 leaf |
 turf |
 plant |
Yellow Foxtail
Life cycle: Annual
Leaves: Flat or creased, long and narrow
Stems: Branch out near the bottom
Flowers: Cylinder-shaped heads with hairs
Roots: Fibrous roots
Comments: Most common in new lawns; diminishes as turf thickens.
Control
Use similar cultural or herbicide options as for crabgrass.
Cultural: Keep grass competitive by setting mowing height to at least 2.5 to 3 inches, seed turf grasses into thin areas, fertilize in the fall or use weed and feed in the spring, irrigate deep and infrequently in the summer, remove clippings containing foxtail seed.
Foliar Herbicides: Several products marketed as crabgrass killers that contain MSMA (monosodium acid methanearsonate), DSMA (disodium acid methanearsonate), or CaMA (calcium acid methanearsonate) which are intended for use on crabgrass seedlings before they grow tillers. Late-season control may be obtained with quinclorac (Drive). In landscapes, may use fenoxaprop (Acclaim) or fluazifop (Grass-B-Gone) around broadleaf plant species.
Soil Herbicides: Soil applied herbicides are preferred. Many herbicides sold as crabgrass preventers that may contain pendimethalin (Pendulum), dithiopyr (Dimension Ultra), benefin (Balan), bensulide (Betasan), oxadiazon (Ronstar), siduron (Tupersan). May have to follow up with a foliar herbicide to control escapes.