Winter Weed Profile: Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)
Spring may be some time away, but lawns still face challenges from winter weeds. Here at American Lawnscape, we understand the importance of proactive weed control to maintain a lush, green lawn throughout the growing cycle.
In this blog series, we’ll discuss our approach to winter weed control (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weed_control) and how it sets your lawn up for success in the coming months.
Annual Ryegrass
If the line between good grass versus bad grass wasn’t already blurry enough, enter Annual Ryegrass.
Is it a grass? Yes.
Is it a weed? Yes.
A good definition of a weed is any plant that is an area that you don’t want it to be growing. An example is the turf grass Bermuda. If you have a Bermuda grass lawn and Bermuda grass is in it, then it’s not a weed. What if Bermuda grass from your lawn creeps into your flower bed?
Then it’s a weed.
What if you have a Zoysia grass lawn and Bermuda grass starts emerging through it? You know the answer . . . it’s a weed. Same goes with Annual Rye. Unless you intend to have an entire lawn of it, it is a weed when it’s present in the turf.
Southern Annual Rye is considered a weed (most of the time) in Southern lawnscapes. It is a cool season grass so it can’t survive during our hot summers. We do have a thing down here called Winter Rye. For those of you north of Kansas City, it’s just regular ryegrass but it grows well down here in the winter due to our favorable climate.
Unlike Perennial Rye, Annual Rye (due to its color and clumping growth pattern) is not the first choice for winter lawns. There are several cultivars of Perennial Ryegrass that are better suited as an ornamental winter grass.
Annual Ryegrass Suppression
In Southern lawns, you’ll start seeing Annual Ryegrass emerge closer to winter after the ground temperatures are favorable for germination. Prevention (just like for Poa annua) is key to control. Ensure that your pre-emergent herbicide is in the ground before the soil temperature dips below 70 degrees F.
For post emergent control, there are several products that are rated to suppress or control Annual Rye. Make sure that the product that you use is rated to be safe for your lawns turf type. Also make sure to read all label instructions regarding the herbicides application and handling.
Don’t let winter weeds steal the spotlight!
Contact American Lawnscape today to learn more about our winter weed control program. Our experienced technicians will assess your lawn and recommend the most effective solution to keep those pesky winter weeds at bay.
Any Questions?
As always, please reach out with any questions pertaining to your yard. You can reply or call/text (214-308-1322). We appreciate getting to work with you and appreciate your partnership.
Throughout this Winter Weed Blog Series, we’ll drill down into weed prevention strategies as well as specific weeds that you will likely see during winter months.
Learn More Information
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2024/25 Winter Weed Series (#1 of 8)
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