Dallisgrass

What it looks like

Forms coarse, light-green clumps that look rougher than your lawn grass. Sends up tall seed stalks with a drooping cluster of seed spikes branching off at different points. Often confused with crabgrass, but crabgrass is finer-textured and only lives one season, while this one comes back every year.

Often mistaken for: Crabgrass

When it shows up in the Triangle

Grows actively from spring through fall, with seedheads showing up most in summer—that's the best time to catch it before it reseeds.

Where you’ll see it

Shows up in all types of home lawns, especially in low, moist, fertile spots.

What you can do

• Dig up isolated clumps by hand, making sure to get the whole root mass
• Mow regularly to knock off seedheads before they mature and spread
• Keep your lawn thick and healthy to slow new clumps from taking hold
• Check low, wet areas of your yard often since this weed loves those spots