How to Get Rid of Barnyard Grass in 4 Simple Steps

Hot conditions and lack of moisture can lead to thinning of lawns and weeds appearance. Barnyard grass is likely to occur during the summer season. It thrives and competes for essential nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium.

This grassy weed spreads through weed, water, and animal and can affect the appearance of your lawn. Thus, it is good to act fast to remove and control it before it spreads to the entire lawn.

If you notice the presence of barnyard grass in your lawn, this step-by-step guide on how to get rid of barnyard grass will help you. It involves both cultural and chemical practices to control weed in turf.

Steps on How to Get Rid Of Barnyard Grass

1. Barnyard grass identification

There are different methods of controlling certain types of weeds. Thus, you need to know the type of weed you are dealing with before implementing any control method.

Barnyard grass is easy to identify. It features a unique seed head that is purple and has end bristles of 2-8 inches. The stems and leaves are smooth and can be rough near the tip. Also, you will find seeds developing on the stem.

How to Get Rid Of Barnyard Grass

2. Check the severity of the weed

Barnyard thrives more than other grasses. It occurs from June to October and can produce over 2400 pounds of seeds per acre. When inspecting the presence of the weed, it is good to focus on its severity and maturity level.

With this, you will get an idea of the method to use. For instance, in a case where barnyard grass is severe, hand pulling cannot be a good solution.

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3. Control the barnyard grass

Barnyard does not have deep roots like other grass types. Thus, you can use hand-pulling method to control it. However, hand-pull can be a headache because the grass can grow back. If you are looking for a way to get rid of barnyard grass completely, chemical treatment can be a good option.

A non-selective herbicide for barnyard grass can help to kill the weed. But you need to be keen since this chemical can damage your lawn. That’s why it is recommended to use a spot treatment method with a post-emergent herbicide.

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Here are tips for treating barnyard

Various herbicides can kill barnyard grass. But if you want a weed killer for an already emerged barnyard grass, Martin’s Eraser A/P Herbicide can be a good solution.

It has 41% Glyphosate, an ingredient that works through the weed to the root killing the whole plant. 

  • Start by measuring the square footage of the treatment area to determine the amount of herbicide you require. You can use 2.5 oz of the herbicide to spot treat 300 sq. ft.
  • Use a fine tip nozzle to spray the herbicide on barnyard grass while ensuring that the chemical does not get into contact with the lawn. 
  • The weed will start to die after some time. But if changes fail to occur after 7-10 days, you will need to repeat the treatment. 
  • If the barnyard resists the herbicide, it is good to consult a lawn care company to see which alternatives they can use to eliminate the weed.

4. Prevent barnyard grass from growing back

Barnyard grass can grow back if you fail to implement the necessary practices. Barnyard is a fast grower and occurs in summer. Thus, it is suitable to apply a pre-emergent herbicide in spring before you notice the presence of the weed. 

You can use Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular to prevent the return of the weed. This weed killer contains Prodiamine, an effective ingredient that prevents weed seeds from sprouting.

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FAQs about Removing Barnyard Grass

Which is the best herbicide for barnyard grass?

Barnyard grass can be a problem for many grass lawns. But you can kill it by the use of a post-emergent herbicide that contains Glyphosate. Glyphosate is a good way of killing perennial and annual weeds to the root. This ingredient works well with growing plants but cannot be effective as a pre-emergent herbicide.

It works by preventing the weeds from producing proteins needed for growth. This hinders weeds’ seeds from germinating.

Herbicides that contain Glyphosate include:

  • Martin’s Eraser 41% Systemic Herbicide
  • Agrisel Gly Pho-Sel Pro 41% (Glyphosate Herbicide)
  • Roundup Promax – High Concentrate Glyphosate 48.7%
  • Most of the herbicides that contain Glyphosate are pocket-friendly. They range from $16-$120. Choosing the best weed killer will depend on your budget and the method of application. If you want to use the herbicide safely, it is good to read the label and follow the manufacturers’ guidelines.
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    Can you get rid of barnyard grass using manual methods?

    Yes, you can remove barnyard grass by a hand-pulling method. This technique can only be effective if you eliminate the weed before it produces seeds or develops a large root system. But it can be expensive and time-consuming because you will need labor to perform the task.

    But herbicide for barnyard grass can eliminate the weed with just one application. All you need is to follow the necessary steps to make the weed killer more effective.

    How can you prevent barnyard grass from coming back after treatment?

    Management practices that enhance the growth of your desirable grass will discourage competition from barnyard grass. Some of the effective cultural control measures include:

  • Good mowing practices
  • Proper watering
  • Disease and insect control
  • Use of pre-emergent herbicide
  • Having a well-planned fertilization program
  • Feeding your yard regularly with water and fertilizer can encourage lawn growth, leaving no room for barnyard grass. Thus, it would be best if you create a lawn management program. With this, your land will remain healthy, free from weeds.

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    Maintaining your lawn is a good way of preventing barnyard grass from taking over. If you create a proper fertilization and watering program, you’ll be providing your lawn with food and nutrients all season long.

    With this, your lawn will thrive, and there will be fewer chances for barnyard grass to grow.

    But if barnyard grass invades your lawn, you can implement steps on how to get rid of barnyard grass to make your grass healthy again.

    Author

    • Ricky

      Hi, I’m Ricky. I’ve been involved in lawn care and landscaping from when I was 15. To be honest, I didn’t like the idea of pushing mowers, collecting grass clippings, and maintaining flowerbeds at the time. But having seem the passion my parents had for gardening and outdoors and the effort they put in maintaining the health and beauty of our landscape, I couldn’t help but not only admire their hard work but also I became a part of it. As someone who loves to spend time with nature’s best, I find myself learning a lot more about gardening and outdoors on a daily basis. Not to mention I love to share the knowledge I’ve gathered over the years with my readers at We Mow Dallas. To be clear, I don’t have a Master’s degree in gardening or anything like that. Everything I’ve learned about gardening, landscaping, and lawn care spring from passion and engagement with my parents. And with a ton of free information out there, plus the ability to run tests and determine what works best for lawn care and landscaping, every day is an opportunity to learn and implement something new. My goal with We Mow Dallas is to teach you exactly how to maintain your lawn and landscape. And since I walk the talk in reality, you shouldn’t hesitate to join me in this wonderful world of landscaping and lawn care.

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