A Tough Problem: How to Remove Poa Annua From Your Lawn

Are you familiar with Poa annua? Also known as annual bluegrass, it acts like a difficult weed in different grass types throughout North Carolina. If not dealt with, it can clash with your yard’s color and texture and create several other problems. Here’s what you need to know about Poa annua, its challenges and the best ways to control it.

What is Poa Annua: Appearance and Life Cycle

Poa annua grass has tan seed heads, off-green leaf blades and whitish flower heads during its flowering stage. It germinates in the fall, develops through the season, pauses growth in winter and reproduces in the spring. Despite living just one growing season—typically dying off by late May—Poa annua is known to return. Each plant produces hundreds to thousands of seeds, setting the stage for further infestations.

Why Poa Annua Is a Nuisance in Lawns

Poa annua can get into lawns in several hard-to-avoid ways, including:

• Seed transportation from a nearby lawn.
• Accidental mixing of Poa annua and your lawn’s primary seeds.
• Germination of Poa annua seeds that were already present in your lawn.

Once it is present, Poa annua can create many problems beyond just patchy, uneven growth, including:

• Destroying parts of your lawn’s surface.
• Making your lawn more susceptible to pests.
• Competing with your primary grass type for nutrients, weakening it long-term.

Additionally, any bare spots Poa annua leaves when it dies can become a breeding ground for actual weeds, creating even further maintenance needs.

What Makes Controlling Poa Annua So Difficult?

Controlling Poa annua is challenging for many reasons, including:

• It can be hard to spot before it matures.
• It grows aggressively.
• It requires a multi-step process that includes pre- and post-emergent herbicides (which it can grow resistant against) and consistently good lawn care practices.

How Do You Kill Poa Annua Without Killing Grass?

While there is no foolproof “Poa annua killer,” these control measures can make a significant difference:

• Use pre-emergent herbicides to prevent germination and post-emergent herbicides to target established Poa annua without damaging your lawn. While the timing of the pre-emergent application should always be late summer to early fall and the post-emergent application late winter, we vary the exact timing and type from year to year to produce better results.
• Leverage non-chemical methods, such as manual removal and mowing techniques.
• Prioritize your lawn’s health through continual cultural practices like proper irrigation, mowing and soil care.

Even with the best strategy in place, fully getting rid of Poa annua with first-year treatments may not be possible. If Poa annua returns the following year, it can grow even more resistant to herbicides, so it is best to stick with a custom lawn care plan for your lawn type.

Control Poa Annua with Barefoot Lawn Care

Dealing with Poa annua can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Develop a winning strategy for your lawn—with the chemical, non-chemical and cultural control measures it needs—with Barefoot Lawn Care. Get started with your free lawn analysis today.