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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Tag: little barley

Little Barley Control Options (or Option)

(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.****

***Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for identification purposes and does not imply recommendation or endorsement, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned by Kansas State University.***

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @KSUTurf.

Also, visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/KSUTurf

 

Can you tell the difference? – Little Barley Control for Homeowners

(By Jared Hoyle and Ward Upham; KSU Research and Extension)

 

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Can you tell the difference?  There are two difference weeds in the picture above but they look a lot alike!  Not only do they look a lot alike but they both have similar attributes.  Below will tell you which one is which.

 

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Many people mistake little barley (Hordeum pusillum) for a little foxtail because the foxtail and little barley seedheads are similar. However, little barley is a winter annual that comes up in late September – October and spends the winter as a small plant. It thrives in the cooler spring temperatures, forms seed heads and dies out usually by July. Foxtail, on the other hand, is a summer annual that does well in hot weather. Also, foxtail will not produce seedheads until mid- to late-summer.

 

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So, why are we talking about little barley now? Because now is the time to control it for next year. The best control for little barley is a thick lawn that is mowed high enough that sunlight does not hit the soil. Little barley seed will not germinate in such conditions.  Overseeding now can thicken up a tall fescue lawn and prevent a little barley infestation.

However, if you do not plan to overseed, preemergence herbicides can be used to provide at least partial control of this weed. The only preemergence herbicide that I know is labeled specifically for little barley is Surflan. It is also sold under the name of Weed Impede by Monterey Lawn and Garden. Surflan can only be used on warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, buffalograss, zoysiagrass) and tall fescue grown in warm-season areas such as Kansas. However, Dimension (dithiopyr), is labeled for barley (Herodium spp.) which would include little barley and therefore
can be used to keep this weed under control. Because little barley is a winter annual, apply the preemergence herbicide now and water in to activate. If overseeding, do not apply any preemergence herbicide as it will interfere with the germination of tall fescue.

****Always remember to READ THE LABEL for the correct rate, turfgrass tolerance, and specific instructions before application.****

***Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for identification purposes and does not imply recommendation or endorsement, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned by Kansas State University.***

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @KSUTurf.

Also, visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/KSUTurf