[Sstengel1]

I seem to have an outbreak of weeds. I thought it was crabgrass but apparently it's still too early for that here right west of St. Louis mo.

Can anyone help me identify and then get rid of this crud?

 

[rockinmylawn]

Not sure but try here - you might have better luck than me trying to find a match:

https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/weeds-in-turf/

 

[Sstengel1]

Thank you for that!

Annual bluegrass maybe?

 

[w0lfe]

They have a huge weed ID thread on the warm season boards. Give it a shot over there

 

[thegrassfactor]

Close up 1 looks to be orchard grass
Close up 2 looks to be a volunteer rye?
Close up 3 looks like poa trivialis? Maybe bent?
Close up 4 looks like k31? Coarse fescue?

Best guesses

 

[Sstengel1]

So let's assume those are correct, what would be an appropriate response/plan of action? Just dig them up and reseed? I have some drive I can spray. Would it kill all of those?

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Might be best to spray with round-up first, leave them for a few days, then dig them up. That's probably the best way to make sure they don't grow back if you leave any roots when digging up the plants.

 

[Sstengel1]

Alright sounds good. You suggest round up, is that because it's just because it kills a broad spectrum of weeds and should take care of them?

 

[Togo]

Well "round-up" usually refers to glyphosate which is non-selective herbicide (although they now make a 'round-up for lawns' which is not the same thing). So it will kill everything but I think Snow's suggestion is based on the premise that the glyphosate will take hold, kill the plant down to the root, then after you've dug it up and say some root material is left behind, it's dead and this doesn't grow back.

Keep in mind everything you spray with round up, including good grass, will die. So don't go spraying everywhere.

 

[Sstengel1]

Well "round-up" usually refers to glyphosate which is non-selective herbicide (although they now make a 'round-up for lawns' which is not the same thing). So it will kill everything but I think Snow's suggestion is based on the premise that the glyphosate will take hold, kill the plant down to the root, then after you've dug it up and say some root material is left behind, it's dead and this doesn't grow back.

Keep in mind everything you spray with round up, including good grass, will die. So don't go spraying everywhere.

Alright thank you for the explanation. Sounds like I've got some work to do. But atleast I have a plan. I'll be sure to let ya know if I get stuck somewhere

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Oh geez yeah I guess I should of been more specific with my post. I shouldn't have just assumed you've used glyphosate before. Definitely don't want to get too crazy with spraying. It will kill everything it touches good or bad grass. Just stick to the areas you were going to dig up anyways and try not to get too much overspray on the surrounding area. Sometimes if there is any areas that have the undesired grass mixed in and growing taller than the good grass, like maybe in your 3rd picture, you can even try painting the taller grassy weed with glyphosate and a paint brush to hopefully kill the weed but not the good grass. It's time consuming but it can work.

 

[Sstengel1]

Ok. Yea I've never used that stuff before. But I will be careful with it. I had a couple small spots of this stuff last year and just thought I had a crabgrass infestation. So I went hard with the pre-m this year and a week later all this crap pops up. So I was pretty frustrated. But thank you for the help. This forum is a life saver

 

[social port]

@Sstengel1 one more tip: Glyphosate is best applied on non-windy days. Wind can cause spray drift, which will put your healthy grass at risk.

 

[Sstengel1]

@Sstengel1 one more tip: Glyphosate is best applied on non-windy days. Wind can cause spray drift, which will put your healthy grass at risk.

Ok good point. It's been nothing but windy for a while now. I might try a rag dipped in the stuff and rub it where I want it

 

[ryeguy]

That works. You could also use a paintbrush and a small cup filled with glyphosate and just go around painting weeds.

 

[chrisben]

Something like this can work too. It's a weed wand, you fill it with roundup (glysophate) and touch it where you want to kill, because there's no spray, there's no overspray, and keeps surrounding stuff safer.

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/products.php?mi=69081&itemnum=18022&redir=Y

 

[Sstengel1]

Something like this can work too. It's a weed wand, you fill it with roundup (glysophate) and touch it where you want to kill, because there's no spray, there's no overspray, and keeps surrounding stuff safer.

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/products.php?mi=69081&itemnum=18022&redir=Y

Yes thank you. That's basically what I wanted to do with a cut off hockey stick and a rag. Same concept