Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi)

Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) is a warm-season perennial grass. Nimblewill is a thin, wiry grass that is pale green or gray-green in color. It spreads by aboveground shoots or stolons, often forming circular spots in the lawn. Nimblewill also spreads via seeds. Plants flower and produce seeds in late summer/early fall.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Muhlenbergia schreberi, the nimblewill, is a grass species in the family Poaceae native to North America.

The nimblewill has purple to green culms that stand erect, and its spikelets are about 2-8″ long. Its panicles are greenish and contain a rachis. Each spikelet has 1–2 glumes that are 0.2 mm long and afterwards the spikelets disarticulate and fall to the ground. The florets of the nimblewill are pollinated by the wind.

It is considered a southern turf type lawn grass and turns brown in the winter. This makes it a lesser grass for northern climate lawns. It is shade tolerant and tends to spread aggressively once established. Because of its durability in moderately cold temperatures and invasive bug species, this grass can be used to protect certain crops in the American southeast.

This species is eaten by the bug Stenodema vicinum, and is also eaten by cattle and other hoofed herbivores. The seeds can be distributed by sticking to animal hoofs or shoes. Nimblewill grows in light sun and partial shade, and prefers a loamy soil and moist conditions. Nimblewill is common around Illinois where it is native. The nimblewill is sometimes found around Minnesota. Some insects are known to eat nimblewill, like Hysteroneura setariae, Conocephalus brevipennis and Hymenarcys nervosa. Birds that are known to eat this plant are tree sparrows, song sparrows and turkeys.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

One of the most crucial factors in successfully growing nimblewill is sunlight. This plant thrives in full sun and will tolerate light shade, but does not do well in full shade. It needs at least six hours of direct sunlight per day for optimum flowering. plant your nimblewill anywhere bright and sunny and avoid areas where its light source is limited. Too much shade may result in fewer flowers or limp plants.

Temperature

This stunning ornamental grass is exceptionally hardy and easy to grow and care for, as it’s not finicky about soil, light, water, and other conditional requirements. It tolerates drought, humidity, heat, poor soil, and high salinity. Warm temperatures encourage fast growth, but the plant is hardy down to -18 ℃.

Watering

A young nimblewill needs frequent watering as it’s still actively growing. But once established, this plant is drought-tolerant and only requires supplemental water when dry conditions are severe. Provide sufficient moisture by watering the plants only when the top part of the soil is dry. Like most other plants, it does not do well in soggy or waterlogged soil.

Soil

Although nimblewill natively grows in sandy or rocky soil, this plant can be planted in any type of soil as long as it drains well. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including alkaline to acid, loam, sandy, and sandy loam soil types. The plant needs well-draining soil for optimum growth and to survive wet winter conditions. Like most plants, it does not like a wet and soggy condition.

Fertilizing

This attractive ornamental grass benefits from the application of fertilizer. Feed the plants with a slow-release fertilizer at an average rate as they grow in the spring, and again in mid to late summer. Doing so would be especially helpful if you have poor soil or if the plants haven’t been showing lots of blooms in previous years. Dilute a balanced fertilizer by half before feeding.

Planting Instructions

Nimblewill can be planted either by seeds or through division, though you can easily buy one in pots or as plugs too. If planting from seeds, starting them indoors will help to keep them warm enough. Transplant outdoors when the weather is right. You can likewise sow the seeds directly outside after the last frost.

You can plant several plants together in the ground, but allow at least 61 to 91 cm of spacing in between clumps for mass plantings or solid borders, or at least 1.8 m between plants for other purposes. The best time to plant your nimblewill is in the spring, as it will take its form throughout the summer.

Pruning

Nimblewill is a semi-evergreen grass, but a little bit of pruning may be beneficial to this beautiful ornamental plant. Cutting back the plants in late winter to early spring removes dead and brown leaves and encourages new growth of green leaves. Use hedge trimmers, pruning shears, or sharp scissors when pruning. Trim the foliage to about 2.5 to 5 cm above the ground.

III. How to Control Nimblewill

Nimblewill is difficult to get rid of, so any nimblewill treatment will likely focus more on soil or lawn improvement than anything else.

Reseeding the area following treatment may also be necessary. It’s probably a good idea to treat nimblewill areas before dealing with other issues that may be causing its growth. One of the best non-toxic methods of killing this weed is with horticultural strength vinegar. Be sure to wear protective clothing and gloves when applying this.

Late summer, prior to its flowering and seeding, is a good time to start nimblewill control, as you can make any necessary adjustments to the soil prior to reseeding in fall. Once an application like vinegar has been applied, you’ll want to focus on other issues like soil drainage, aeration, pH levels, and possible shade reduction since the weed grass thrives in shade and moisture. Have the soil tested and make necessary adjustments, such as loosening and amending the soil and adding lime, to improve its overall health. Remove any branches or overgrowth that may be shading the area as well. Fill in low spots or depressions that may be present.

After all these issues are addressed, the area can be sown or reseeded with new grass. With proper lawn maintenance and care, your headaches should become a thing of the past.

Find Where to Buy the Best Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi)

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