Mowing low-elevation sites in the late spring, when flowering has begun (emergence of awns to emergence of floret anthers) but prior to seed development, can provide effective control. While hand removal is selective, it is only practical on a very small scale. Remove plants when they are large enough to identify but before they have set seed. Individual plants and small infestations can be effectively hand-pulled or removed with a hoe. Tables detailing possible integrated weed management plans can be found in the guide. Controlling medusahead will usually include a combination of control methods and the establishment of a desirable, competitive plant community. Medusahead Management Guide for the Western States is a recent publication that provides in-depth and updated recommendations for medusahead management. The awns attached to seeds are covered in barbs and readily adhere to fur/hair, clothing, and other materials. Most seeds appear to be viable for up to 2 years and seed production can be as high as 243 million seeds per acre. Please click here to see a county level distribution map for medusahead in Washington. It will also grow on loamy soils and is less of an invader but can be found on well-drained, sandier soils. Medusahead thrives on soils with a high content of clay and where deep soil moisture is available late growing season. It is a well-known rangeland invader and grows in a variety of conditions. Medusahead matures later than other annual grasses, so it can often be recognized by its green color when other grasses have turned brown. Hordeum and native Elymus species have 5-veined lemmas (compared to medusaheads 3-veined lemmas) and their main spike axes typically break apart in fruit (while medusahead spikes does not). Medusahead is sometimes confused with Hordeum or Elymus species like foxtail barley, Hordeum jubatum, or squirreltail, Elymus elymoides. The thatch layer also provides and increases the amount of fine fire fuels, resulting in an increased frequency of fire. The silica content of medusahead slows the decomposition of the old plant parts, resulting in the formation of thick, persistent layer of thatch which alters soil temperature and moisture dynamics, limiting the germination of other species. Its invasion is associated with significant reductions in native vegetation and plant diversity. Its roots grow through the fall, winter and spring, depleting upper soil moisture early in growing season and seedlings have a higher growth rate than native grass seedlings, allowing it to have an advantage acquiring soil resources, even under low nutrient conditions. Medusahead is a highly competitive species. Medusahead causes many detrimental impacts where it invades, including the alteration of an ecosystem to favor its own survival and competing with and reduction of native and forage plants, resulting in the degradation of wildlife habitat.
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