
Is this plant a weed?
Creeping Bentgrass, Agrostis palustris L.
Credit: Bob Mugaas
Credit: Bob Mugaas
Credit: Sam Bauer
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Found in:
- Lawns in moist sunny areas, and shade
Characteristics:
- Perennial grass that grows best during cool temperatures (spring, fall)
- In home lawn situations, it is often slower to green up in spring
- Lower portion of grass shoot is without hair and usually purplish to reddish
- Leaf blade is bluish green in color, narrow, flat, with a pointed tip
- Mid-vein of leaf is prominent on lower surface
- Leaf edges are smooth
- Above ground stems (stolons) spread extensively forming fine textured, puffy, dense patches
Significance
- Well adapted to very low mowing heights (less than 3/4“)
- The presence of creeping bentgrass in home lawns can indicate a need to improve drainage
- Under favorable conditions creeping bentgrass can spread rapidly into surrounding lawn area to the point of out-competing desired lawn grasses
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