What’s this weed(?) in my lawn and how do I get rid of it?

[Bholli]

It’s everywhere!

That’s the seed heads of grass not a weed. Cut your lawn if you don’t like the look!

Yeah I agree. Just grass.

I agree, it is the grass gone to seed. 😁

Oh! 😁😂 So we just have to leave it and it’s that which keeps the grass growing?

(it’s our first ever garden/lawn can you tell?!)

You don't have to let it seed - the grass will keep growing either way.

It will only appear in the summer and you don’t need the seed to keep the grass growing, many varieties also spread sideways at ground level (the root bits grow knobbly lumps called called rhizomes).

So you can cut your grass and it will grow thicker if you cut it shorter more regularly (at least once a week and potentially twice a week if it’s growing fast) rather than letting it get long enough to set seed like yours as it encourages it so grow sideways if you keep cutting the tops off.

There are many different varieties of grass by the way, so the seed you buy is usually a mix depending on where you want your lawn to grow and what you want it to look like (shady or tough so kids can kick a foot vs bowling green)

Now the grass and it'll be gone, nothing to worry about

You could leave a section of gone to seed grass next to any bald, mud patches (ie under swings etc) to get them filled in naturally.

it will grow thicker if you cut it shorter more regularly (at least once a week and potentially twice a week if it’s growing fast)

I'd add that they key to this advice is cutting regularly, rather than cutting very short. You want it shorter than the seed heads, but don't scalp it. If your mower has different height settings the middle one is usually best. Very short lawns are much more vulnerable to drought.