Removing the Annual Ryegrass in lawn?

BGnicegreen – posted 24 July 2006 15:32

I am in Indiana and have sod in the front yard and seed in the back (new yard this year). The sod looks great and I got a decent amount of grass growing in the back this spring (Scotts Sun&Shade mix). Suddenly, I’m finding weird grass popping up in the sod. I believe it is Annual Ryegrass after searching the web for pictures. It is reddish toward the bottom of the stems, in bunches, and grows much quicker than the rest of the sod (which I think is Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue). So, my question is

1)Do I mechanically remove it?2)Will it die out this winter, leaving the good looking stuff.3)Do I just ignore it cause it is OK to have it in the sod. I hate the look of it.

Also, I have lots of this in the back yard, but I’m not as concerned about it. I believe it is included in the mix seed I put down, so it is understandable.

Got lots more questions, but I’ll start with this. Looks like a very useful forum. Thanks for the help.

BG

cohiba – posted 26 July 2006 15:27

Have a professional look at the plant. I suspect it is not Annual Ryegrass but reserve comment on what it may be. If it is annual rye it will die out on its own over the summer. Can you post some pictures?

Thinkin’ its a weed………..

BGnicegreen – posted 29 July 2006 09:36

actually, you are right, it is not what I thought it was. After more searching, and looking at the auricle/sheath/seedhead,etc… it is indeed the dreaded crabgrass. Looks like I may have some yellow foxtail also. So…crabgrass needs to be taken care of in the spring with a preventer, right?? Will it die out over the winter? Is there an actual crabgrass killer? The weed killer doesn’t work on it obviously. Thanks for the reply!!

BG

cohiba – posted 30 July 2006 10:30

Crabgrass is best handled peventatively. The best,best way is with split applications timed for your area. The only real post emergence herbicides that work are Acclaim, and Drive. MSMA is labelled for it but I have not tried it yet. I will be doing some large scale testing next week after the heat wave.

Good Luck…………..