Summer Grass is a common weed in Australia’s lawns and gardens, as well as invading bushland in many regions. It is a very fast growing weed which sends out its shoots in all directions from it’s centre. It spreads through it’s stolons (above ground runners), and it’s stems can be brown or red in colour, with thin grey-green leaves, and fine spiky seed heads that shoot upwards.
A prolific seeder, Summer Grass should be removed from lawns when first noticed. As it is a variety of grass (like your lawn), lawn mowing has no impact on it’s removal or growth, other than to help to control it’s production of more seed heads.

Hand pull Summer Grass whenever first seen by removing it at it’s roots, and before it spreads out of control.
For more entrenched infestations, a selective poison can be purchased from your local nursery, ensure you take note of your lawn variety before purchasing any herbicide, because different herbicides react differently to different grass types, and if not careful, treating Summer Grass may kill your lawn.
If in doubt, consult a Professional and Experienced Weed Spraying Contractor.

Summer Grass and Crabgrass (Crowsfoot Grass) as they are known by their common names in Australia look very similar and can be confused for each other. For ease of identification we have included pictures in both articles.
Further confusion arises when a search on the internet produces pages from elsewhere in the world where these names can be interchanged with each other. For any searching, always use the Botanical Name.
Highly respected Australian turf and plant breeder Todd Layt shares expert lawn care advice with homeowners on The Lawn Guide.