Its name may sound nice and its flower spikes attractive, but beware! Velvetgrass is a native plant of Europe but has colonized in much of the western United States.
As an invasive species, getting rid of velvetgrass on your property will help encourage native grasses and prevent it from spreading. Velvetgrass is a common weed in lawns, ditches, disturbed soil, and even cropland. This article offers some tips on controlling velvetgrass.
What are Velvetgrass Weeds?
Velvetgrass is great at stabilizing soil, but because it isn't native to North America, other indigenous grasses should be established. That means it's best to eradicate velvetgrass weeds wherever they are found. If it is allowed to persist, it will spread rapidly, inhibiting the growth of tree seedlings and native plants.
Common velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus) is a tufted perennial grass. The foliage is grayish green and the stems are slightly flattened. Both stems and leaves are lightly hairy.
It flowers from spring through fall with purplish pink spikes. Seeds are wind-borne and can spread far from the parent plant. They germinate in almost any soil and exposure.
This weed is most common in Canada and the western states, where it was introduced in the 1800s as a forage grass. The grass is also known as Yorkshire fog, creeping soft grass, and woolly soft grass, among other monikers.
Velvetgrass Control
It is not uncommon to find patches of velvetgrass in lawns. Once it gets a foothold, the weed can be a nightmare to conquer. Common velvetgrass does not spread by stolons or rhizomes, but the prolific, lightweight seed is easily dispersed, quickly colonizing areas of turfgrass. With a little irrigation, the seed can germinate in almost any conditions.
The best defense against this pesky invader is a thick, healthy lawn that will not allow interloping species of grass and weeds. Mow at the right height for your turfgrass and apply both nitrogen at the correct time and soil tests that can determine pH and fertility.
Getting rid of velvetgrass by hand pulling is effective. Of course, this only works where the weed is present in small concentrations. Frequent mowing or grazing is also effective in preventing the spread, by removing the flower heads and the subsequent seed.
As a last resort, you might also want to try spot applications of an organic herbicide recommended by your local extension service or garden center. Always follow safety directions on product packaging.
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