By Blake Jackson
During Pennsylvania summers, many pastures and hayfields can be invaded by an unwelcome grass: foxtail. At first glance, it may resemble timothy grass, but careful inspection reveals the difference.
Foxtail is a summer annual, growing from seed in spring and dying in fall, spreading hundreds of seeds each year. Timothy is a perennial, surviving winter in a dormant state.
Timothy is highly valued by horse owners for its taste and quality hay. While young foxtail plants pose no harm, its seed heads can injure horses. Each seed has barbed spikes called awns, which can lodge in mouths, gums, or even eyes, potentially causing lesions or infections. Feeding foxtail with seed heads is not recommended.
Identification tips include examining the seed head, collar region, and crown. Foxtail seed heads may droop and have visible awns, whereas timothy has none. At the collar, timothy shows a tall upright membrane, while foxtail has a fringe of hairs. Timothy also forms bulb-like corms at the crown, absent in foxtail.
Controlling foxtail is challenging since herbicides may harm desirable grasses. Options include:
- Renovating pastures: Overseed with cool-season grasses or completely reestablish the field to bury seeds, correcting soil pH and nutrients before planting.
- Timing mowing: Let foxtail grow until the boot stage, then mow before full seed set to prevent seed drop. Multiple years may be needed to reduce the soil seed bank.
- Pre-emergent herbicides: Pendimethalin (Prowl H2O or Satellite HydroCap) applied in early spring can prevent foxtail and other annual grasses. Note it may require two applications and restrict grass planting for up to 10 months.
With careful observation and management, foxtail can be controlled while maintaining healthy pastures and safe hay for horses.
Photo Credit: foxtail-MAFRI
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Hay & Forage