Cheat Grass

Cheat grass. Bromus tectorum, the weed pest of the day.  I have pulled bushels and it it still way ahead of me.  Now is the time to get it under control, before the seeds mature.  It is an annual grass that spreads by seed, so to control it, you must stop the seed.  It is an alien species, coming from the steppes of Russia and has naturalized here very successfully.  It is a problem as it competes with the native grasses and it is aggresive.  When the seed ripens it is sharp, it sticks in your socks and shoes.  It gets in dogs ears, (I have spent hundreds of dollars at the vet) between their paws and in their noses. 

It is very lush this season, it loves the spring rains.  I have never seen it so tall and robust.  I have one area here it is so tall and thick that it actually  lodged.  Get out there now and pull that cheat grass.