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Add to My Garden Redtop
Agrostis gigantea
Also known as: Bent couch
Redtop is a perennial grass that's native to Europe and parts of North America. The survival of rhizomes and seeds enable it to do well in response to fires, which is why the Agrostis gigantea was planted in areas that were disturbed by the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. This grass can be found in open woodland, hedgerows, roadsides, and waste ground, plus as a weed on arable land.
More Info
Plant Type
Grass
Flower Color
White
Yellow
Green
Red
Scientific Classification
Weed Control
Weeds
Redtop is considered a common weed in North America, where it esacped agricultural planting areas in pastures. Now, it grows commonly as a weed along roadsides and in farm fields in North America. It is considered an invasive species that threatens native plants in Alaska and Virginia. It sequesters valuable nutrients and space from native species. In addition, it hybridizes with native species, causing the appearance of other atypical weed hybrid species. Care should be taken when planting this species as a pasture crop not to let it escape its planting area.
How to Control it
Though redtop is often cultivated, there are times when it needs to be culled and removed. The main method that is actually able to eliminate populations of redtop is the application of herbicide. Herbicides containing atrazine have been demonstrated to be extremely effective against this and other cold-season grasses while largely ignoring warm-weather species. Nevertheless, care should be taken not to apply the chemical to other plants.
Do you have weeds in your garden?
Differentiate them from your plants by a picture, and learn how to control them.
Distribution Map
Habitat
Waste areas, Roadsides, Fields, railroads, Shores
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Redtop
Watering 
Sunlight What should I do if I water my Redtop too much or too little?
Without proper watering, this beautiful ornamental grass will underperform. In the ground, watering issues can be solved, but In a container, too much or too little water will kill Redtop in short order. When Redtop isn't receiving the right amount of water, it may stop growing. In the case of overwatering, it will begin to display yellow leaves with brown tips. Underwatering can produce drooping leaves, weak seed head production, and browned leaves. If you suspect your Redtop has been improperly watered, the first thing to do is figure out if the problem is too much or too little. If your Redtop is getting too much water, stop watering it immediately. Sometimes it can take weeks for heavy soils to dry out, so be patient. At the first sign of new growth, test the soil for moisture and decide whether it needs more water or not. The solution for Redtop receiving too little water is even simpler: give the grasses a nice, deep drink and see if it perks up.
Bearing all of this in mind, remember that a long, deep watering is always better than a lot of shallow, frequent waterings. The reason for this is that deep watering encourages grasses to grow deep roots, which makes them more drought resistant and less prone to problems from watering.
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Free
How often should I water my Redtop?
The watering needs of Redtop will vary depending on where it is planted. Generally, you should water this grass every week. In hot climates, once or twice a week watering in the summer may be necessary. In moderate climates, watering once every seven days or more may be enough. Grass in containers almost always need more frequent watering than grasses in the ground. But with a species such as this that can thrive in full sun or part shade, the location also matters. Shaded grasses need to be watered less frequently than in-ground grasses.
Redtop should only be watered when the soil is dry. If you’re unsure when to water, there are a few key signs you can use as your cue. Pressing your finger a couple of inches into the soil will tell you if the soil is dry. For a potted grass, you can weigh the grass with a portable scale to see how light it is, but you can also quickly feel when the pot is light from lack of water. Like many types of grass, the blades may appear folded along their centers and thinner than usual when the roots lack sufficient water. Despite its drought tolerance, regular, deep waterings will reward you with a beautiful color.
In the wild, Redtop grows in open scrubland, where it would be subject to extreme heat, loads of bright sun, and intermittent rain. Because this grass is drought resistant, you might expect never to need to water it. But don’t let its hardiness fool you, Redtop still needs care and attention. Even though this hardy grass can handle harsh, dry conditions, gardeners agree that it thrives best with consistent water.
When first planted, Redtop will need more frequent water until it has established deep roots. For Redtop in pots, the soil will dry out quickly, especially if the pot is in hot, direct sun for a large part of the day. Test the soil every 3 to 4 days and water only when it feels dry. Redtoped in the ground generally needs less watering, but that depends on the soil it is grown in. Heavy clay soil holds water for a long time and may feel dry at the surface while still retaining plenty of moisture below the ground. Sandy soils that drain quickly will need to be watered more often.
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What should I be careful with when I water my Redtop in different seasons, climates, or during different growing？
You can often tell if you are watering enough by the rate of growth of your grasses. Redtop during the hottest months of the year and has been known to double in size in a year’s time. If the weather is hot and the grass is not growing vigorously, you may need to adjust your watering schedule. In winter, you might be able to get away with watering only once a month, but you will still want to touch the soil to test for moisture.
During a growth cycle (in the warmest months), the grass will need more water than usual. But during winter and cooler months, the need for water will be dramatically reduced. The most important thing to remember about Redtop is that the soil it is planted in should always be allowed to dry out completely before adding water.
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About
More Info
Weed Control
Distribution
Care FAQ
Related Plants
Related Articles
Add to My Garden Redtop
Agrostis gigantea
Also known as: Bent couch
More Info
Plant Type
Grass
Flower Color
White
Yellow
Green
Red
Scientific Classification
Weed Control
Weeds
Redtop is considered a common weed in North America, where it esacped agricultural planting areas in pastures. Now, it grows commonly as a weed along roadsides and in farm fields in North America. It is considered an invasive species that threatens native plants in Alaska and Virginia. It sequesters valuable nutrients and space from native species. In addition, it hybridizes with native species, causing the appearance of other atypical weed hybrid species. Care should be taken when planting this species as a pasture crop not to let it escape its planting area.
How to Control it
Though redtop is often cultivated, there are times when it needs to be culled and removed. The main method that is actually able to eliminate populations of redtop is the application of herbicide. Herbicides containing atrazine have been demonstrated to be extremely effective against this and other cold-season grasses while largely ignoring warm-weather species. Nevertheless, care should be taken not to apply the chemical to other plants.
Show More ![more]()
Do you have weeds in your garden?
Differentiate them from your plants by a picture, and learn how to control them.
Distribution Map
Habitat
Waste areas, Roadsides, Fields, railroads, Shores
Map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Redtop
Watering Sunlight What should I do if I water my Redtop too much or too little?
Free
How often should I water my Redtop?
What should I be careful with when I water my Redtop in different seasons, climates, or during different growing？
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.
Let us help take all the guesswork out of your gardening.
More Questions People Also Ask
Related Plants
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify, grow, and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Sign in/sign up
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400,000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
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