Biological Name:
Japanese-Stiltgrass: Microstegium vimineum
Natural Habitat:
Japanese-Stiltgrass: The natural habitat for Japanese-Stiltgrass is moist, shaded areas, such as forests, meadows, and wetlands, in Asia, including Japan.
Description:
Japanese-stiltgrass is a type of grass that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Poaceae family which also includes plants such as wheat and corn. Japanese-stiltgrass is an annual or perennial plant that produces small green or brown flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas Japanese-stiltgrass is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What kills Japanese stiltgrass but not grass?
A: A good method for killing stiltgrass in turf is to use Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, an herbicide that will kill Japanese stiltgrass but NOT kill turf grass. This chemical is sold as Acclaim and should be applied at 0.4 oz./gallon plus 0.5% surfactant.
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Q: How do you stop Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Mulch the soil in your ornamental beds to exclude light and stop stiltgrass from germinating. Maintain a healthy, dense lawn that competes with and prevents the establishment of weeds. If you mow your lawn too short and too often it will be more prone to stiltgrass infestation.
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Q: How do you get rid of stiltgrass naturally?
A: Hand hoeing and hand pulling can be an effective means to control stiltgrass as long it is done before it has dropped seed (~ mid August in NJ). Recognize that hoeing or pulling stiltgrass early in the season (before August) disturbs soil which can stimulate germination of new plants from the seed bank.
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Q: When should you spray stilt grass?
A: Applied 2 to 3 weeks before seed germination, it can prevent germination and reestablishment of stiltgrass. However, a pre-emergent herbicide will have little effect on plants that are already present.
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Q: Can I compost Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Be sure to dispose of the pulled grass in the trash; don’t add it to the compost pile. Unfortunately, because plant parts can root and the seed can be viable for years, you’ll have to stay on top of removing this weed for the upcoming growing seasons.
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Q: Does anything eat Japanese stiltgrass?
A: The rehabilitation of native plant communities is essential when managing Japanese stiltgrass because of the animals that rely on native understory plants. Even though grazers do not browse on this grass recent evidence has shown that native insects will consume it.
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Q: How do I get rid of Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Glyphosate and Glufossinate (various trade names) can be used to spot treat Japanese stiltgrass in gardens and planting beds. Both are broad spectrum herbicides that should be applied only to the unwanted plants. If applied to the foliage, stems, or woody portions of desirable plants, it could damage them as well.
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Q: How do you prevent Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Mulch the soil in your ornamental beds to exclude light and stop stiltgrass from germinating. Maintain a healthy, dense lawn that competes with and prevents the establishment of weeds. If you mow your lawn too short and too often it will be more prone to stiltgrass infestation.
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Q: Can you burn Japanese stiltgrass?
A: This is after the spring ephemeral bloom. It is also after the time that many perennial seeds will germinate. True, burning stiltgrass clears away last year’s stiltgrass thatch and allows stiltgrass to grow back even thicker and lusher.
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Q: Can you compost Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Be sure to dispose of the pulled grass in the trash; don’t add it to the compost pile. Unfortunately, because plant parts can root and the seed can be viable for years, you’ll have to stay on top of removing this weed for the upcoming growing seasons.
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Q: Why is stiltgrass a problem?
A: It expands into dense stands of grass that prevent desirable vegetation from growing. Areas infested with Japanese stiltgrass have decreased biodiversity. In addition to the early-season plants that are typically crowded out by invasive species, late-season grasses, sedges, and herbs are also affected.
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Q: How do you control Japanese blood grass?
A: Tip: Reduce water during its dormant winter period. Avoid cutting back Japanese bloodgrass until early spring (before new growth begins). At that time, cut back bloodgrass to the ground or simply give it a haircut to remove winter damage.
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Q: How did Japanese stiltgrass get to America?
A: U.S. Distribution: Japanese stiltgrass was first documented in Tennessee in 1919, introduced as a packing material for goods from Asia. It has spread across much of the eastern U.S. as far north as New Hampshire and as far south as Texas.
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Q: What kills Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Glyphosate and Glufossinate (various trade names) can be used to spot treat Japanese stiltgrass in gardens and planting beds. Both are broad spectrum herbicides that should be applied only to the unwanted plants.
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Q: How do you stop Japanese stiltgrass from spreading?
A: To control small populations of Japanese stiltgrass, remove the plants by hand or mow in early August before the plants go to seed. If mowing occurs after the seeds set, seeds can be easily transported to new locations on contaminated equipment. Always clean equipment after use in areas with invasive plant seed.
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Q: How do you control Japanese stiltgrass in PA?
A: Control. Small infestations of stiltgrass are easily pulled, as the roots are very shallow. Cutting plants off at ground level using a string trimmer is also effective because it removes all stem tissue, making stiltgrass unable regrow.
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Q: What is the common name for Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), also known as Nepalese browntop and Asian stiltgrass, replaces native vegetation in a wide range of ecosystems including forested floodplains, forest edges, stream banks, fields, trails, and ditches.
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Q: Is Japanese stiltgrass invasive?
A: Stiltgrass threatens native understory vegetation in full sun to deep shade. It readily invades disturbed shaded areas, like floodplains that are prone to natural scouring, and areas subject to mowing, tilling and other soil-disturbing activities including white-tailed deer traffic.
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Q: How do I get rid of Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Glyphosate and Glufossinate (various trade names) can be used to spot treat Japanese stiltgrass in gardens and planting beds. Both are broad spectrum herbicides that should be applied only to the unwanted plants. If applied to the foliage, stems, or woody portions of desirable plants, it could damage them as well.
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Q: What can I plant in place of Japanese stiltgrass?
A: Once Japanese stiltgrass has been suppressed for a number of years and natives have a chance to outcompete it, a formal native planting should occur. If applicable to the site, Virginia cutgrass (Leersia virginica ) and jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) are competitive native plants to consider during restoration.
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Q: How do I get rid of Japanese blood grass?
A: You can wipe the glyphosate on the leaves of the bloodgrass or spray it using cardboard to protect desirable plants. This will likely take two (possibly three) applications. Use all herbicides according to the label and and read the label prior to application.
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