Woolly cupgrass was never considered a major grassy weed
pest until relatively recently. As herbicides became more effective, and weed management
practices made life miserable for other weeds, a niche was left for woolly cupgrass to
exploit and fill and thrive in. Why woolly cupgrass has become such a big problem in many
areas of the North Central corn belt is not certain, but its ability to survive herbicides
in one of them, possibly because dormant branching nodes at the base, or crown region, of
the plant can regrow after imperfect herbicide treatment.Lets take a peak at woolly cupgrass seedlings:
