How To Get Rid Of Wild-Grown Tall Fescue

Wild-grown Tall fescue is a cool-season grass commonly used as turf, but it is highly invasive and can spread rapidly. A healthy lawn typically consists of a single species of turf for uniformity and easier maintenance.

If you have wild-grown tall fescue growing where it should not, then we will show you how to identify this weed, how to get rid of it from your property, and how to prevent it from growing back.

Keep reading this article to find out how we @pestclue get rid of the Wild-grown Tall Fescue in your lawns.

 

How Do We Identify the Wild-Grown Tall Fescue in Your Lawn?

The first thing you should do in any pest control plan is identify what exactly you are dealing with. Careless identification can lead to the wrong treatment methods, which can cost you time and money.

The wild-grown tall fescue actively grows in relatively cooler temperatures as a weed. This grass grows in bunches similar to crabgrass, which can reach up to 6½ feet in height.

The grass blades grow up to 28 inches long and up to two-fifths of an inch in width, and they have prominent textured veins.

This grass flowers from May to June, and the flower heads consist of purple spikelets. Keep in mind that the tall fescue will reproduce by seed or by rhizome.

 

How Do We Inspect for Wild-Grown Tall Fescue in Your Lawn?

Inspection is the next phase of any good Pest Control plan. Once you know what to look for, check around your property to confirm the weed’s presence by checking for active hotspots.

The wild-grown tall fescue grows in moist environments and is commonly found in grassland pastures along roadsides, in ditches, and in other dry or wet areas.

It can grow in acidic or alkaline soil with pH levels ranging from 4.5 to 9.0. This grass is tolerant to heat and drought stress.

Look for smaller, shorter clumps of grass that may be on your property. These clumps may be slightly different shades of green from your native turfgrass.

As the plant matures, it will grow taller.

 

How Do We Treat Wild-Grown Tall Fescue in Your Lawn?

After identifying your weed and inspecting your property, it is time to start treatment. Before starting any treatment, be sure to wear your Personal Protective Equipment or PPE, and remember to keep all people and pets off the treated areas until dry.

We recommend you use Eraser 41% glyphosate. This product is a non-selective herbicide, so be careful during application.

Selective control of this grassy weed is not possible on many properties, but a thorough inspection and treatment will minimize any damage to your native turfgrass.

We recommend you use this product with a marking like the Vision Pro Max indicator dye and that you mix and apply your solution with a handheld pump sprayer.

Before any application, calculate the square footage of your treatment area and use this value to determine how much product to use for spot treatments.

Mix 2.5 fluid ounces of Eraser into one gallon of solution to treat 300 square feet.

If you are adding the Vision Pro Max indicator dye, this product is highly concentrated, so you will only need one-tenth of a fluid ounce per one gallon of solution.

Use a fan or cone spray pattern to ensure the plant’s leaves are fully coated.

Spot spray any tall fescue you have spotted on your property. You should start to see affected plants die within 2 to 4 days.

You may make a reapplication after 7 to 10 days if the weed is particularly hard.

Eraser is a non-selective herbicide and will kill whatever you spray, so be careful when applying near or over turf grass.

Areas with turf grass may be reseeded 7 days after application.

 

How Do We Prevent Wild-Grown Tall Fescue?

Prevention is essential to keeping weeds in check even after applying herbicides. The best way to stop weed activity is to ensure it cannot happen.

• The best way to keep out grass like the tall fescue is to promote your native turfgrass’s health. Strong, healthy grass leaves less room for weeds to establish themselves.
• Reduce the shade cast on your lawn by trimming overgrown shrubbery and tree branches.
• Break away leaf litter and pick up any debris.
• Regularly mow your grass to its proper heights and employ a proper watering schedule to provide your lawn with enough water to strengthen its roots, but not so much that will encourage disease.
  Most lawns require one inch of water every week. Apply the water all at once in the morning so it has seeped into the ground without evaporating in the sun.

 

Conclusion

With these professional products and tips from us @pestclue, you can stop weeds like the wild-grown tall fescue from taking over your grass.

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