Invading weeds: Cheatgrass

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is a non-native, highly invasive, annual grass that infests disturbed areas such as roadsides, open fields and ditches, as well as crop fields, rangelands, grasslands and desert areas. It is fairly widespread in Taos County.

Cheatgrass is a cool season grass. It emerges early in the growing season (late March-April). As a result, cheatgrass is able to gain an advantage over its native plant competition, and over several growing seasons can dominate a site, forming a monoculture, crowding out native vegetation and negatively affecting proper ecosystem function.

This and all noxious/invasive plant species should be managed using Integrated Pest Management Principles (aces.nmsu.edu/ipm/)

Facts

• Found in at least 49 states

• Each plant can produce up to 5,000 seeds

• Covers 40-70 million acres in the Western US

• Alters wildfire regimes by increasing wildfire frequency by drying out in late spring and leaving a dense mat of fine fuels to carry fire.

• Cheatgrass seed have extremely sharp awns that can work their way into the fur, skin, eyes, nose, ears or mouth of pets and livestock.

• Also known as: Downy or drooping brome, military grass, June grass, bronco grass

• Stems/Leaves: Narrow stems (1-24 in. long) often droop; leaves (several inches long, 0.05-0.25 in. wide) are green to purple with closed sheaths that extend at least halfway down the stem, with some long hairs on sheaths and leaf base

• Flowers: Multiple, slightly flattened grass spikes (2.5-8.5 in. long) are found at the ends of thin stems and often droop; each spike has 4-8 seeds (0.3-0.5 in. long) and each seed is tipped with a stiff bristle (0.3-0.7 in. long); spikes and seeds are green to purple or red in color

• Roots: Fibrous root system

• Reproduction: Seed; successful management prevents seed production/spread

Management Do’s and Don’ts

• Maintenance of a healthy plant community and prevention are the best management methods

• Burning before seed dispersal will destroy seed but may leave the site susceptible to re-invasion in following years

• Mowing within a week after flowering will reduce seed production

• Hand-pulling can be effective over time, if the infestation is small

• Herbicides are effective

For more information on cheatgrass and other invasives, scan the

QR Code below or visit Taos Soil and Water District website: tswcd. org/noxious-weeds.

Please join the following partners in our battle against noxious and invasive weeds in the place we call home:

Taos Soil and Water Conservation District; USDA Carson National Forest; USDI Bureau of Land Management (Taos Field Office); New Mexico Department

of Agriculture; New Mexico State University Agricultural Extension Office; New Mexico Department of Transportation; New Mexico Division of Forestry; Southern Methodist University (Taos Campus); Taos County; Town of Taos; Amigos Bravos; Taos Land Trust; Rocky Mountain Youth Corps; New Mexico Native Plant Society (Taos Chapter); Sunset Park Inc.; and Rio Grande Ace Hardware.

COURTESY ROBERT POKORNEY Cheatgrass, one of the most common invasive weeds in the area, is known for its hardiness and ability to grow almost anywhere. It is often seen along the sides of paths and roads.