Weed Identification: Weeds and Grasses that Look Like Wheat

If you have weeds and grasses growing in your yard that look like wheat, you may be wondering what type of weeds they are. Unwanted grass seeds are often deposited in yards by birds, and some even become invasive species.

The first thing to do is figure out what type of weed it is; then it’s easy to see what you need to do to get rid of them. This article will provide you with a list of Weeds and Grass that look like wheat.

 

Weeds and Grass that look like wheat

These are the top 6 weeds and grasses that look like wheat. If you find any of these in your yard, it’s best to get rid of them as soon as possible, either by pulling them out by hand or using a post or pre-emergent herbicide.

Couch Grass

Wheat-like weeds

Couch grass grows tall and forms seed heads that look like wheat. These seed heads are relatively small but can be very sharp and may even cause injury to humans. This weed is relatively versatile and thrives in various conditions, which is why it can spread rapidly. It likes both moist and dry soils, but it prefers moist soil conditions.

Couch grass is a cool-season perennial grass that can quickly spread via rhizomes and seeds. If you have couch grass growing in your yard, it is recommended to use a pre-emergent herbicide early fall or a post-emergent on mature grass. You can also pull couch grass up by hand or cover it with a tarp to block out the sun and smother the plant.

Quack Grass

How to ID weeds that look like wheat

Quack grass is a perennial broadleaf grass that’s considered a weed. It’s tall and can reach 3 1/2 feet in height and be challenging to pull up, but relatively easy to identify once you know what it looks like. It also has a tall seed head that will develop in late summer or fall if not mowed, and it looks like wheat. Quack grass is a cool-season grass that also spreads via rhizomes.

Quack Grass can be controlled easily by pulling it out by the roots or using a pre-emergent herbicide that will last up to six months.  Here’s how to ID quackgrass.

Dallisgrass

Dallisgrass looks like wheat, but is a weed.

This weed is not as common as the others, but it has long blades that are very thin. It also forms a seed head that looks like wheat and can be difficult to pull up by hand. Dallisgrass is found more in southern parts of Texas along ditches or open fields. It grows up to 5 feet tall and can be found in moist or dry soils but will only spread in wet conditions. It grows very fast and can overtake a yard if not kept in check.

If you have Dallisgrass growing in your yard, it would be best to use an herbicide containing glyphosate or another weed killer meant for long-term control of weeds.

Yellow foxtail

Yellow Foxtail

This weed is widespread (and looks a lot like wheat), so it’s best to keep an eye out for this yellow foxtail. It grows to 4 feet tall and has a seed head that looks like wheat and can be identified by the bristly hairs on top of the seedhead. The leaves edges feel very rough to the touch. Yellow foxtail spreads rapidly via the wind as the seedhead becomes fluffy when mature.

Barnyard grass

barnyard grass

Barnyard grass is a warm-season annual grass that can be difficult to control. It has a seed head that looks like wheat, and it will grow up to 5 feet tall.

Hare Barley

Hare barley is an annual cool-season grass that’s commonly referred to as wild barley or winter barley. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and has seed heads that look like wheat. It will begin to spread rapidly once the weather begins to warm up around springtime. It’s best to use an herbicide if you want to get rid of this weed because pulling it by hand may prove to be difficult.


Other weeds that look like wheat

  • Switchgrass
  • Ryegrass
  • Western wheatgrass
  • Feather reed grass
  • Amaranth

Conclusion

There are many different types of grasses and weeds that look like wheat, but if you use the proper weed killer, you can eliminate them from your yard. Make sure to take precautions when applying any type of herbicide because it is easy to damage other plants and grasses around your yard.

Very Related