WSU Extension

Hortsense

Hortsense Home| Hortsense fact sheets | Weeds | Velvetgrass (Common velvetgrass)

Weeds

Annual bluegrass

Bentgrass, creeping

Bittercress (Shotweed, Hairy bittercress)

Bittersweet nightshade (European bittersweet)

Blackberry (Himalayan, Evergreen, Pacific)

Blue mustard (Purple mustard, Tenella mustard)

Brackenfern, western

Buttercup, creeping

Catchweed bedstraw (Cleavers)

Catsear, common (False dandelion)

Chickweed, common and mouseear

Dock (Curly, Broadleaf)

Downy brome (Cheatgrass, Downy chess)

Dwarf mistletoes

English daisy (Lawn daisy)

Field bindweed (Wild morningglory)

Field pennycress (Fanweed)

Foxtail (Green, Yellow, Bristly)

Garden loosestrife

Groundsel, common

Herb Robert (Robert geranium, stinky Bob)

Horsetails (Scouringrush)

Horseweed (Marestail)

Knotweeds (Bohemian, Giant, Japanese, Himalayan)

Lambsquarters, common

Lesser celandine

Mallow, common (Cheeseweed, Buttonweed)

Oxalis (Creeping woodsorrel)

Parrotfeather and Eurasian watermilfoil

Plantain (Broadleaf, Buckhorn)

Poison ivy and Poison oak

Prickly lettuce (China lettuce)

Prostrate knotweed

Puncturevine (Tackweed, Goathead)

Purple deadnettle (Red deadnettle)

Purple loosestrife (Purple lythrum)

Purslane, common

Red sorrel (Sheep sorrel)

Redroot pigweed (Rough pigweed)

Redstem filaree (Stork's bill, Crane's bill)

Reed canarygrass

Russian thistle (Tumbleweed)

Ryegrass, annual (Italian ryegrass)

Salsify (Goatsbeard)

Shepherd's-purse

Sowthistle, annual and perennial

Spurges (Prostrate spurges)

St. Johnswort, common (Goatweed, Klamathweed)

Stinging nettle

Tumblemustard (Jim Hill mustard)

Velvetgrass (Common velvetgrass)

Waterhemlock, western

Yellow nutsedge

print version| pdf version| email url

Caption: Velvetgrass

Photo by: T.W. Miller

Weeds : Velvetgrass (Common velvetgrass) : Holcus lanatus

(revision date: 10/14/2016)

Family: Poaceae (Graminae)
Cycle: Perennial
Plant Type: Grass

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful weed management.

Biology

Velvetgrass is a perennial reaching one to three feet high (if unmowed). Typically growing in small, dense clumps, velvetgrass may also spread to form large clumps, especially in lawns. Leaf blades are pointed at the tip and range from 1/8 to 3/8 inch wide. The entire plant, including leaf blades, sheaths, and stems, is hairy and soft to the touch. Plants have a grayish, velvety appearance. Pale grayish-green to purplish seed heads are branched and plumelike. SPECIAL INFORMATION: The grayish coloration of velvetgrass causes it to appear as an obvious weed in lawns.

Habitat

Velvetgrass is a weed of lawns and pastures. In the Pacific Northwest, it is normally found west of the Cascades.

Management Options

Non-Chemical Management

Maintaining a healthy planting or turf area to provide competition will prevent weed establishment.

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides

Apply according to label instructions. Spray in spring when flowers first appear. Glyphosate products should be applied as spot treatments only! NOTE: Some ingredients listed here are only available in combination. Read the label carefully on combination products to make sure the product is suitable for your specific situation.

Landscape areas

glyphosate
sethoxydim

Turf areas

Bare ground areas

glyphosate

Images

+ Show larger images


Caption: Velvetgrass Photo by: T.W. Miller
Caption: Velvetgrass seedhead Photo by: T.W. Miller
Caption: Common velvetgrass ligule Photo by: B.M. Johnson
Caption: Common velvetgrass Photo by: T.W. Miller
Caption: Common velvetgrass Photo by: T.W. Miller