Weekly Insight Week 23
Growing Grass in the Desert Starts Here
May 31 - June 6, 2026
What a Wonderful Beginning to Spring
As we close out May and prepare to welcome June, Mother Nature has certainly been kind to West Texas.
Through May 31st, San Angelo has received 9.83 inches of rainfall, placing us 1.57 inches above our normal year-to-date rainfall total. Even more encouraging, additional rainfall is forecast beginning Tuesday and continuing through much of the upcoming week.
Our current five-day average soil temperature is 82.7°F. While that may sound warm, it is actually well below both our five-year average of 88.0°F and our ten-year average of 87.6°F for this time of year. The combination of abundant moisture and moderate soil temperatures has created nearly ideal growing conditions for our lawns, landscapes, trees, and shrubs.
What a wonderful beginning to spring this has been.
Bermuda grass is actively growing, root systems are developing, and many lawns are showing exceptional color and vigor. Unfortunately, favorable conditions for desirable turf are often favorable conditions for weeds as well.
One weed that has become increasingly noticeable throughout San Angelo this spring is Liverseed Grass. Many homeowners initially mistake it for fast-growing Bermuda grass, only realizing something is different once it begins growing taller, producing seedheads, and creating uneven patches throughout the lawn.
This week, let's take a closer look at one of the more misunderstood grassy weeds we encounter during the summer months.
Liverseed Grass
Understanding the Weed Before You Try to Control It
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when dealing with weeds is focusing only on what product to spray. Understanding why a weed is present is often more important than knowing what herbicide to use.
Liverseed grass (Urochloa panicoides), sometimes referred to as Panic Liverseedgrass, is a warm-season annual grassy weed that has become increasingly common throughout West Texas lawns, athletic fields, and managed turf areas.
While many homeowners mistake it for Bermuda grass during its early stages of growth, liverseed grass grows rapidly during hot weather and can quickly dominate thin or weakened turf.
Where Did Liverseed Grass Come From?
Liverseed grass is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. It was likely introduced into the United States through contaminated agricultural seed, livestock feed, or transported soil many decades ago.
Today it can be found throughout the southern United States, especially in warm climates where summer temperatures favor rapid growth.
Unlike Bermuda grass, which spreads through stolons and rhizomes, liverseed grass survives entirely through seed production. One mature plant can produce thousands of seeds during a single growing season.
That means a small infestation this year can become a much larger infestation next year if seed production is allowed to continue.
What Research Has Shown
One of the most recognized studies involving liverseed grass was conducted by Dr. David Kopec and Kai Umeda at the University of Arizona.
Their research focused on selective pre-emergent and post-emergent control of Panic Liverseedgrass in warm-season turf.
Their findings confirmed several important observations:
• Pre-emergent herbicides provided the highest level of control.
• Young seedlings were much easier to control than mature plants.
• 2,4-D provided suppression only during the very early seedling stage.
• Once plants became established and began tillering, post-emergent control became significantly more difficult.
• Turf density was one of the most important factors in preventing infestations.
In simple terms, healthy grass remains one of the best weed control products available.
Why Is Liverseed Grass In My Lawn?
In most cases, liverseed grass is a symptom of a weak lawn rather than the actual problem.
It commonly appears where:
• Turf density has decreased.
• Mowing heights are inconsistent.
• Fertility programs are lacking.
• Drought stress has weakened the turf.
• Soil compaction is present.
• Insect or disease damage has occurred.
• Bare areas allow sunlight to reach the soil surface.
A thick Bermuda lawn acts like a natural pre-emergent herbicide by shading the soil and preventing weed seeds from becoming established.
Whenever a lawn becomes thin, liverseed grass takes advantage of the opportunity.
Identification
Characteristics include:
• Summer annual grassy weed.
• Germinates as soil temperatures reach approximately 70°F.
• Rapid upright growth.
• Broad leaf blade compared to Bermuda grass.
• Distinct midrib.
• Produces multiple seedheads throughout summer.
• Dies after the first hard frost.
Many homeowners first notice the weed because it grows faster and taller than the surrounding Bermuda grass.
Best Management Practices
Step 1: Improve Turf Density
The long-term solution is not simply killing the weed.
The long-term solution is growing enough healthy grass that the weed can no longer survive.
Mowing
Maintain proper mowing heights.
Hybrid Bermuda: 1 - 2 inches.
Common Bermuda: Approximately 3 inches.
Never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade during a mowing event.
Irrigation
Water deeply and infrequently.
Avoid daily irrigation cycles that encourage weed germination.
Fertility
A healthy Bermuda lawn receiving approximately 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually will naturally compete against liverseed grass.
Compaction
Reduce compaction through aerification and proper traffic management.
Chemical Control
Pre-Emerent Control
The most effective control strategy is prevention.
Apply pre-emergent herbicides before soil temperatures consistently reach 70°F.
Recommended active ingredients include:
• Prodiamine
• Pendimethalin
• Dithiopyr
For West Texas, applications are typically made during February with follow-up applications as needed.
Post-Emergent Control
By June 1st, most liverseed grass plants are already established.
Control becomes more difficult, but suppression is still possible.
Celsius WG + Certainty
For established infestations in Bermuda grass, this is often the best selective option available.
Apply:
• Celsius WG at labeled rates. 0.085 ounce per 1,000 square feet.
• Certainty at labeled rates. 0.031 ounce per 1,000 square feet.
• Non-ionic surfactant according to label directions. 0.25% v/v
Apply to actively growing plants.
A second application may be required 21 to 28 days later.
Expect gradual yellowing and decline over several weeks.
Glyphosate Spot Treatments
For isolated clumps or severe infestations, spot treating with glyphosate can be highly effective.
Yes, the Bermuda grass will be injured where sprayed. However, a dead weed surrounded by healthy Bermuda is often preferable to a living weed producing thousands of seeds.
Allow the area to recover naturally or repair with sod if necessary.
Final Thoughts
Liverseed grass is one of the best examples of a weed that takes advantage of opportunity.
The presence of liverseed grass usually tells us more about the condition of the lawn than it does about the weed itself.
As I often tell customers, stop killing weeds and start growing grass.
Research conducted by Dr. Kopec confirmed what many turf managers have observed for years. Healthy, dense turf remains the best defense against liverseed grass and many other lawn weeds.
The goal is not simply to kill the weed.
The goal is to grow enough healthy grass that the weed can no longer survive.
Thank you for allowing BES-TEX Supply to be part of your lawn and landscape success. We appreciate the opportunity to share these weekly insights and hope they help you better understand your lawn, landscape, trees, and pest concerns.
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Thank you for your continued support of BES-TEX Supply.
Monte Sims
BES-TEX Supply
4512 Adobe Dr.
San Angelo, TX 76903
325.653.1300
www.BES-TEX.com