WEED ID · SUMMER ANNUAL GRASS
Goosegrass
Also called Goose grass
A summer annual grass that likes tight, packed soil. It shows up where the lawn gets heavy foot traffic.
How to spot it
- Clump of flattened stems with a silver to white center
- Grows low and spreads out, with seed stalks standing up
- Seedhead with 4 to 8 finger-like branches, zipper-like up close
- Folded, medium-green leaves
- Common on hard, packed soil and worn paths
Why it shows up
Goosegrass grows from seed only, but one plant makes tens of thousands of seeds. Wind, water, pets, and mowers move them around. It does best in compacted soil and thin turf.
How we treat it
Goosegrass is an annual, so timing matters. We apply a pre-emergent before the seed sprouts. For plants already up, we spot treat with a product labeled for your grass type. We also fertilize to thicken the lawn, since dense turf shades the soil and crowds out seedlings.
What you can do
- Pull small plants by hand. Get the center of the clump so it does not regrow.
- Aerate packed soil. Goosegrass loves compaction.
- Keep the lawn thick. Dense turf blocks light from reaching the soil.
WANT IT HANDLED?
Let a licensed applicator take it from here.
Tell us about your lawn. We’ll get back to you with a free quote.
Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138