Weeds & Fine Fuels
One kind of fire fuel is known as a “fine fuel.”
“Fine fuels” are defined as fast-drying fuels small in diameter that ignite easily and are consumed rapidly by fire when dry. Think of your grasses, airy shrubs, leaves, and pine needles.
While fine fuels can be native or non-native, FireBREAK focuses on helping residents manage the fine fuels that are also invasive species — meaning they have detrimental effects to ecosystems and watersheds in addition to greatly increasing wildfire risk.
These target species include cheatgrass, foxtail, Ravenna grass, Russian thistle (tumbleweeds) and more. See below for tips on identifying and managing these fine fuels.
Cheatgrass & foxtail
Cheatgrass and foxtail are non-native, invasive annual grasses that have become well established throughout the western United States — including in Moab! They are noxious weeds and well-known wildfire risks, fitting into the class of wildfire fuel known as “fine fuels” for their ability to ignite quickly, burning hot and fast.
These species are winter annual grasses, meaning that they germinate in the fall, begin to sprout soon after the first snowmelt, form seeds by mid-spring, and dry out soon after the seeds mature — completing their life cycle by the start of summer.
By reducing invasive annual grasses like cheatgrass and/or foxtail on our properties and in our neighborhoods, we can also help reduce the risk of a catastrophic fire.
Why are cheatgrass & foxtail a problem?
Wildfire risks
Cheatgrass and foxtail are a wildfire hazard for several reasons:
- These weeds dry out and die in early summer — just in time for rising temperatures and the beginning of a typical wildfire season.
- Standing dead grasses are hot, fast-burning fuels and can greatly amplify wildfire risks. These fires spread quickly and can readily ignite volatile fuels like trees or structures.
- In high-precipitation years, densely-growing cheatgrass and foxtail provide more fuels to fires, creating the conditions for larger, hotter, and ultimately more dangerous wildfires, which can threaten homes and our community.
Pet health risks
- The sharp seeds of these grasses can twist and burrow into paws, ears, eyes, and skin, creating abscesses and infections.
Landscape impacts
- Foxtail and cheatgrass start growing earlier than many native plants. In disturbed areas, they tend to dominate landscapes and crowd out native plant species, making ecosystems less healthy and resilient.
Top: Cheatgrass after drying out in early summer.
Bottom: Foxtail often grows in thick clumps near water.
How to reduce cheatgrass and foxtail
Since cheatgrass and foxtail are annuals — meaning they complete their life spans in a single year — the best strategy to reduce them year over year is by reducing the amount of viable seed in the soil.
This can be done with a combination of methods based on the time of year and the growth stage of the plants. Controlling these weeds will likely take more than one year, but don’t be discouraged! Every effort counts towards lessening next year’s crop.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for cheatgrass and foxtail, organized by season.
Treatments for winter (before seedset)
Herbicide
Time of year: Late winter* to early spring
*Only when ground is not frozen
Plant growth stage: Plants are green with no seed heads
Herbicide application can be an effective method to treat cheatgrass and foxtail, and also comes several considerations. Chemical treatments will not be effective if the grasses have gone to seed, so the timing of the application is crucial. The window between germination and seedset can be very brief, so those choosing to use herbicide need to monitor plants closely and be prepared to act quickly.
Herbicide also comes with inherent health and environmental risks, which can be mostly mitigated by reading, understanding, and following the herbicide label attached to each product; wearing full personal protective equipment, including chemical-resistant gloves, long sleeves and pants, close-toed shoes, and eye protection; carefully applying herbicide in a way that won’t impact desired vegetation and waterways; and thoroughly washing hands, clothing, and equipment after completing the treatment. Be sure to research which herbicide is best suited for your treatment areas. If herbicide is applied properly, the need for herbicide will decrease in subsequent years.
Treatments for spring & summer (after seedset)
Mowing/Trimming
Time of year: Late spring, typically late April throughout May
Plant growth stage: Plants are green, purple, brown or tan and have heavy, drooping seed heads
Mowing and/or trimming followed by collecting cut grasses and seeds will help reduce future growth of these plants. Ideally, mow while the plants are still green.
If plants are purple, brown, and dried out, avoid mowing with metal blades or idling gas-powered tools as these may produce sparks which could trigger a grass fire. String trimmers are a safer alternative.
Treatments for any time of year
Mulching
Mulching helps improve soils and makes yards more weed-resistant. As mulch breaks down, it also helps keep soil cooler and preserves moisture. The mulch needs to be at least 4 inches deep to properly smother cheatgrass.
Manual removal
(Hand-pulling, grubbers, hoes, etc)
A great option for managing these plants is by hand-pulling them, collecting the seeds, and disposing of them into bags or secure containers. This method can be used at any point throughout the plant’s growth cycle — from sprout to seedset.
Winter cheatgrass mailer
Late spring cheatgrass mailer
Plant Identification
Click images below to increase size. Hover over image to access left-right buttons.
Cheatgrass
Foxtail
Herbicide Use & Safety
Herbicide disposal
It is very important to dispose of herbicide properly. Do not contaminate ground water sources and DO NOT pour down indoor or outdoor drains.
Local disposal: Herbicide jugs (with or without herbicide in them) can be disposed of at the Canyonlands Transfer Station for a fee. They must be in their original containers, unmixed with other chemicals, labelled, and leak-free. The fee starts at $5.00.
To avoid leftover herbicide, do your best to only buy as much as you need. Do not “stock up”; consider sharing herbicide with neighbors when possible.
Graphic courtesy of CSWA
Last updated May 15, 2026