<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=598808433589178&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
    Blog_Hero.jpg

    THe GREEn insider

    Weird Looking Grass with Lots of Seeds? It May Be Poa Annua

    Shaun Kanary
    Posted by: Shaun Kanary on May 20, 2015

    Poa-AnnuaSo you're out enjoying your lawn but notice a large amount of seed heads on the grass blades. Of course the first question that comes to mind is, "this can't be normal... can it?" While this may be a normal site in Ohio lawns; it is by no means a welcomed one. This "seeding" grass is a lawn invader named "Poa Annua," and is quite difficult to control, and even remove. In today's blog, we'll look at this common lawn care issue and how to deal with it.

    What Is It?

    Poa Annua, otherwise known as Annual Bluegrass, is a lawn care invader that is commonly mistaken with typical Kentucky bluegrass. Its blades are thin and short, but its identifying feature is the short seed heads that contain thousands of seeds. While this "grass" is commonly found in spring, it dies off quickly in the warm summer months, leaving large "gaps" of brown or dead areas in your lawn. 

    What Causes It? 

    This lawn care problem is already in your soil. Poa Annua's seeds are very resilient, and can live in your soil for years before germinating. Thriving in cool, wet conditions, this annual bluegrass spreads thousands of seeds in a short amount of time, becoming very difficult to control due to the sheer number of seedlings it produces. 

    How Do I Control It?

    The annual grass is almost impossible to get rid of when appearing; however there are steps to prevent it in the future, as well as limit the amount of it in your lawn. Here's our recommendations on controlling this problem:

    • Lawn Aeration - this annual grass is prone to growing in thin, or bare areas of lawn because there is little to compete with. Having a lawn aeration performed in the spring and fall keeps your soil un-compacted, allowing your lawn's root system to "choke" out weeds and other invaders. The less compacted your soil is, the thicker your lawn will be, naturally eliminating this problem.
      Learn More About our Lawn Aerations by Clicking Here


    • A Well Balanced Lawn Fertilization Program - Keeping your lawn well fed throughout the season will lead to a thick, strong turf plant. When your lawn is thick and its root system is strong; weeds and annual grass have little room to germinate and compete. Look for a lawn program that contains at least six feedings of a well-balanced fertilizer.
      Learn More About our Lawn Care Programs by Clicking Here


    Learn More About Common Lawn Care Disease

    Summer is the time of year when lawn care disease and weeds can turn even the best looking lawn into a mess. That's why it's so vital to identify problems before they get out of hand. Download our Free Turf Disease Guide that will explain common lawn care diseases, and how you can get rid of them. Download your free copy by clicking on the button below!

    New Call-to-action

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Shaun Kanary

    Shaun has been a part of the Green Industry for the past 15 years. As the Director of Marketing for Weed Pro, a Cleveland and Columbus Fertilizing Company, Shaun is a regular contributor to the Weed Pro Blog, and other industry magazines and blogs.

    Save 33% On a Lawn Care Package

    SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL

    Stay Up-to-Date with All of Our Lawn Care Insights & Company News

    POPULAR POSTS

    CTA_Strip_Bg.jpg
    Ebook-1.png
    LATEST RESOURCE

    Lawn Care Company Hiring Guide

    How should you compare lawn care companies? We'll walk you through step-by-step of what you need to look for when hiring a lawn care company.

    Get Your FREE Quote!

    Looking for a price estimate on your lawn? Fill out the form below to receive a free quote.