Key identifying traits
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Dense hairs cover the leaf blades on
both sides and the sheath
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Leaves are rolled in the bud and
lack auricles
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Leaves have a white mid-vein
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It has a fibrous root system
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Mature plants are 1 to 2’ tall
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A.K.A. ‘ticklegrass’
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Spikelets form a large open panicle
with stiff branches each producing a small single seed at the tip
Biology and ecology
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An annual grass reproducing by seed
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It is a nuisance in lawns and
gardens and is also found in waste areas and along roadsides
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It is found throughout the United
States
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Palatable for animals before seed
heads develop
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If harvested it will lower the
quality of hay
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other cover crops. Witchgrass does not
compete well with perennial grasses
Mechanical –
Cultivation or mowing before seed develops will control this plant.
Witchgrass can also be hand pulled
Chemical –the Crop Data Management
System currently has 5 pages of products to control witchgrass,
including glyphosate (Roundup) and pre-emergent herbicides that will
keep annual grasses from germinating
|
Richard Old, XID
Services, Inc |
