Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. (black‐grass) is annual weed species in winter cereal crops. With an increasing number of resistant populations in Western Europe on various herbicides mode of action, interest in the biology and ecology of this species has increased. The black‐grass emergence is divided in two phases: autumn and spring emergence. The majority of the population (80 %) emergences in the autumn and the control of blackgrass is focused on this period. Plants emerged during the autumn develop more tillers and consequently a larger number of seed heads with seed. Spring individuals are more likely to be alternative hosts of the pathogen Claviceps purpurea. Blackgrass is a typical winter species and is well adjusted to low temperatures and its base temperature is estimated to 0 °C. The base water potential (the minimum amount of water in the soil needed to promote the germination) for this species is ‐1.50 MPa. Unlike the morphologically similarity to Apera spicaventi which also occurs in winter cereals, Alopecurus myosuroides occurs most in heavy, clay soils with high water content, while Apera spica‐venti emerges in lighter and sandy soils. The optimum soil depth for the black‐grass emergence is 0‐2 cm (surface layer of soil). For this reason, the species is a bigger problem in no‐till processing systems, where it often occurs at higher density. Ploughing is one of the most effective non‐chemical measures to suppress the blackgrass, but is not the most reliable. Variability in the effectiveness of nonchemical methods such as ploughing is associated with the biology of the species (different degree of dormancy), climatic conditions and farming practices. Reliable and effective suppression is achieved by combining nonchemical measures with chemical measures using herbicides with different mode of action (anti‐resistant strategy).