(By Jared Hoyle, KSU Turfgrass Research and Extension)
I was walking through some of our research plots (with waders on due to all the rain) and I came to a nice patch of little barley. It was lush! I thought to myself, “How did this get so bad?” but, then I noticed there wasn’t any turf in the area at all. Little barley (Hordeum pusillum) is a winter annual that is many times confused with foxtails because the seedbed look similar. To see the differences in seedbeds click here – https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/tag/little-barley/
But the problem is I have lots of little barley and what do I do;
1.Promote healthy dense stand of turfgrass. Maybe overseed this spring/early summer if you have to depending on your situation and turfgrass species. Definitely overseed in the fall if you have cool-season turfgrass.
2. Use a preemergence in the fall.
3. Can use Certainty (sulfosulfuron) in warm season turfgrass but typically don’t.
4. Do nothing…. Seems like a trick question but this species will thin and die as temperature increase in the summer.
So there are a couple of options but if you do have little barley it is probably because the turfgrass isn’t doing well.
For more information on little barley and many other weeds, check out Turfgrass Weed Control for Professionals 2019 Edition – https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/Item.aspx?catId=545&pubId=20239
****Always remember to READ THE LABEL for the correct rate, turfgrass tolerance, and specific instructions before application.****
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