Nimblewill

What it looks like

It forms a dense, low mat with thin, bluish-green leaves. It spreads by stolons that root at each node, similar to bermudagrass, but you can tell them apart by looking at the small membrane-like structure where the leaf meets the stem—nimblewill's is smooth and papery, while bermuda's is hairy.

Often mistaken for: Bermudagrass (check the ligule to tell them apart)

When it shows up in the Triangle

It's a perennial, so it's around all year, but it's easiest to spot in late summer and fall when it browns out ahead of the rest of your lawn.

Where you’ll see it

It shows up in home lawns of all grass types, spreading as a creeping mat.

What you can do

• Hand-pull or dig up small patches—the stolons are shallow and root easily, but come out without too much fight
• Keep your lawn thick and healthy through proper mowing, watering, and fertility to slow nimblewill from spreading
• Avoid bagging clippings from infested areas and spreading them elsewhere in your yard
• Check new patches regularly since it can creep in from lawn edges or nearby infested areas