Tequila is for Mexicans, Saki is for Japanese, and for us, the nation of lawn care lovers, a luscious green lawn provides the lush we want.
But the bubble buster comes when your grass starts to look like a wheat field, and you can’t recall having growing wheat on your property; now, you’re left wondering why your grass looks like wheat. There’s no reason to be concerned because some weedy grasses resemble wheat.
These weeds may have found a way into your yard; this article will detail these grasses that look like wheat and explain how to get rid of them.
Contents
Grasses that look like wheat
1. Giant foxtail
This weed frequently appears in our yards as spring approaches. This annual weed has wider blades than typical lawn grass and hairy leaves on the upper side, growing up to 12 inches long.
I’ll bet you a shiny nickel that you’ll come across this grass no matter where you travel. It grows tall, reaching a total height of 16 inches. It is carrying its fluffy seed head that resembles a fox’s tail on a tall smooth stalk as if appealing for your attention.
Meanwhile, if the foxtail begs for your attention, don’t neglect it because it will crowd your lawn. Find a way to get rid of it as quickly as feasible. The good news is that when your lawn is thick and robust, there is no room for this alien grass to take root.
Giant foxtail thrives in both moist and dry soil; if you see any on your lawn, uproot it to prevent it from repopulating and apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent its re-emergence.
2. Couch grass/ Quackgrass
Did you know that Quackgrass’ scientific name translates to ‘sudden field of fire’ in Latino? It’s no surprise that this invasive grass has received a slew of derogatory nicknames, like devil’s grass and witch’s grass. When it grows seedheads, this grass mimics wheat.
This grass is a monster in residential lawns, spreading rapidly with its rhizomes and seeds. Its rhizomes feature a pointed end that pierces the soil, allowing the grass to thrive in any soil. The wheat-like flower spike of Quackgrass emerges from May to September. However, waiting for these 6-inch little blooms to mature will damage your lawn.
To successfully manage this cool-season grass, you must eliminate it while it is still young. Some people find it difficult to identify juvenile Quackgrass, but it is rather simple. The grass has rough, wide blades and auricles, projections that resemble two clasping fingers near the base of the stem where the blades begin.
Hand plucking is not a good way to control this wheat-like plant since you risk breaking the rhizomes in the soil, which will cause more trouble. Herbicides such as roundup will be the best alternative because they do not react to specific weed killers.
3. Ryegrass
This cool-season grass has a seed head similar to wheat, although it does not have a dense seed head like Quackgrass.
This grass is considered an invasive species in certain locations, while others consider it a cool-season turf grass with an excellent reputation for generating a rich lawn.
Ryegrass can grow 3 feet tall, with leaves that fold inwards at the bud and have a lustrous underside. It has a reddish stem at the base.
It’s an excellent grass to use as cover grass, but if you leave it alone, it can grow seedheads like wheat, giving your lawn a bad look.
See also: Is sod the same as grass?
4. Barnyard grass
The barnyard grass has a thick stem that grows erect, reaching 5 feet tall. The stem bears a fuzzy seed head it produces when mature, making it look like wheat.
The pinnacle seed head has a dark purple or green tint. They appear spikey and grow to reach up to 8 inches tall. The leaves have a prominent white vine and are rolled inwards.
This annual invasive grass usually pops up in lawns around August. It is easier to identify, simply peel the grass leaf back from the stem, and you will notice it has a maroon base and no auricle.
Barnyard grass is opportunistic; when your lawn is stressed and starts to thin out, the barnyard grass seeds will start to germinate. Once established, the grass spreads by seeds overcrowding your lawn.
You can eliminate the grass by crowding it out or by regular close mowing. Also, herbicides can work, but some variants of the barnyard grass are resilient against roundup.
5. Dallisgrass
This weedy grass appears on our lawns throughout the warmer months of the year and is a common sight in Texas’s southern region. The Dallisgrass thrives in moist and dry soil, and its rhizomes drive many homeowners insane.
See also: Best lawn thickener
Dallisgrass has a peculiar tall seed head that sticks out like a sore thumb from the top when left unmowed, giving it the appearance of wheat. This grass grows to a height of 5 inches and forms clumps that gradually form a distinctive circular pattern.
Many homeowners have found it difficult to control this grass, but the easiest approach to get rid of it is to use a glyphosate-containing pesticide.
See also: Recommended fertilizers for yellow grass
6. Hare Barley
This grass, also known as winter barley or wild barley, is an invasive weed that is a widespread problem in the western states. Its seed head is long and bushy, similar to wheat.
See also: Grass varieties with white seed heads
This annual cool-season grass grows to be 3 feet tall on your lawn and quickly colonizes it.
Hare barley has auricles that are well developed and adhere to erect stems. The leaves are flat, narrow, rolled in the bud, and hairy. To effectively control this weed, use herbicides.
See also: Common invasive grass types
Various types of grass look like wheat, but you should not allow them to settle and joyfully sprout on your lawn.
Keeping your guard is the greatest way to win the struggle against weeds. In this scenario, simply keeping your lawn thick and healthy is sufficient to eliminate grasses that look like wheat.
Reference
University of Missouri; Identifying Grass Seedlings
