Question
I live in Western Pennsylvania. I have a rather large lawn in pretty decent shape. Several weeks ago I began to notice an infestation of a different grass in many spots throughout the lawn. The new stuff is several shades lighter (almost yellowish) than the rest of the lawn and grows about three times as fast. Treating it (if I can) will take some widespread treatment as it appears over the whole area. Can you identify it and suggest a treatment?

Thanks for your help

Carl Meyers

Answer
Off the top of my head, I would say you have a grade A Weed.  Let it grow to blooming size and see what the seedhead looks like before you toss it in the garbage -- DO NOT COMPOST! You want those Seeds far, far away in a landfill.  Then check this Weed identification link at the Virginia Tech website:

www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm

Midsummer is Siesta Time for Cool Season Grass.  Weeds however are wild about July and August heat and sun.  The hotter, the brighter, the better.  That's why this 'Grass' you are watching 'Grows about three times as fast'.  It keeps them in business.  It's what makes them WEEDS.

Lots of new, noxious Weeds are appearing in Gardens and Lawns all over, thanks to a shift in climates and establishment of alien species.

What are you going to do about these Weeds?

Stay away from Weedkillers.  Roundup and Weed B Gone do a lot of collateral damage in this country.  You like your Birds?  Your Earthworms?  Your Butterflies?  Stay away from herbicides.  Weedkillers will also wipe out signs of life in your soil and wreck the natural balance.

There are several Organic herbicides you can try on the internet.

Annual Weeds can be controlled very effectively with Corn Gluten.  Try products at Dirtworks:

www.dirtworks.net/default.html

or Biconet:

www.biconet.com/catalog/lawn.pdf#search='organic%20weed%20killer%20barnyard%20grass'

to see which one(s) work best for you.

But i.d. your Weed first.  Make sure it doesn't set Seed in your Lawn, or you'll be watching its descendants for the rest of your life.  Like I always say, Mow mow mow your Lawn.

If you need any clarification, I'm pleased to discuss it.

Thanks for writing.