What Does Quackgrass Weed Look Like

Quackgrass is a cool-season perennial weed that is also known as couchgrass. The cold-hardy weed can be found in most regions of the United States.

The weed can be hard to eliminate from your lawn once it has had a chance to grow and establish roots. Early intervention is key to stopping quackgrass.

Read below to learn what quackgrass looks like before selecting a treatment option.

• Tall grass, taller than surrounding turf
• Stems are green to whitish in color
• Leaves can stay blue-green year round
• Grows in large patches
• Clasping auricles (leaves which appear as if they are clasping a grass stem) usually appear at the base of the weed
• Stems can be hairy or smooth
• Grass leaves curl toward the end
• Leaves are broader than regular lawn grass blades
• Blades have a rough burr-like feeling when you run your hand over them
• Grows from rhizomes (segmented roots) which are thick and white

Quackgrass grows throughout most of the United States (less commonly in the Southeastern coastal states), but it is considered invasive in the Midwestern states and Western coastal areas.

The weed thrives in many different soil types, including loamy or sandy soil, peat, and heavy clay soils. It can be found in moist meadows, prairies and cultivated fields. It is resistant to drought and competes with cultivated crops for moisture and nutrients.

Quackgrass is a cool-season perennial, meaning it will return yearly. The weed will usually expand its rhizome root system in the summer and will begin to produce new shoots above ground in the fall.