Grassy Weeds - St Augustine Lawn - Barnyardgrass
BES-TEX WEED ID GUIDE · GRASSY WEEDS
Barnyardgrass
Echinochloa crus-galli
Common Name
Barnyardgrass
Latin Name
Echinochloa crus-galli
Family
[PLACEHOLDER]
Life Cycle / Type
Annual · Grass
What Is It?
Barnyardgrass is an upright summer annual weed of turfgrass. It is found in moist, disturbed sites and wet turf areas. It is most easily told apart from other grasses by its seedhead and by the fact that it has no ligule. The seedhead is a panicle that is often purple, with spikelets that end in a bristle.
Leaf Shape Identification (Quick ID)
Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli)
- Leaf tip: Sharp-pointed
- No ligule and no auricle
- Leaf edges rough; leaves rolled in the bud
- Flattened sheath, red- to purple-tinged at the base
- Collar may be hairy, with a white band
- Panicle seedhead, often purple, spikelets end in a bristle
One-Sentence Counter Script“If you pull the leaf back and there is no ligule at all, think barnyardgrass.”
Soil Temperature & Germination
Barnyardgrass is a summer annual that comes up from seed.
[PLACEHOLDER]
Germination soil temperature for this species is not stated in the cited sources.
About 55°F
AgriLife guidance: soil temperature for spring pre-emergent timing against summer annual weeds (several days at this temperature).
Decision Question
Is the barnyardgrass visible above the soil right now?
Why This Weed Comes Back
Moist, disturbed sites and wet turf areas
Thin turf that is not kept dense by proper mowing and fertilization
[PLACEHOLDER]
Learn the Basics
A healthy, thick lawn is the best defense against weeds.