Orchardgrass

This grassy perennial weed often infests cool- season lawns, especially K-31 tall fescue lawns where it is often a contaminate of the seed. Orchardgrass is a perennial, cool season grass that is 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 main plant. Because of it’s lighter color, coarse texture and faster growth, orchardgrass is not desirable in the home lawn. Unfortunately controlling a grass within a grass is difficult and the only control method is with a non-selective herbicide such as glyphosate and spot spraying the areas with the undesirable grass and then replanting desirable turf in that spot. The best way to keep orchardgrass out of your lawn is to prevent it in the first place. Be sure to read the label of any lawn seed that you purchase and check the “other crop seed” portion to make sure that it is zero. Unfortunately K-31 fescue is almost always contaminated with orchardgrass so I would avoid planting that cultivar if possible unless the contamination isn’t 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