Quackgrass

Agropyron repens

Quackgrass is a perennial grass-like weed that is also known as Creeping Quackgrass or by its scientific name, Agropyron repens. Because it is extremely difficult to eradicate once established, Quackgrass can be considered a lawn weed in yards where it's not desired.

Identify

Long

Rhizomes

Membranous

Rolled

Creeping Quackgrass can be identified as a green- to silver-colored perennial grass—or grassy weed. Its ligule is very short, and its collar is broad and continuous. Creeping Quackgrass also features claw-like auricles that are slender and clasp close to the stem. Its sheaths are not compressed, and there are short hairs on the lower sheaths, but the upper sheaths are smooth. This lawn weed has flat, pointed blades that are rough on the upper surface and smooth below. Quackgrass features a seed head forming a spike containing two rows of spikelets. Long, sharp-tipped rhizomes are also formed and are very aggressive. Quackgrass remains green year-round.

Life Cycle

This part-time lawn weed is often found growing in agronomic crops, lawns and other landscaping. Quackgrass can be found throughout much of the United States, with the exception of some of the southeasternmost areas near Florida and Louisiana. These perennial grassy weeds can germinate and spread from seeds, but they also produce a root structure (tubers, bulbs or corms) that can birth new weeds from your lawn's surface (using stolons) or from underground (using rhizomes). Perennial grassy weeds live two or more years and have a deeper root structure that can give rise to new weeds—even if you no longer see the weeds in your lawn.

Control

Quackgrass is very difficult to manage with cultural weed control practices such as proper watering and mowing. Physical removal—such as hand-pulling lawn weeds or digging—is also not successful due to the aggressive, well-developed rhizomes present in the root system. For effective weed removal, professionally selected and applied weed control treatments are your best bet for eradication.