Invasive Weed Invades

[DrRod]

Greetings,

About two years ago I started noticing this thin leafed weed was gaining a foothold on my place. Just around the edges a bit but now its taking over. Its all over the yard and is dominating a couple of large fields. I should probably have a picture for this but, in any case, my question is -- can I put down a weed and feed type application on my yard this time of year? Or at least in early fall. I don't want to wait until spring if I don't have to but I've always heard that spring is the time to treat lawns for weeds.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[the old grind]

Fall can be a good time for a weed-n-feed application, and many herbicides do best with a touch of fertilizer added to improve uptake. Whether what you plan to use will be effective is another matter altogether. The worst invasives are quackgrass and common reedgrass, both rhizomes, therefore difficult to control, and easily spread by breaking up the ground. btw: Springtime is ideal for applying pre-emergents (germination preventers for annual weeds). Other products aren't as particular, but weeds should be growing when applied and not dormant as during a drought or in late Fall.

How about we identify exactly what we're dealing with? If 'thin leafed' is a grass, is it one of these?
Quackgrass Management: An Integrated Approach — Weed Management — Penn State Extension
Invasive Plants of Ohio - Factsheet 5 - Common Reed Grass

Most anything else is easy by comparison. Can you narrow it down for us without pics? Wind drift during application and runoff afterward may limit what's best to use.

 

[DrRod]

I don't really see it on any of these sites. Quackgrass is close but my stuff grows in dense vertical stands with long tiny purple seed heads in spring. Its very soft and doesn't have much resistance to it -- i.e. you walk over it a couple of times and its destroyed. I should have taken a picture before posting here so will do so in a week [when I get back to my farm].

In the mean time, I'll check out the claims on various lawn chemicals.

 

[the old grind]

This may be one of the 'bluestems', a variety of bunchgrasses that are somewhat fragile tho' not easily controlled, but there are many other wild species with reddish or purplish seed heads. Things to note are o'all height, colors/branching just above the base/root, details at leaflet/stem junctions, long runner-roots (rhizomes).

http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2010/08/9679_6625.pdf

Hopefully others will be on board by the time you can post pics, and you may want to take samples to your local extension service for identification.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Maryland Department of Natural Resources has many good resources pertaining to invasives. PA DNR has similar and sometimes better resources - depending on which variety. Both will provide advice on eradication. Soon is always good, and sometimes you need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Be aggressive before it takes over. Don't ask how I know...

 

[dusty3030]

This time is as good as any depending on what you are trying to control and depending on what the weather is like. Most of the time extremes reduce how effective a chemical will be. Example really dry, really wet, really cold, really hot. So if dry you may have to water in order to get the chemical to work.

Next, pre-emerge. If it is a weed that can be controlled with a pre emerge then fall is often the best time to apply.

I'd probably skip the weed and feed until you first identify what it is you are trying to control. Then if a weed and feed product is labeled to control it, then follow the label and go for it.
If it is another product, then use that instead and do fertilizer separately if needed.

Need to identify the plant first, then what works in your region second.
Example, most pigweed species in my area are Roundup resistant. Same one in your area may not be. Labels and online label information as well as information from your extension service will help you out.

Not trying to get too detailed here on your question, but you can spend a lot in a hurry on something like this and want you to get the most bang for your buck.

 

[flamom]

Have you identified the plant yet? If we have trouble identifying a plant in Florida, our local Agriculture Extension Office can usually help. Do you have something similar available to help you? Perhaps you could send them a pic?

 

[forgeblast]

Purple loosestrife identification - Invasive species: Minnesota DNR sounds like purple loosestrife
Purple Loosestrife: What you should know, what you can do | Aquatic Invasive Species | Minnesota Sea Grant some control measures

 

[kubota4me]

Could it be crown vetch by any chance?

 

[DrRod]

Thanks but I don't think so. The seed/flower head is much thinner, really small.

 

[DrRod]

Not crown vetch. I have some of this too and it is happily marching down my fence rows. I'd like to kill it too but for now its less of a problem.

The closest thing I've seen is Japanese stiltgrass. But I'm still not sure.

One thing I've noticed about a lot of the informational sites [government or private] is that they list the plants by name, not pictures. You can click on each name to get to a picture but its a bit inefficient. If I knew the name, I wouldn't be looking on their site. Just another first-world problem.

 

[s219]

Just a note, broadleaf weed killers (such as what you find in weed and feed) won't kill grassy weeds. So it's important to determine what you're dealing with. Post a pic and I can take a shot at ID.

 

[DrRod]

Good point - maybe that's why its is triving so well when most other weeds in the lawn have been eliminated. Or course, it seems to be dominating some fields as well and they get no treatment.

While I might find some around here [Maryland], I probably won't be able to get a picture of it until I return to PA this weekend. So everyone stand by -- don't go anywhere until I return.

Thanks,

Rod

 

[DrRod]

OK - I've pictures. But I have to confess I can't figure out how to attach them to the message. I'm sure its obvious but I'm missing it. Please help by pointing me in the right direction.

Thanks,

Rod

 

[Dozernut]

Kind of sounds like Ajuga also known as Carpetweed or Bugleweed, but without a picture it is hard to tell. They are invasive and will take over a yard.

 

[DrRod]

I don't think its either of those.

If someone will tell me how to upload a picutre we can take a look.

 

[DrRod]

Ok - I think I've got it.

These are about 6 - 8 inches high and seem to like shade a bit more than sun . . . but its not averse to growing out in the open. And it is just everywhere.

Thanks for your help.

 

[MacLawn]

It's not that congon grass, is it? Hate all this invasive non native mess! Snakes, bugs, weeds, carp (yep, them too ain't native), on and on...

 

[DrRod]

No - it doesn't get that big or have a plume on it. Just a very tiny purple seed head about two inches long.

 

[toppop52]

I've had some of that here on the Eastern Shore, it seems the heavy rain allowing the planted grasses to flourish has all but eliminated it from my yard. My son in law is a horticulturist and a manager for John Deere Landscaping. He did a custom seed mix for me that has all but removed it, find very little now and no real colonies.