How to Identify & Get Rid of Barnyardgrass

This weed can multiply and steal the nitrogen out of your soil. Get tips to kick it out of your lawn.

Overview

Quaint Name, Nasty Weed

Barnyardgrass is an annual grassy weed found throughout North America. It prefers moist, nutrient-rich soils like those found in lawns and garden beds. It is a coarse, sprawling, purple-tinged annual grassy weed. The grass blades are flat with a prominent vein in the middle, and can also be sparsely hairy. If not mowed, it can reach a height of 1 to 4 feet tall. It is a vigorous grower and can quickly remove important nutrients that your lawn needs, like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, from the soil. Use these easy tips to help control it.

Pull It Out

Since Barnyardgrass is an annual grass, which means it will die off with the first fall frost, and doesn't have deep roots, so you can simple pull it out by hand. However, if you have a large problem with barnyardgrass, this may be impractical.

Crowd It Out

A healthy, dense lawn can help prevent barnyardgrass from becoming established. Feeding your lawn every 6-8 weeks, 4 times a year with Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food will help your lawn stay thick and lush and crowd out weeds like barnyardgrass.

Keep It from Growing

You can also prevent barnyardgrass from appearing in the summer by applying a pre-emergent, like Scotts® Turf Builder® Halts® Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food, in the spring. If you also have issues with broadleaf weeds like chickweed or oxalis, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action. It not only prevents weeds like barnyardgrass, but also kills listed broadleaf weeds, all while feeding the lawn to keep it thick and lush.