Goose grass (\(Eleusine\) \(indica\)) is a tenacious summer annual weed known for its resilience in lawns and turf, often nicknamed “silver crabgrass” due to its silvery-white center. It thrives in conditions that stress desired turfgrasses, such as compacted soil and areas of heavy foot traffic. Effective control requires a comprehensive strategy combining mechanical, cultural, and chemical methods, timed precisely to disrupt the weed’s aggressive annual lifecycle. This weed produces a high volume of seed that remains viable for several years, making long-term prevention the most effective approach.
Recognizing Goose Grass and Its Growth Cycle
Identifying goose grass correctly is the necessary first step, as it is often confused with other summer annual grasses like crabgrass. Its most distinct physical characteristic is its flattened, prostrate growth habit, forming a dense, low-growing rosette that easily escapes mower blades. At the base of the plant, the stem sheaths are noticeably lighter, often described as silvery-white or pale green, forming a tough, fibrous crown.
Goose grass leaves are folded in the bud, unlike crabgrass, and seed heads typically appear in late summer as two to seven thick, finger-like spikes radiating from a central point. These spikes hold the seeds in a distinctive zipper or herringbone pattern. As a warm-season annual, its germination window is delayed compared to crabgrass, beginning only when soil temperatures consistently reach 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This later emergence means a single, early-season pre-emergent application often fails to prevent its growth.
The plant develops a dense, fibrous root system and a tough central crown, making manual removal difficult once it is established past the seedling stage. A single, mature plant can produce over 50,000 seeds, easily dispersed by mowing equipment and foot traffic. Long-term control depends entirely on preventing this prolific seed production and reducing the total number of seeds in the soil.
Non-Chemical Eradication Techniques
For small, isolated patches, mechanical removal can be highly effective, provided the entire plant is extracted before it produces seed. Hand-pulling is most successful when the soil is moist and the plants are young, which helps ensure the removal of the tough, centralized crown and its extensive root system. If the crown is broken and left in the soil, the plant can regrow.
A foundational approach to non-chemical control involves improving the health and density of the surrounding turfgrass. Goose grass thrives where the turf is thin, allowing sunlight to penetrate the soil and warm the seeds. Maintaining a taller mowing height, typically above two to three inches, shades the soil surface, suppressing germination and favoring desirable grasses.
Goose grass is a strong indicator of soil compaction, an underlying condition that must be addressed for lasting success. Core aeration helps alleviate compaction, creating a better environment for turfgrass roots while discouraging weed establishment. Adjusting irrigation practices to favor deep, infrequent watering encourages deep turf roots and helps dry out the soil surface, which is less hospitable to seedlings. In garden beds or non-turf areas, applying a heavy layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or rice hulls, can block sunlight and physically prevent emergence.
Targeted Herbicide Control Strategies
Pre-Emergent Control
The most effective chemical strategy against goose grass is prevention, relying on a correctly timed application of pre-emergent herbicides. These products create a chemical barrier in the soil that inhibits seedling development immediately after germination. Since goose grass germinates later than many other weeds, the application window must be timed precisely, generally when soil temperatures are reliably in the 60 to 65-degree Fahrenheit range.
Due to the extended and staggered germination period throughout the summer, a split application program often provides the best results. This strategy involves applying a portion of the total seasonal rate early in the season and following up with a second, smaller application four to six weeks later. Effective active ingredients for pre-emergent control include prodiamine, pendimethalin, and dithiopyr.
Oxadiazon is a highly recommended active ingredient, particularly where goose grass populations have developed resistance to dinitroaniline herbicides like prodiamine. Regardless of the product chosen, ensure the herbicide label specifically lists \(Eleusine\) \(indica\) and is safe for the existing turfgrass species. Pre-emergent control works by preventing the weed’s roots from establishing, so correct timing before seedling emergence is paramount.
Post-Emergent Control
When goose grass plants are visible and actively growing, post-emergent herbicides are necessary to eliminate them. Control becomes significantly more difficult as the weed matures and develops its tough crown and extensive root system, so treatment is most successful on plants with only one or two tillers. Broadleaf weed killers are ineffective, as goose grass is a grassy weed requiring specific grass-selective herbicides.
For cool-season turfgrasses, active ingredients such as fenoxaprop and topramezone are recommended for selective control. In warm-season turfgrasses, effective options include sulfentrazone and metribuzin, sometimes applied in combination with other active ingredients to enhance efficacy. Quinclorac, a common product for crabgrass, is generally not effective against goose grass.
Because mature goose grass is highly tolerant of chemical treatments, sequential applications spaced ten to fourteen days apart are often required to achieve satisfactory kill. Always check the product label for the maximum application rate and the specific turfgrass species on which the product can be safely used. Using a non-ionic surfactant with the herbicide helps the product stick to the waxy leaf surface, improving absorption and the overall success of the treatment.