Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi)
What this weed looks like
This fine-textured native perennial grass can grow up to 24 inches tall, but in turf areas the wiry stems are kept shorter because of mowing. However, you might not notice it in your lawn until cold weather arrives. Then the sprawling, densely branched mats of warm-season grass turn brown faster than most turfgrasses, as you can see in the photo above, and it remains brown until spring.
From midsummer into fall, narrow heads, or panicles, rise just above the leaves loaded with tiny flowers that form lots of seeds. Even if the plant is mowed, it will continue to produce seeds.
Where to find nimblewill
This weed hides best in lawns, but seeds also sprout in beds, borders and vegetable gardens. Tolerant of shade to full sun, moist to dry conditions, it’s happy almost anywhere.
How to get rid of nimblewill grass
You can easily pull or hoe it from beds and borders. In a lawn, rake over a cluster to gather stems before pulling or digging. Be sure you get all of the pieces or it will quickly regrow. Nonselective herbicides will kill it, but they also kill plants it has sprawled into. Selective herbicides, such as mesotrione, are effective in cool-season turfgrasses. Apply it in summer when the weed is actively growing. However, it’s best to contact a lawn professional to be sure it‘s safe to use on your turf.
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Nimblewill photo in summer by Emily Summerbell, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
