever flower? Here is a link that might be useful: Very invasive but what is it?
...See More
I inherited this herb garden, need help ID'ing herbs
Q
Comments (9)
Where do you live? (state, zone?) Is this a recent photo -i.e., are these growing now? I enlarged each picture a lot. Reading top row, L to R: 1, 2, could well be alyssum but the foliage does not seem quite right to me) but 6 definitely is alyssum (which actually IS an herb - Google it!). I agree with the consensus on #3; looks like grass but if you pluck some of the leaves & smells & tastes like an onion, it is chives. I believe #4 is a petunia (also may be considered an herb due to some ways petunias have been used; e.g., as a tisane- yuck - and the leaves as a pest repellent). Row 2, L to R: Number 5 is haunting me; I should know it, but I think it is something generally sold up where I live as an annual in a hanging basket (like a verbena). Number 7 is thyme; w/o being able to smell it cannot say which cultivar, but it looks like English/French/winter or whatever "ordinary" culinary thyme is, depending on what nursery sells it & what they name it. The last one certainly is a rosemary.
...See More
Need help ID'ing weed type
Q
Comments (0)
In the summer of 2017, I began a total lawn reno, spraying everything with RoundUp and starting over with a grass mix of mostly perennial rye with some KBG and TTTF mixed in (I live in eastern MA). My main nemesis was KY-31 and after two years I thought I had a good handle on it until I saw this patch a few days ago. I'm almost positive it's Kentucky 31, especially by the feel of it, but before I spray it with more RU, can anyone confirm my thoughts? If the pics aren't great, I can try to take more, but the sun hasn't come out in a few days so it's hard to get a decent picture.
...See More
subywu
16 years ago
I have never seen Quackgrass before and when I looked it up, the ID pics look distressingly similar to the pics you posted. Given that you've had it in the past, I think you have to assume that it IS indeed Quackgrass and continue to individually treat the blades. Sorry for my initial response.
zhotster
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks again Subywu! If I get rid of this quackgrass I have a chance of getting a lawn headed towards the way yours looks - your lawn has a near perfect look!

I'm afraid I may have to reno quite a few spots in the spring when it's all said and done. It could be worse, I guess! I'm going to keep going at the quack with the Spectracide for the rest of the growing season, maybe I can knock out 90% of it!

Related Stories

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: 38 Years of Renovations Help Artists Live Their Dream

By Esther Hershcovich

Twin art studios. Space for every book and model ship. After four decades of remodeling, this farmhouse has two happy homeowners

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 5 Savvy Fixes to Help Your Home Sell

By Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Get the maximum return on your spruce-up dollars by putting your money in the areas buyers care most about

MOST POPULAR 7 Ways to Design Your Kitchen to Help You Lose Weight

By Mitchell Parker

In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better

REMODELING GUIDES Wisdom to Help Your Relationship Survive a Remodel

By Mitchell Parker

Spend less time patching up partnerships and more time spackling and sanding with this insight from a Houzz remodeling survey

Ideabook 911: I Need Help Staging for Resale

By Becky Harris

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Be a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 10 Low-Cost Tweaks to Help Your Home Sell

By Lurdes Abruscato

Put these inexpensive but invaluable fixes on your to-do list before you put your home on the market

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 10 Tricks to Help Your Bathroom Sell Your House

By Mink Home Staging

As with the kitchen, the bathroom is always a high priority for home buyers. Here’s how to showcase your bathroom so it looks its best

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

LIFE 12 House-Hunting Tips to Help You Make the Right Choice

By Laura Gaskill

Stay organized and focused on your quest for a new home, to make the search easier and avoid surprises later

Sponsored

More Discussions

Giardia Prevention Help

2

Plastic netting in lawn starter

2

ultrasonic rat devices

0

Help for lawn in Zone 3! This is its second spring.

1

Lawn care Zone 3

1