Annual bluegrass in turf. Photo: Betty Marose
Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is a common grassy weed found in Maryland lawns. It's most noticeable in early spring. It can be mistakingly introduced into lawns by reseeding using a seed mixture contaminated with Poa annua seeds. This is not a weed to be concerned about in a home lawn. However, it can be an indication of compact and constantly moist soil.
Annual bluegrass tends to die back when the weather becomes warmer during the summer months. This causes bare spots that should be reseeded in early fall.
Life cycle
Winter annual, grows less than 1-ft. tall and tolerates close mowing. Seeds germinate in the fall, then grow through winter, and produce seeds in the spring.
Growth habit
Bunch-type grass.
Reproduction
Seed; sometimes enlarges by stolons.
Conditions that favor growth
Cool, moist conditions; compacted soil; it spreads quickly in thin turf areas and along edges such as driveways and sidewalks (which tend to have compacted soil).
Identification
Identification is often easily done by observing the clumping growth habit and seed head appearance. The grass blades have a boat-shaped tip. A more technical key characteristic is observing the size of the ligule, which is a membranous growth between the stem and leaf blade.
Management In lawns
Lawn care practices
Maintain healthy, dense turf that can compete and prevent weed establishment. Avoid overwatering and applying too much nitrogen fertilizer. Core aerate in the fall to reduce soil compaction.
Lawn Care
Mechanical management
Hand pulling or using an appropriate weeding tool making sure you remove the roots are the primary means of mechanical weed control in lawns. Clumps can also be dugout. This is a viable option at the beginning of an infestation and on young weeds. Hand pulling when the soil is moist makes the task easier.
Manage Weeds Without Chemicals
Chemical treatment/prevention in lawns
Seeds germinate in late summer to early September. Control with a preemergent lawn herbicide applied in mid-August/early September before the seeds germinate (sowing grass seed will not be possible). Some crabgrass preemergent products are also labeled for Poa annua so check the label. Annual bluegrass research shows that the plant is becoming resistant to the preemergent Barricade (Prodiamine). Check the labels of Dimension (Dithiopyr) and Halts (Pendimethalin) for information on Poa annua control.
Spring management options are limited since there are very few selective herbicides available for home lawn use and annual bluegrass forms seed heads very early.
Lawn Herbicides for Weed Control
