Little barley is a short, grassy weed that often goes unnoticed until late May or early June, when it turns brown and becomes more visible in lawns. While it may seem to appear suddenly, little barley actually begins its life much earlier.
Quick Little Barley Control Tips
- Little barley germinates in fall, not spring
- It turns brown and dies out in early summer
- There is no effective post-emergent control
- Thick lawns help prevent infestations
- Fall pre-emergent is the most effective control
What Is Little Barley?
Little barley is a cool-season grassy weed that germinates in the fall and grows quietly through winter and early spring. By late spring or early summer, it produces seed heads, turns brown, and dies out as temperatures rise.
How to Identify Little Barley
Little barley is often confused with foxtail, but there are important differences.
- Little barley seed heads resemble foxtail but appear much earlier
- Foxtail typically blooms later in summer
- Little barley is most noticeable in late May or early June
Why Little Barley Is a Problem
While little barley does not usually cause long-term lawn damage, its sharp seeds can be a concern—especially for pets.
The barbed seeds can become lodged between a dog’s paw pads, causing discomfort or injury.
Why Little Barley Is Hard to Control
Controlling little barley is challenging because it produces a large number of seeds and there are no effective post-emergent herbicides once it is actively growing.
By the time the weed is noticed in late spring, it has already completed most of its life cycle.
Preventing Little Barley
Prevention is the most effective strategy for managing little barley.
- Maintain a dense lawn: Thick, healthy turf shades the soil and prevents seeds from receiving the sunlight needed to germinate.
- Overseed thin areas: Overseeding in fall helps crowd out little barley seedlings.
- Apply a fall pre-emergent: (if you are not overseeding) Products such as Hi-Yield Turf and Ornamental Grass and Weed Stopper applied in September help prevent little barley seeds from germinating.
The bottom line
Because little barley completes its life cycle before summer, long-term control depends on fall lawn care. Dense turf, proper overseeding, and timely pre-emergent applications are the most reliable ways to reduce future infestations.