LAWN PHIX PRO TIPS
Foxtail is one of those weeds that looks almost decorative until you realize it’s choking out your good grass. I see it most in lawns that went a little thin the year before, compacted soil, bare patches from foot traffic, that kind of thing. Once it gets a foothold, it spreads fast.
My approach:
- Get a pre-emergent down in early spring, same window as crabgrass prevention, once soil hits about 55°F for a few days running.
- Prodiamine is my first choice for season-long control.
- If you missed that window, Dithiopyr still gives you some early post-emergent activity, so it’s a decent backup.
- For foxtail that’s already up and growing, Quinclorac or Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl work well on most cool season lawns.
- Topramezone is what I reach for on the stubborn stuff, tank mixed with a methylated seed oil surfactant
Foxtail is a summer annual grass, it germinates in late spring and loves full sun. You’ll know it by the bristly, bushy seed head that genuinely does look like a little fox tail once it fills out. There are three species you’ll run into around here.
What You’re Looking At
Yellow foxtail has fine hairs right at the base of the leaf blade and a seed head with a yellowish cast to it. Green foxtail is more compact, smooth leaves, a tighter green seed head. Giant foxtail is the one that gives people the most trouble, it’s larger, the seed head droops over, and the upper leaf surface is noticeably hairy. Honestly, if I had to guess which species is sitting in most Massachusetts lawns, I’d say it’s a mix of yellow and giant; green shows up less in my experience.
All three do the same basic damage though. They crowd out turf for light, water, and nutrients, and they do it fast once soil disturbance gives them an opening.
Getting Rid of It
Pre-emergent first. This is the real fix. Get Prodiamine or Dithiopyr down in early spring before foxtail germinates, water it in right after you spread it so the product activates, and reapply on schedule through the season. If you’re already seeing foxtail up and growing, you missed the window, move to a post-emergent instead.
Post-emergent for active foxtail. Catch it young if you can, before the seed head fully forms. Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl works well on cool season lawns like Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial rye. Quinclorac handles foxtail and crabgrass together and plays nice with most cool season and some warm season grasses. Mesotrione is another option, works pre and post emergent both. And for the tough cases, Topramezone with an MSO surfactant is usually what gets it done. Read the label before you spray any of these, some aren’t safe on fine fescue or on warm season types like St. Augustine or centipede.
Improve the lawn itself. Mow high, 3 to 4 inches, so your turf shades out weed seed before it can establish. Aerate if the soil’s compacted. Keep up a spring and fall fertility program. Overseed the bare spots, foxtail needs open soil to get going and a dense lawn just doesn’t give it much room.
Can You Pull It By Hand?
Yes, if it’s young and hasn’t put down much of a root system yet. Grab the whole plant, base included, or you’ll get regrowth. For a real infestation though, chemical control is going to save you a lot of time and get better results.
Keeping It From Coming Back
A thick, healthy lawn really is your best defense here. Mow regularly so foxtail doesn’t get the chance to form and drop seed heads, and get that spring pre-emergent down every year, don’t skip a season just because you didn’t see much foxtail the year before.
FAQs
How do I get rid of foxtail without killing my grass?
Use a pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicide labeled safe for your specific turf type. Not every product works on every grass, so check the label first.
What actually kills foxtail in your yard?
A herbicide matched to your grass type, either a pre-emergent to stop it before it germinates or a post-emergent like Quinclorac or Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl if it’s already up.
Does mowing control foxtail?
It helps if you time it right. Mow before the seed head fully forms and you’ll cut down on self-seeding. Once seed heads are already out, mow before it gets the chance to drop seed, and keep your blades sharp.
Video source: https://www.solutionsstores.com/foxtail-control