Orchardgrass

This grassy perennial weed often infests cool-season lawns, especially K-31 tall fescue lawns, where it is often a seed contaminant. Orchardgrass is a perennial, cool-season grass characterized by clumps of light green to bluish-green foliage, flat stems, and a distinct ligule at the base of the blade. Orchardgrass spreads via seed or tillers from the central plant. Because of its lighter color, coarse texture, and faster growth, orchardgrass is not desirable in the home lawn. Unfortunately, controlling grass within a grass is difficult, and the only control method is with a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate, spot spraying the areas with undesirable grass, and replanting desirable turf in that spot. The best way to keep orchard grass out of your lawn is to prevent it in the first place. Be sure to read the label of any lawn seed you purchase and check the “other crop seed” portion to ensure it is zero. Unfortunately, K-31 fescue is almost always contaminated with orchardgrass, so I would avoid planting that cultivar unless the contamination is not a concern.

 

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu