Q&A – What is this pesky weed that is popping up in my yard?
Question:
What is this pesky weed that is popping up in my yard?
Answer:
This is poa annua, otherwise known as annual bluegrass or annual ryegrass. It is a cool season weed. It grows through the winter when Bermuda and zoysia is dormant. Master Gardener Tom Mashour says it grows best where the grass is thin. If the lawn is thick and well maintained, poa annua does not grow. Zoysia grass is better at keeping it from growing because the leaves of zoysia are larger and it grows thicker.
The best way to control poa annua is to change the culture of the lawn. Grow a thick stand of grass that is mowed high toward the end of the growing season. Poa annua also grows well in compacted, poorly drained soils, so fixing this problem will reduce its growth. Chemically the best control is through pre-emergent herbicides that keep it from growing. Also, you can spray your lawn with glyphosate when the lawn is totally dormant in the winter.
Controlling Poa Annua
Poa Annua: Not the Apple (Green) of Everyone's Eye
What is this pesky weed that is popping up in my yard?
Answer:
This is poa annua, otherwise known as annual bluegrass or annual ryegrass. It is a cool season weed. It grows through the winter when Bermuda and zoysia is dormant. Master Gardener Tom Mashour says it grows best where the grass is thin. If the lawn is thick and well maintained, poa annua does not grow. Zoysia grass is better at keeping it from growing because the leaves of zoysia are larger and it grows thicker.
The best way to control poa annua is to change the culture of the lawn. Grow a thick stand of grass that is mowed high toward the end of the growing season. Poa annua also grows well in compacted, poorly drained soils, so fixing this problem will reduce its growth. Chemically the best control is through pre-emergent herbicides that keep it from growing. Also, you can spray your lawn with glyphosate when the lawn is totally dormant in the winter.
Controlling Poa Annua
Poa Annua: Not the Apple (Green) of Everyone's Eye