Weed ID: Giant Foxtail, Green Foxtail and Yellow Foxtail - How to distinguish the differences!

Field Agronomist, Meaghan Anderson, shows us how to distinguish differences and properly identify three common foxtails found in Iowa. The three foxtails are the giant, green and yellow foxtail.
For more information check out: crops.extension.iastate.edu

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

Foxtails like the SUBSCRIBE button: th-cam.com/channels/6YG9GzecH2S8cZn10uDWdw.html

[@gypsy0158]

Great job to Meaghan and her film crew!! Great ID and visuals. Love the tips to ID the differences.

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

Thanks Tammy!

[@globeflyer8]

Thank you for this! Iʻm gonna go home and look at ligules and leaf hairs! Our patch of foxtail is almost 2meters tall, and the base of the stems are almost a half inch in diameter!

[@macksterp4112]

So cool. I just found some foxtail grass today, which I googled and assumed they were giant. But because there are no hairs on the leaves, I now know I found green foxtails! Thanks for the tips.

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

No problem and thanks for the comment!

[@Moondoggy1941]

So we have a very common type weed out here in the Ca. I always thought it was foxtails, so if you run through a field, the seed heads will always stick in your socks, another characteristic is, it has a very shallow root, super easy to pull up. Is this a fox tail or something else?

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

Could definitely be a foxtail. Three subspecies in Ca..they pose a big problem for dogs as they can penetrate their nose, ears, eyes and even toes. If the foxtail spike penetrates the nose it can be difficult to remove as it fragments into spikelets as you try to remove them. Also, those spikelets are excellent hitchhikers and attach to socks easily.

[@Moondoggy1941]

@@IntegratedPestManagement Thanks, it is what I feared, so I will try to remove them manually, wish me luck. Lucky like most Ca. backyards it is not a big area.

[@joanfrellburg4901]

So I find the yellow one which I have in my yard. A patch of it 3x4 ft. Should I remove it, or does it help native wildlife ?

[@Legacy_125]

I had a foxtail pretending to be a day lily.

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

They'll do that.

[@moosehunzie1880]

Thank you! Very dangerous to dogs!

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

Yes, the seeds can be tough to digest and cause serious infection for your dog. Thanks for the reminder!

[@moosehunzie1880]

@@IntegratedPestManagement I just recently heard about foxtails being harmful to dogs with their spikey seeds and harming dogs skin. Your video helped me see the different types of foxtail to be aware of. Thanks!

[@IntegratedPestManagement]

@@moosehunzie1880 Yes, thanks again! Most common entry point of foxtails seeds in dogs is the ears: causing pawing at the ear, excessive head shaking, whimpering and pulling away when you attempt to pet or touch their head, head tilt and redness or discharge coming from the ear. Something to keep in mind!