Grasses at a Glance 2026

When it comes to plant selections in landscaping, much of the focus is typically put on trees, shrubs, and showy flowers. But take a closer look at many landscaped areas and you’ll often find a few grasses. Grasses are underappreciated but can often provide four season interest in the landscape....

If you are new to grass ID, or even experienced with it, and you come across an unknown grass, the options of possible grasses can be overwhelming! In Illinois, there over 400 possibilities, including subspecies and varieties. Luckily there are several online mapping tools that are easy to use that...

I recently received an inquiry from a farmer to identify an unknown grass he found on his property. This led me to a grass I’ve never identified before, but I had seen for years along the interstate and never knew what it was! Let’s take a look at Carolina Foxtail, Alopecurus carolinianus...

Crabgrass isn’t usually a problem until summertime, but effective management starts this spring. Many cultural choices, like how often and how high you mow your lawn, can impact the ability of crabgrass to establish.  About crabgrassThere are several species of crabgrass in Illinois, but the...

2025 was a whirlwind year and I decided to take a step back from this blog. If you’re wondering why, I had a baby! I’m already teaching my little girl about plants and who knows, she might grow up to be a grass lady one day too! Before moving ahead with new content, I took some time to look...