“Spiky grass” is a descriptive term for various plants with stiff or sharp foliage, encompassing both desirable ornamental plants and unwanted weeds. This characteristic can refer to true grasses, sedges, rushes, or other grass-like plants that possess pointed tips or sharp leaf margins. Understanding the specific nature of these plants, whether cultivated or invasive, helps in managing them effectively within a garden or lawn.
Understanding Spiky Grass
Spiky grass characteristics can be a defense mechanism, deterring herbivores. Some plants also develop these features as an adaptation to dry climates, helping to reduce water loss.
While often grouped under the general term “grass,” many of these plants belong to distinct botanical families. True grasses have nodes along their stems and typically have hollow, round stems. Sedges are identified by their triangular, solid stems and leaves that emerge in groups of three. Rushes generally have round stems that can be solid or hollow, without nodes.
Popular Ornamental Spiky Grasses
Several ornamental grass varieties with stiff or pointed textures are popular in landscaping. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) forms dense clumps of foliage with sharp, razor-like edges. It is often used as a focal point, producing tall plumes of silvery flowers.
Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) is a compact, mound-forming evergreen perennial grass with silvery-blue leaves. This plant adds texture and color, suitable for edging or groundcover. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) is recognized for its arching stalks and bright green leaves, forming a mounding shape with soft, feathery plumes that appear in late summer and persist through winter.
Common Spiky Grass Weeds
Several weed species commonly found in lawns and gardens exhibit spiky or sharp foliage. Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) is a summer annual weed that grows in a sprawling, low habit, often with hairy leaves and stems. Its growth pattern can resemble a star or the spokes of a wheel, and its seed heads spread out like fingers.
Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) is a perennial clumping weed with coarse, wide blades. It spreads by short, thick rhizomes and seeds, often appearing in areas with high moisture. Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.), often called nutgrass, is a perennial weed with distinctive triangular, solid stems and thicker, stiffer leaves than most turfgrasses, growing upright and often lighter in color. These weeds can spread aggressively through underground tubers called “nutlets” and rhizomes.
Caring for Ornamental Spiky Grasses
Ornamental spiky grasses require minimal care once established, often thriving in full sun to partial shade conditions. Most varieties prefer well-drained soil, though some can tolerate a range of soil types, provided there is no standing water.
Initial watering is important for new plantings to establish root systems, gradually reducing frequency as they mature. After the first year, many become drought-tolerant, relying on natural rainfall. Minimal maintenance includes cutting back dead foliage in late winter or early spring to promote new growth. Division every few years can help maintain plant health and size.
Controlling Spiky Grass Weeds
Managing spiky grass weeds in lawns and gardens involves a combination of methods. Manual removal, such as hand-pulling, is effective for small infestations and young weeds, especially when the soil is moist.
Cultural practices can suppress weed growth and improve turf competitiveness. Maintaining a healthy, dense lawn through proper mowing, fertilization, and irrigation can significantly reduce weed establishment. Mowing at an appropriate height can reduce weed pressure from certain species like crabgrass.
Using pre-emergent herbicides can prevent weed seeds from sprouting, while post-emergent herbicides target weeds that are already growing. For persistent weeds like nutsedge, which can pierce through mulches, a thick, non-woven landscape fabric covered with mulch can help suppress growth, alongside consistent removal of any emerging plants.