Foxtails: How to Identify and Control It
Setaria spp. · Summer annual grass
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How to identify foxtails
- Bristly, cylinder-shaped seed heads (yellow, green or giant foxtail)
- Yellow foxtail: long hairs at the base of the leaf blade
- Giant foxtail: large nodding seed heads, hairy leaf tops
- Bunch-type growth
Why it shows up
Some of the most common annual grasses of gardens, fields and new or thin lawns. They germinate from spring into summer. The barbed seed heads can injure pets' ears, eyes and noses.
Where it's a problem
- Northeast & Mid-Atlantic (zones 4–8)
- Southeast (zones 7–10)
- Midwest (zones 4–7)
- Great Plains & Texas (zones 3–9)
- West & Pacific Northwest (zones 3–10 (1–8 in Alaska))
Control methods
1. Cultural (prevention)
- Dense turf and proper mowing
- Mulch beds
2. Mechanical
- Pull or hoe before seed heads form
3. Organic options
- Mulching and cover crops
4. Chemical options
Herbicide safety — always follow the label. The label is the law: use only products labeled for your site, turfgrass or crop, and follow rates, timing, weather limits and protective equipment directions exactly. Keep people and pets off treated areas as directed, and check state and local rules. Active ingredients named here are examples from extension guidance, not endorsements; availability varies by state.
- Crabgrass pre-emergents usually control foxtails
- Post-emergent grass herbicides labeled for your turf type (e.g. fenoxaprop in some cool-season turf)
When to treat foxtails by USDA zone
| USDA zone | Typical timing (from NOAA frost-date medians) |
|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Pre-emergent around Apr 19–May 3 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, May 17); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 4 | Pre-emergent around Apr 12–Apr 26 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, May 10); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 5 | Pre-emergent around Apr 5–Apr 19 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, May 3); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 6 | Pre-emergent around Mar 29–Apr 12 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Apr 26); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 7 | Pre-emergent around Mar 14–Mar 28 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Apr 11); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 8 | Pre-emergent around Feb 24–Mar 10 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Mar 24); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 9 | Pre-emergent around Jan 26–Feb 9 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Feb 23); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
Zones 10–11 (frost rare): follow germination flushes after rains; pre-emergents in late summer/fall for winter weeds and late winter for summer weeds. Find your exact frost dates with the ZIP planner. Soil temperature and the product label take priority over the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of foxtails naturally?
Start with cultural and mechanical controls: Dense turf and proper mowing; Mulch beds; Pull or hoe before seed heads form.
What does foxtails look like?
Bristly, cylinder-shaped seed heads (yellow, green or giant foxtail); Yellow foxtail: long hairs at the base of the leaf blade; Giant foxtail: large nodding seed heads, hairy leaf tops; Bunch-type growth.
When is the best time to treat foxtails?
Prevent it with a pre-emergent applied 2–4 weeks before your average last spring frost, when soil reaches about 55°F.
Where is foxtails a problem in the US?
Foxtails is common in: Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains & Texas, West & Pacific Northwest.
Sources & further reading
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Setaria pumila (yellow foxtail)
- UC IPM (University of California) weed gallery: weed photo gallery
- Larson et al. (2016). Effects of Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi) and Yellow Foxtail (Setaria pumila) Competition on Establishment and Productivity of Switchgrass. Weed Science. doi:10.1614/ws-d-14-00160.1
- Herbicide examples are typical active ingredients named in university extension guides; products and registrations vary by state. See your state Cooperative Extension weed-control guide.
Related weeds in the same regions
Crabgrass · Dandelion · White Clover · Field Bindweed · Yellow Nutsedge · Common Chickweed · Broadleaf Plantain · Creeping Charlie (Ground Ivy) · All 27 weeds
Planning a garden? See planting calendars by state & zone.