North Carolina Foxtail Grass Control
Eastern North Carolina lawns might be susceptible to foxtail grass, particularly if they aren’t well-maintained. This summer annual weed seeds heavily and can easily spread through spaces without dense existing turf. A strong lawn maintenance program is essential to stopping foxtail in its tracks.
Barefoot Lawn Care helps eastern North Carolina homes and businesses eliminate weeds and nurture lawns that resist invaders like foxtail. Contact us to nip foxtail in the bud before it becomes a problem.
What Are Foxtails?
Foxtails are wild grasses with hairy, bristle-covered tips (seedheads) resembling—you guessed it—a fox’s bushy tail. They grow in dense clumps during spring and summer and have long, broad, flat leaves that are often larger than average turf grass.
North Carolina is home to two primary types of foxtail:
- Green foxtails usually have shorter, more upright seedheads. As the name suggests, the seedheads often maintain a bright green color.
- Yellow foxtails tend to have larger seedheads that may curve or droop to one side. The seedheads are often pale yellow or light brown compared to green foxtails.
The problem with foxtail is that each seedhead contains hundreds of seeds that can easily spread throughout your lawn and crowd out healthy growth. Ongoing turf maintenance from an expert provider like Barefoot Lawn Care keeps weeds like foxtail at bay.
How to Get Rid of Foxtail Grass​
Getting rid of foxtail grass can involve pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control methods, depending on your lawn’s needs. Professional services like Barefoot Lawn Care know how to combine tactics for an effective solution.
Pre-Emergent Foxtail Control
Foxtail responds to various pre-emergent herbicides applied in early or mid-spring before the weed can grow and re-seed. We may also recommend services like fertilization, core aeration and top dressing to strengthen your existing lawn and make it more weed-resistant.
Post-Emergent Foxtail Solutions
Foxtail that has already emerged is hard to control due to the numerous seeds it can spread in a short time. Hand-weeding and mowing may help, but their effect is often limited if re-seeding has begun. We’ll usually combine manual removal with approved post-emergent herbicides for more comprehensive weed control.
Why Trust Barefoot Lawn Care?
Controlling foxtail weeds requires precision and commitment. The Barefoot Lawn Care team understands this, which is why customers from Raleigh to Wilmington trust us to nurture better green spaces.
Get Professional Foxtail Removal in North Carolina
Barefoot Lawn Care can help you create a healthy, dense lawn that resists invasive weeds like foxtail. If you’ve got an outbreak to control or want to prevent future issues, we’ll create a sustainable lawn management plan that addresses problem weeds and stops foxtails from becoming a lasting problem.
Get in touch with us today.
Foxtail FAQs
What does foxtail look like?
Foxtail is a clump of wild grass with long, flat blades and stalks topped by bristly seedheads resembling a fox’s tail. The stalks can range from a few inches to several feet long. The color and size of the seedheads vary depending on whether you have green or yellow foxtail.
Where does foxtail grow?
Foxtail grows throughout the U.S., including eastern North Carolina. It prefers sunny, dry, loose soils without strong turf but can grow in shade. You’ll often see foxtail along yard edges or near curbs, where grass coverage is sparser.
When do foxtails grow?
Foxtails usually behave as summer annual weeds that grow in spring and die off in autumn. They re-seed pervasively during their lifecycle, and new plants will grow in the following spring.
Depending on climate conditions, some foxtails behave more like perennial plants, going dormant in autumn and winter, and then regrowing in spring.
Is foxtail dangerous for humans?
Although foxtail isn’t poisonous, the sharp, barb-like seedheads can irritate the windpipe and lungs if inhaled. This might cause pneumonia, breathing trouble, coughing up blood or other problematic symptoms requiring medical attention.
Can foxtails harm pets?
Foxtails’ seedheads are dangerous for pets, especially dogs whose noses and mouths are closer to the ground. Chewing or swallowing the sharp seedheads can damage the dog’s mouth and stomach, while inhaling (aspirating) them may cause respiratory problems and lung damage.
If your dog swallows foxtail weeds, seek veterinary advice immediately.
How much does foxtail removal cost?
Foxtail treatment costs vary based on your lawn’s needs. Barefoot Lawn Care’s experts know how to create a maintenance plan that delivers maximum results without waste. We regularly retool processes and implement the latest solutions to ensure continued success, giving you ongoing value for your investment.
Request a free estimate to learn about foxtail weed control and treatment costs.