Lawn & Turf Tips:  Goosegrass

Goosegrass

Description

Resembles crabgrass but is darker green and has silver center.  Goosegrass stems are smooth and flat.  They form a rosette resembling wheel spokes.  Leaf blades ar 2" - 10" high and 1/5" wide.  It germinates when soil temps are 60°-65° F, seversl weeks after crabgrass.  It multiplies from seeds and expands by spreading.  It has an extensive root system.  It does not root at stem joints.  Seeds a re produced on stalks 2-6" high.  Stalks appear from July-Oct.  Mature plants die with first frost.  Seeds are dormant over winter.  It prefers compacted soils with poor drainage and light, frequent watering.     

Cultural Control

Aerate turf, provide good drainage, water turf for longer periods and .less often.  

Chemical Control

Use a treatment containing calcium acid methanearsonate or a glyph sate compound.