How to Get Rid of Foxtails Without Killing Your Grass

Unruly, fast-growing weeds are the bane of a homeowner’s existence during the summer. None of them are more annoying than foxtail grass. Learning how to get rid of foxtails is the best way to  win your lawn back from these pesky weeds, but you may need the assistance of a local lawn care expert. Here’s how to identify it, understand its dangers, and how to get rid of foxtail grass for good. 

What Is Foxtail Weed?

Foxtail weed is a grassy weed that gets its name from its head that looks like a fox’s tail. It’s a summer annual grass that grows all over North America. Foxtail is mainly found growing together in clumps, although it will occasionally grow by itself. 

Mature foxtail grass has wide leaf blades and can reach up to 4 feet high before its seed heads form. The seed head is the most distinctive part of the entire plant. It’s typically 3 to 4 inches long and is full and fluffy (hence the name foxtail).

The foxtail’s seed head contains barbs that allow it to self-seed among other grasses in lawns and pasture land. Foxtail plants start germinating in late spring or early summer. It loves growing in soil that has recently been disturbed. 

Different Types of Foxtail Grass

There are three main foxtail species found in North America. These are similar and all have the foxtail head. 

Yellow Foxtail

Yellow foxtail, also known as pigeon grass, can grow from 1 to 3 feet tall and has long white hairs on the upper leaf base. Yellow foxtail has flat leaf sheaths with a reddish tint at its base. It also has at least five yellow bristles below each spikelet. This type of foxtail is the one most commonly found growing with turf grass. 

Green Foxtail

While green foxtail weed also grows from 1 to 3 feet tall, it differs from yellow foxtail by having a smooth, hairless upper leaf surface. The green foxtail’s seed head is either green or purple-tinted.

Giant Foxtail

Giant foxtail is a tall grass that can reach 4 feet in height. It has hairy blades and seed heads that are green-tinted. They’re larger than either the yellow or green varieties, growing anywhere from 3 to 8 inches long. It also droops more than the other foxtail species.

How to Get Rid of Foxtail Without Killing Grass

If foxtail grass has already taken up residence in your yard or pasture, getting rid of it is going to be more challenging. Consider finding a local weed control service to handle foxtail weed removal and maintenance for you.

However, you do have some DIY options. Here’s how to get rid of foxtail for good using a variety of methods. 

Try Vinegar

White vinegar is a DIY way to kill weeds in your yard, and it eliminates foxtail weed without harming the turf grass. 

Put the vinegar in a spray bottle, head outside, and spray the base of the plant thoroughly. Vinegar should kill the foxtail grass within a few days. 

Add Mulch 

Cover the foxtail grass with a thick layer of mulch. This will starve the weed of sunlight, water, and nutrients, and also stop the seeds from becoming airborne and landing somewhere else in your yard or pasture.

Mow Your Lawn

Frequent mowing is an effective way of stopping the formation of foxtail seed heads. Unable to reseed itself, the grass will die out. However, you have to get the timing right. 

Foxtails tend to bloom in the spring, so keep a close eye out for these weeds. If you see them start to sprout, mow immediately before the seed heads form. If you catch it early enough, this tactic will prevent germination. 

Dig Them Out

If the area’s small and manageable, dig the weeds out, roots and all, and dispose of them so they can’t spread their seeds. You can also pull the weeds by hand, but if it’s a mature foxtail, you will probably need a trowel to get the full plant and its roots. 

Try an Herbicide

Post-emergent herbicides are effective for getting rid of foxtail grass. Research your choices and make sure the one you pick won’t damage your turf grass. However, glyphosate is an option, as it’s a non-selective herbicide that will kill foxtails along with most other grasses and broad-leafed plants.

Fluazifop, metribuzin, and glyphosate are some common ingredients you’ll see in products made for foxtail removal. After applying, it will take around 14 days for the foxtail grass to die off.

Be sure to read and follow all the instructions and wear protective clothing when applying a post-emergent herbicide. Keep children and pets away from the treated areas. 

How to Prevent Foxtail Grass Before It Sprouts

If you’re wondering how to get rid of foxtail grass, you’re not alone. It’s a nuisance in yards and on pasture land alike. The best way to get rid of foxtail weeds is to be proactive. 

Attentive Lawn Care

Healthy grass is more likely to be able to fight off invading weeds. Thick turf that covers every inch of ground doesn’t leave any room for foxtail grass. Keeping your lawn properly mowed, watered, and fertilized is a big step in avoiding a foxtail weed problem. 

Early Foxtail Grass Control

Defensively guard your yard before you see the first foxtail plant by using a pre-emergent herbicide in the early spring, before foxtail season. Timing is crucial because you need to use it before seeds become airborne. 

Pre-emergent herbicides prevent the seed from sprouting, essentially stopping the problem before it starts. Herbicides continue stopping foxtail seeds from sprouting for up to 90 days after the application. Wait until a newly seeded yard establishes itself before treating it with pre-emergent herbicide. 

Why Foxtail Grass Is Bad for Lawns and Pastures

Foxtail is considered a nuisance by homeowners and farmers alike. It has several behaviors that make the saying “no foxtail is the best foxtail” popular with anyone who’s trying to get rid of it. 

Hogs Resources

When foxtail grass starts growing, it competes with the good grass, plants, and trees for water, real estate, sunlight, and nutrients. Its presence can damage the health of every other plant in your yard. 

Sheds Painful Barbs

The seed head, also called a foxtail awn, sheds barbs that can find their way into socks and collars, and under shirts and pants. They can dig into the skin and cause pain and irritation until they’re located and removed. 

Spreads Prolifically

Foxtail grass flourishes in almost any climate, in different types of soil, and with no maintenance. Plus, it reseeds itself. 

Looks Unappealing

A beautiful green, lush lawn … with several clusters of unsightly foxtail grass spoiling the view. With its large seed head, the foxtail stands out like a sore thumb amid normal turf grass. 

Dangers of Foxtail Weed

In addition to being pesky, foxtail grass poses dangers to animals. 

Livestock

When animals forage, they see these plants as food. The average foxtail barb has dirt and debris on it. When it pierces the animal’s skin, it can cause serious infections. If a foxtail awn burrows into an animal’s skin in a place the farmer can’t see, the ensuing infection could be serious enough to cause death. 

Pets

If you’re a pet owner, you’ve probably taken great care to only use dog and cat-friendly plants in your yard. Pets make it even more critical to control foxtail.

Dogs and cats (especially barn cats) are at risk from foxtail grass. Dogs use their noses to investigate the world around them, which are perfect places for foxtail awns to burrow. They can also burrow inside pets’ ears, mouths, in their paws, and even under their collars.  

If you see foxtail grass close to your yard or farm, check your pets frequently for barbs before they have a chance to get infected.