What Is the Weird Grass Growing in My Lawn?

6 Common Grassy Weeds in Central Ohio (Columbus Area Guide)

Grassy weeds are one of the most frustrating problems homeowners face in Central Ohio. They seem to appear overnight, spread quickly, and often don’t respond to typical weed control treatments.

If you’ve ever looked at your lawn and thought, “What is this weird grass growing in my yard?”—you’re not alone. At Buckeye Turf, this is one of the most common questions we get from homeowners across Columbus and surrounding areas.

Many people assume it’s crabgrass—but the truth is, there are several different grassy weeds it could be. Some can be controlled. Others require a longer-term strategy.

Let’s break it down.

Identifying Strange Grass in Your Lawn

The first step to getting rid of unwanted grass is proper identification. Different grassy weeds require completely different approaches.

To keep things simple and honest, we group them into two categories:

• Controllable grassy weeds
• Hard-to-control or uncontrollable grassy weeds

Controllable Grassy Weeds in Central Ohio

1. Crabgrass

Crabgrass is the most well-known—and most blamed—grassy weed in Ohio lawns.

It grows in thick, unsightly clumps and thrives in:

• Thin or bare areas of your lawn
• Edges and spots damaged by mowing or trimming

Because it looks similar to other weeds, many homeowners assume every grassy weed is crabgrass—but that’s not always the case.

How Buckeye Turf controls it:

• Early spring pre-emergent treatments to prevent growth
• Targeted post-emergent applications for breakthrough

The key is timing—once crabgrass matures, it’s much harder to control.

2. Nutsedge (Nutgrass)

Nutsedge is another common issue in Central Ohio lawns, especially in areas with excess moisture.

You can spot it by:

• Bright yellow-green color
• Faster growth than your lawn
• Upright, triangular stems

Even though it looks like grass, it’s actually a sedge, not a true grass.

Why it’s tough:

• Spreads through underground tubers (“nutlets”)
• Grows up to 5x faster than turfgrass
• Requires specialized treatments

Nutsedge often needs multiple applications and ongoing management.

Hard-to-Control Grassy Weeds

Here’s the honest truth: not all grassy weeds can be easily eliminated. A lot of companies won’t tell you that—but we will.

The good news? Many of these are manageable over time.

3. Annual Bluegrass (Poa Annua)

• Light green color
• Produces visible seed heads
• Short life cycle

When it dies off, it can leave bare patches—making it look like your lawn is dying.

Solution:

Overseed in the fall to fill in those areas.

4. Nimblewill

An invasive, warm-season grass that spreads aggressively.

The challenge:

• Doesn’t respond to standard weed control
• Blends into lawns but creates patchy appearance

Best solution:

• Physical removal or non-selective herbicide
• Reseeding in the fall

The longer it sits, the worse it spreads.

5. Zoysia Grass (When Unwanted)

Zoysia is sometimes planted intentionally—but when it spreads into cool-season lawns in Ohio, it becomes a problem.

Control options:

• Digging it out
• Multiple applications of non-selective herbicide
• Fall reseeding

6. Creeping Bentgrass

Originally used on golf courses, creeping bentgrass is becoming more common in residential lawns.

It often spreads through:

• Lawn equipment
• Foot traffic (yes—even golf shoes)

Problem:

• Forms dense patches that disrupt lawn uniformity

Solution:

• Removal and reseeding
• Prevention through proper lawn care practices

How to Get Rid of Weird Grass in Your Lawn

No matter what type of grassy weed you’re dealing with, the long-term solution is the same:

Build a thicker, healthier lawn

The best defense against weeds is strong turfgrass that crowds them out.

Key steps:

• Fall aeration
• Overseeding
• Proper fertilization
• Consistent weed control program

Over time, a dense lawn will naturally choke out unwanted grasses.

Why Lawn Improvement Takes Time

If your lawn has a lot of grassy weeds, it won’t be fixed overnight.

Realistically:

• It can take multiple seasons
• Progress happens gradually
• Consistency is key

But the results are worth it—a thicker, greener, more uniform lawn year after year.

Trust Buckeye Turf for Honest Lawn Care in Central Ohio

At Buckeye Turf, we specialize in identifying and managing the grassy weeds common in Columbus and surrounding communities.

We use:

• Proven weed control treatments
• Targeted solutions for tough weeds like crabgrass and nutsedge
• Long-term lawn health strategies

And just as important—we’re honest about what’s possible.

Some weeds require time. Some require renovation. But we’ll always guide you toward the best solution for your lawn.

Get Help With Grassy Weeds Today

If you’re dealing with strange grass in your lawn, don’t guess—get expert help.

Contact Buckeye Turf today or request a free quote to get started on a customized lawn care plan for your Central Ohio property.