Foxtail grasses are invasive summer annual weeds that quickly take over a yard, posing a serious physical threat to pets and people. These plants are prolific seed producers, and their dispersal mechanism turns the weed into a genuine hazard. Addressing an infestation requires a combination of immediate physical removal and long-term preventative maintenance. Understanding the plant’s life cycle and the danger it poses is the first step toward reclaiming your lawn.
Identifying Foxtail Grass and Its Hazards
Foxtail grass is a common grassy weed that forms in coarse, upright bunches. It can grow up to four feet tall, though it is often shorter in a lawn setting. The leaves are typically flat and wide with slightly rough edges, and the plant is green and soft earlier in the season. Its most distinctive feature is the seed head, a bristly, spike-like panicle that resembles a fox’s tail, measuring between three and ten inches long depending on the variety.
The danger lies not in the plant itself but in the individual seeds, known as grass awns, which are equipped with microscopic, backward-facing barbs. As the plant matures and dries out, typically from mid-summer onward, these barbed seeds break off easily. The barbs are designed to allow the seed to move in one direction—forward—which helps it burrow into the soil to germinate. This barbed design allows the awns to penetrate soft tissue in animals, such as between the toes, ears, or nasal passages, and then migrate deeper into the body, causing infection and injury.
Immediate Methods for Removing Existing Foxtails
The most direct approach for managing a small foxtail infestation is manual removal, provided the plants have not yet developed mature seed heads. Hand-pulling or using a trowel to dig out the plants is necessary. Ensure the entire root system is removed to prevent regrowth. This method is most successful when the soil is moist, allowing the roots to slide out cleanly rather than breaking off at the base.
If you are dealing with a widespread infestation, physical removal must be timed before the seed heads become dry and brittle. Mowing is only a viable control method if done frequently enough to prevent the seed heads from forming. If the plant has already produced the characteristic foxtail spike, mowing will simply scatter the barbed awns across the lawn, worsening the problem.
For areas where foxtails are well-established or producing seeds, a targeted application of a post-emergent herbicide may be required. These products kill actively growing weeds. Selective options containing active ingredients like quinclorac can eliminate the foxtail without harming most surrounding turfgrass. Non-selective herbicides, such as glyphosate, are an option but should be used strictly as a spot treatment, as they will kill any plant they contact. Proper application involves avoiding mowing for at least 48 hours before and after treatment, allowing the plant time to absorb the chemical for full effectiveness.
Strategies for Preventing Future Growth
Preventing the return of foxtail grass centers on interrupting its summer annual life cycle and making the turf less hospitable for weed growth. The most reliable chemical defense is a pre-emergent herbicide, which forms a chemical barrier in the soil that prevents seeds from germinating. For foxtails, application should occur in the early spring, before soil temperatures consistently reach 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the optimal range for germination.
Active ingredients like prodiamine, pendimethalin, or dithiopyr are commonly used in pre-emergent products and should be watered into the soil after application for activation. Foxtail seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to three years, so this measure must be repeated annually to deplete the seed bank. Following the initial spring application, a second application in late summer or early fall can help control a second germination window.
Cultural practices are equally important to create a dense, healthy lawn that naturally crowds out weeds. Mowing turfgrass at a taller height (three to four inches) shades the soil and reduces the temperature fluctuations that trigger germination. Ensuring the lawn receives deep, infrequent watering encourages strong, deep root systems in the turfgrass, strengthening its competitive advantage over shallow-rooted weeds. Reducing bare soil by applying organic mulch in garden beds or compacted areas also physically blocks weed seeds from sprouting.
Post-Removal Safety Measures and Pet Care
Once foxtail plants have been removed or treated, proper disposal of the debris is necessary to prevent the seeds from spreading. All pulled weeds and clippings must be bagged and sent to a landfill; they should never be added to a home compost pile. The temperatures reached in a typical backyard compost bin are usually not sufficient to kill the seeds, and composting could inadvertently spread the infestation when the finished product is used.
For pet owners, post-exposure inspection is mandatory after any time spent outdoors. A thorough check should focus on the common entry points for the barbed awns, including the ears, nose, eyes, and the webbing between the toes and paw pads. Trimming the fur between a dog’s toes can reduce the surface area where the seeds can attach and embed.
If a foxtail seed is found on the surface of the fur or skin and is not yet embedded, it can be safely removed with tweezers. However, if a pet displays symptoms such as persistent sneezing, head shaking, excessive licking, or localized swelling, seek immediate veterinary attention. These signs suggest the foxtail has already penetrated the skin or entered an orifice and begun its migration, requiring professional removal to prevent severe infection or internal damage.