Quackgrass

Weeds

Agropyron repens, quitch grass, couch grass, wheat-grass, shelly-grass, knot-grass, devils-grass, scutch-grass, quick grass, twitch-grass, blue-point, pond-grass, quickens, stroil, wickens, sear-grass, Colorado blue-grass

Elytrigia repens

Photos

quackgrass4.jpg

Quackgrass is a common grassy weed of turfed areas. Quackgrass is a perennial and can often be spotted by its dull blue-green appearance. Because quackgrass spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) it responds very well to cultivation practices. It is common to have quackgrass contamination in unscreened topsoil. Each rhizome section has the ability to produce a new plant.

  • Crops Affected: turf

    Management

    Quackgrass is not easy to manage with cultural practices. Hand digging is not very effective because of the well developed rhizomatous root system. Increased nitrogen fertilization and mowing frequency can be very effective at masking the presence of quackgrass in a turf. The quackgrass is most obvious during the spring and during drought conditions.

    Similar Species

    Quackgrass can be confused with tall fescue and ryegrass. The dead give-away for quackgrass are the auricles that clasp the stem. Homeowners complaining of crabgrass in the early spring are most often seeing quackgrass or tall fescue. Quackgrass lacks the prominent mid-rib of ryegrass and is more prostrate than tall fescue.

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