Blackgrass
Alopecurus myosuroides · Poaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant blackgrass: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Poaceae (grasses)
- Type
- Annual or winter grass
- Mature height
- 12 to 24 inches
- Flowering
- April to June
- Foliage
- Deciduous, linear and fine
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, tolerates harsh winters
- Origin
- Europe, Mediterranean region
- Natural habitat
- Cultivated fields, disturbed land
Care
Light exposure
Meadow foxtail prefers well-lit situations and appreciates full sun. However, it tolerates semi-shaded areas and adapts to most light conditions. This grass is generally not intentionally cultivated in gardens but appears spontaneously in cultivated areas.
Soil and preparation
This grass grows on varied soils, from loamy to chalky, and prefers well-drained terrain. It establishes quickly on disturbed or compacted soils. No special preparation is necessary if it colonizes your land naturally.
Watering
Meadow foxtail requires no regular watering as a wild grass. It relies on natural rainfall and shows good adaptability to seasonal drought. In voluntary cultivation, moderate watering suffices during initial establishment.
Mowing and maintenance
If this grass develops in a meadow or field, mowing before boot stage (before flowering) limits its natural spread. Regular mowing maintains young vegetation and prevents seed production. In ornamental gardens, autumn cleanup is sufficient.
Pests and diseases
Meadow foxtail is rarely affected by serious diseases. In prolonged humid conditions, risks of root rot may occur, hence the importance of good drainage. No particular treatment is generally necessary under normal conditions.
Nutrition and fertilization
No fertilizer is necessary for this hardy grass, which develops adequately on poor soils. Only a limited nitrogen application can slightly stimulate growth in early season, but this is not essential.
Did you know?
Meadow foxtail has long been recognized as a troublesome weed in cereal crops, as it competes directly with wheat and barley. Its seeds germinate primarily in autumn (hence the qualifier "winter"), and it can produce up to 1,000 seeds per plant, making it a tenacious adversary for both organic and conventional farmers for several centuries.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.