Path Rush

What it looks like

Round, solid, wiry stems (not flat like grass or triangular like sedge). Basal leaves are shorter than the tall flower stems, giving it a stiff, upright look.

Often mistaken for: True grasses or sedges (but rush stems are round and solid, unlike flat grass blades or triangular sedge stems)

When it shows up in the Triangle

It's a perennial, so it's around year-round in the Triangle, but it's easiest to spot when the seed stalks shoot up during the growing season.

Where you’ll see it

Shows up in home lawns and bare or worn areas where soil has been packed down, like along walkways or well-used yard paths.

What you can do

• Core aerate the compacted area - this is the main fix
• Avoid repeated foot or vehicle traffic over the same spot if possible
• Overseed and topdress after aerating to help grass fill back in
• Improve drainage in low, packed areas over time
• Keep an eye out for it as an early sign of a compaction problem elsewhere in the yard