what is this new light-colored grass

Question: Hi - in southern Minneapolis, my lawn of fescue has been almost completely wiped out by a light green grass that may be from Asia.  The blades are not as wide as crabgrass, and longer.  I have seen this grass take over other lawns as well.  Attached is a photo.  What is it, and what can I do to suppress it without killing my fescue?

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 30, 2024, 1:00 PM EDT
response: Thanks for your question.  I can identify it but my identification makes little sense.  I am struck by your comment that it may be from Asia.  Please elaborate on this.  What is the basis on which you are making this assertion?  Have you noticed this grass in past years or is this the first year?  Have you recently seeded your yard? I am puzzled but will get an answer for you.  Thanks for using our forum

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 30, 2024, 1:56 PM EDT
response: Hi, whomever….   In response to your questions: a customer service person at Bachman’s googled a bit and came up with the possible identification of Hilo grass or something else from Asia. That’s all I know.   This is the first year I have noticed it, and it has spread like crazy.  I also see it on my church lawn.   I haven’t recently seeded the lawn.  It was reseeded by Organic Bob two years ago with fescue, that I like very much.  That’s why I want to get rid of the invasive. Does this help?   I look forward to what you can share about the identify of this grass and how I might suppress it.  Bachman’s and a turf company both said I’d have to kill everything and start all over.  I am reluctant to do that, if it can be avoided.   Stewart Herman Minneapolis     From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2024 12:01 PM To: Stewart Herman <<personal data hidden>> Subject: Re: what is this new light-colored grass (#0148770)

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 08, 2024, 1:30 PM EDT
response: Thanks for your patience in my getting back to you You presented me with a puzzle for which I am still struggling. When I first encountered your question, I ran your pictures through two different grass identification keys. Both came up with the same answer: St. Augustine grass. This grass does not survive Minnesota winters. Since your yard was last seeded in 2022, I don’t know how this grass would have survived until 2024 if it was part of the 2022 seeding by Organic Bob. This type of grass is common in the southern part of the United States. It also grows in parts of Asia. This would be consistent with the opinion you received from Bachman’s. See: https://sodsolutions.com/lawn-care-guides/popular-st-augustinegrass-varieties/?srsltid=AfmBOopst19TaAYNg7O9oyjUJNhWkyL-9vh0K3Xgi2J6UB7_urmUKwe3 At this point in assisting you, the best I can do is to present options. You’ll have to decide with what you are most comfortable: 1). You could “wait and see” what the situation is in 2025. If it is St. Augustine grass or something similar, it may simply die off. You would then be in the position of doing some over seeding to fill in any bare patches. 2). You could follow the advice of Bachman’s and the turf company by killing everything and starting all over. While this would be effective, it might be premature without knowing exactly with what you are dealing. 3). You could get to the bottom of things by obtaining another recommendation from a reputable source. This would be the approach that I’d recommend. I would refer you to the Turfgrass Diagnostic Laboratory operated by the University of Wisconsin. They have an excellent reputation for unbiased and very knowledgeable opinions. They should be able to identify the grass you have and make suggestions for its removal. They do charge a nominal fee for their services. Please contact them as a first step to explain your situation and obtain instructions as to what you should send them. See:  https://tdl.wisc.edu/ Good Luck. I apologize for not giving you a definitive answer for your question. Thanks for consulting us.

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 08, 2024, 2:32 PM EDT
response: Thanks for pursuing the puzzling question!   Maybe my pictures were simply not good enough for you to identify this grass definitely.   I doubt it is going to die off, so am thinking of a selective herbicide: Quinclorac 75 DF Herbicide - Crabgrass Control   According to multiple sources, it can kill crabgrass without killing my fescue, so I am tempted to try it. Would you have any opinion about the effectiveness and the risk of using this particular chemical?   I’ve also started picking the stuff out by hand, but it’s going to take ten hours, which alas I don’;t have.   Thanks in advance for your further thoughts.   Stewart Herman 2021 Harriet Minneapolis         From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2024 12:30 PM To: Stewart Herman <<personal data hidden>> Subject: Re: what is this new light-colored grass (#0148770)

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 08, 2024, 2:57 PM EDT
response: Thanks for your response. Quinclorac is a post-emergent herbicide used for both weed and crabgrass control. If this is crabgrass, now would be the time (early August 2024) to apply it before the crabgrass goes to seed. No harm would be done. Just a heads-up. If this is crabgrass, it will soon start to die of its own accord. If you apply this herbicide and see the presumed crabgrass disappear, you will not have complete assurance that the herbicide was effective. In shorter words, once 2025 rolls around, you may or may not see the appearance of this grass again. Again, I would urge you to utilize the services of the Turfgrass Diagnostic Laboratory. You would obtain an immediate answer to your situation rather than hoping things will improve in 2025. Good luck. Please get back to us with any further questions.