Miller, James H.; Manning, Steven T.; Enloe, Stephen F. 2010. A management guide for invasive plants in southern forests. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–131. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 120 p.
Weeping lovegrass [Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees] is a densely clumping perennial, warm-season grass, formed from flattened basally interconnected plants of long, thin, and wiry basal leaves that arch and droop in all directions and eventually touch the ground (thus, the common name “weeping”). Tall laterally branched flower stalks appear in early summer to 6 feet (2 m) and persist with seed during the early winter having varying viability. Tolerant to fire and drought, and bred for cold tolerance. Clumps increase by tillering new plants at the base, and seedlings intensify infestations. Seed dispersed by water, contaminated equipment and soil, and planting. Occurs as dense colonies in old fields, along field margins, and rights-of-way where it invades new forest plantations, open forests, forest openings, and special habitats like native prairies. Poor habitat for wildlife, especially ground nesting and foraging birds.
Management strategies
- Do not plant. Remove prior plantings, and control sprouts and seedlings. Bag and dispose of plants and seed in a dumpster or burn.
- Treat when new plants are young to prevent seed formation.
- Minimize disturbance within miles of where this plant occurs, and anticipate wider occupation when plants are present before disturbance.
- Pull, cut, and treat when seed are not present.
- Burning treatments are suspected of having minimal topkill effect due to scant litter.
- Sparingly eaten by most livestock with varying nutritional value.
Recommended control procedures
- Thoroughly wet all leaves with one of the following herbicides in water with a surfactant: a glyphosate herbicide as a 2-percent solution (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix), Arsenal AC* as a 0.5 percent solution (2 ounces per 3-gallon mix), or Arsenal PowerLine* as a 0.75-percent solution (3 ounces per 3-gallon mix). All applications should be made in early summer when foliage is developed and seeds have not been produced.
* Nontarget plants may be killed or injured by root uptake.
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