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Is this plant a weed?

Creeping Bentgrass, Agrostis palustris L.

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

Plants that look similar:

More information and control options for Creeping Bentgrass...

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