Quackgrass

Information

Elytrigia repens - Poaceae Family

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Identification

Flowers: The seed head grows to about 3 to 8 inches long and appear in July.
Seeds: Spreads both by seed and rhizomes.
Leaves: The leaf blades are up to a ½ inch wide. Near the tip, the leaves have a band-like constriction.
Flowering Time: June to August.
Life cycle: Quackgrass is a 1-3 foot tall rhizomatous perennial that spreads by rhizomes and seeds. The rhizomes are creamy white to yellowish colored and pointed.

Impacts

Quackgrass is a highly competitive agricultural weed. It can significantly reduce crop yields, and seed contamination of seed grain crops reduces the value of the harvest.

Most effective control methods

A good healthy lawn will outcompete Quackgrass and reduce the likelihood of its establishment. One approach to do this is to increase nitrogen fertilizer and mowing.
Chemical applications can yield good results if repeated and used with reseeding. Products containing glyphosate are effective but must be repeated.
Because Quackgrass is a rhizomatous plant, mechanical controls that sever rhizomes usually result in an increase in new plants. An aggressive rhizome system will spread into adjacent areas. Under good conditions, a small patch of Quackgrass can increase 6 feet in diameter during one growing season.

Quackgrass

Quackgrass: stems and foliage

Quackgrass: root system

Quackgrass: infestation

Quackgrass: stem with leaf collar

Quackgrass: seed

Quackgrass: flowers

Quackgrass: root system