What to Do About Foxtail Weeds in Your Maryland Lawn

All you want is a nice green lawn to enjoy in the summer.

But those pesky weeds keep ruining your vision.

When it comes to foxtail weeds in Maryland, once you see that fuzzy seedhead that resembles a fox’s tail, you know that just means more weeds in your future. And you have enough weeds to deal with, don’t you?

Let’s learn more about this common annual grassy weed that rears its ugly head in summer and talk about how to get rid of foxtail weeds in your lawn.

A Closer Look at Foxtail Weeds in Maryland

A big part of controlling weeds, including how to kill foxtail weeds, is learning what these weeds look like and how to properly identify them.

Use This Lawn Weed ID Tool to Spot Weeds in Your Lawn
This way, you know what strategy you must use to fight them.

Here is all the background you need to know about foxtail weeds.

What Do Foxtail Weeds Look Like?

Unfortunately, foxtail weeds in Maryland can be difficult to spot.

First of all, this annual grassy weed looks a bit like grass. It also resembles crabgrass, so it might be confusing to identify. There are three types of foxtail weeds that all look pretty similar: yellow, green, and giant.

foxtail weed in lawnIf they are able to keep their disguise intact throughout the season, you’ll finally be able to spot them when they produce a mass of seeds that are focused on growing many more foxtail weeds in your lawn. This is when the fuzzy foxtail blooms appear.

Where Can You Find Foxtail Weeds in Maryland?

Foxtail weeds in Maryland typically seek out any weak spots in your lawn.

This means it’s important to make sure your lawn is thick, green, and healthy to keep these weeds from sneaking into thin spots and then taking over.

What Makes Foxtail Weeds So Tough to Control?

Foxtail Weeds in Maryland are incredibly difficult to control once they take over.

Foxtail lawn weed in dirt This weed is a relentless one.

How to Get Rid of Foxtail Weeds

Since foxtail weeds can be a prevalent problem in Maryland lawns, it can be tough to kill foxtail weeds.

The best way to tackle them is with a pre-emergent herbicide – the same one we use to control crabgrass in spring. Timing is crucial for the best control of these weeds before they germinate in your lawn.

Lawn care technician spraying lawn for weeds Working with a local lawn care professional who knows the proper timing for maximum pre-emergent control can help you best tackle this weed.

Natural Green Systems experts prefer to split the pre-emergent application into two – one in March and one 4 to 6 weeks later to ensure control of any weeds that weren’t stopped with the first application.

If you miss this optimum timing, then you can use post-emergent herbicides as you notice this weed appear, but it’s certainly tougher to tackle.

A Healthy Lawn Can Also Help You With Foxtail Weeds in Maryland

In addition to proper pre-emergent and post-emergent foxtail weed control, you want to make sure your lawn is in the best position to fight all weeds.

You want to start by watering properly. Irrigation your lawn with 1 to 2 inches of water each week. The best time to water is early morning to prevent disease possibilities when water and humidity linger into evening hours.

Lawn technicians inspect for weeds Remember to mow at a 3- to 4-inch height to encourage a healthy lawn and keep it thick enough to limit weed growth.

Since thicker turfgrass always yields fewer weeds, you want to fertilize properly and regularly. Annual aeration and overseeding in autumn can also help keep your lawn and soil thriving. Basing your fertilization plan on soil test results will get you the best program specific to your lawn’s conditions.

Stop Foxtail Weeds in Your Maryland Lawn

Weeds are tough to deal with. And a weed like foxtail is so similar to your other worst enemy, crabgrass, that you don’t want it to take over and make your lawn an ugly mess. No one wants that.

But if you’re seeing weeds that look like they don't belong, you possibly have foxtail weeds in your lawn.

How to get rid of foxtail weeds means embarrassing proper lawn care and working with a lawn care service expert who knows how to handle difficult-to-control weeds in your Central and Southern Maryland lawn.

Not sure if those grassy things you're seeing are foxtail weeds? And unsure of what you can do to control them? Call Natural Green. We tackle all types of weeds all the time, and just like crabgrass we can put a stop to foxtail weeds in Maryland lawns and save you from their messy appearance. What’s more is your lawn can shine green again.

Are foxtail weeds slowly taking over your lawn? We’d love to help. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll prepare a customized plan for your Central or Southern Maryland lawn so you can make an educated decision and get rid of weeds for good.

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Topics: Weeds, Lawn Care

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