What is Foxtail Grass and How Do I Control It?

With its telltale "fox tail" blooms, this weed looks like it's just begging to be noticed. If you ignore foxtail grass, it will quickly multiply and take over large swathes of your landscape. We can help you rid your lawn of foxtail grass.

No matter where you travel in North America, there's a good chance you'll run into foxtail grass. With its telltale "fox tail" blooms, this weed looks like it's just begging to be noticed – and notice it you should. If you ignore foxtail grass, it will quickly multiply and take over large swathes of your landscape, as it grows happily in both moist and dry soils and all sorts of climate conditions. But don't give up hope. We can help you rid your lawn of foxtail grass.

What is a Foxtail Grass?

Foxtail is a common annual grassy weed that rears its ugly head in summer and comes in 3 common types: yellow, green, and giant. Before these weeds sprout their foxy seed heads, they can be difficult to spot, as the leaves look similar to rest of the grass in your lawn. If their disguise holds through the growing season, foxtail will produce a mass of seeds focused on yard domination. This is a relentless weed that will seek out any weak spot in your lawn, so you need to be vigilant.

How to Get Rid of Foxtail

Prevent It in Spring
You can control foxtail grass most effectively when you're able to stop it before its seeds germinate. As part of your initial spring lawn care routine, apply a pre-emergent designed to target crabgrass. (If it works against crabgrass, it should also handle foxtail grass; check the label to be sure.)
Kill It with Roundup® For Lawns
If you've already got foxtail grass growing in your yard, you need to take a different approach. Use Roundup® For Lawns to kill it, preferably while the weeds are still small and haven't yet developed seed heads. When used as directed, it is designed to kill listed weeds (including foxtail grass) without harming your lawn. For occasional foxtail weeds, reach for Roundup® for Lawns1 Ready-To-Use. If foxtail grass has already taken up residence in a big way, though, opt for Roundup® for Lawns3 Ready-To-Spray or Roundup® For Lawns2 Concentrate instead.
Maintain a Healthy Lawn
The best way to prevent foxtail grass from taking over your lawn is to keep it from moving in in the first place. To do this, maintain a thick, lush lawn by regularly feeding it (4 times per year) and mowing your grass at the right height for your grass type. Most weeds are opportunists, taking root wherever they find space. If your lawn is thick, those weeds will be out of luck.