30 Mar Let me introduce…
Let me introduce “Poa Annua”. It shows up with a vengeance in spring and also goes by Annual Bluegrass. This unwanted guest is a persistent problem in the weaker areas of my lawn and maybe yours too. I’ve mentioned before that I have 3 dogs. They have their favorite paths through the lawn and these paths become evident over time with bare spots. Areas in your lawn that may be suffering include along the road, driveway and sidewalk. Pavement generates a lot of heat and causes Fescue to struggle. Annual bluegrass loves to take over these weak spots.
Even though annual bluegrass is most noticeable in the spring with the white seed heads, it actually germinates in the fall at the same time as Fescue. We are not putting pre-emergent down on Fescue at this time because we are aerating and seeding these lawns. Fall pre-emergent will inhibit annual bluegrass but it will also prohibit the Fescue from germinating.
The best prevention is maintaining strong and thick Fescue turf. Some suggestions include: 1) Make sure mower blades are set at 4 inches. Fescue lawns need to be a little higher than other turf. 2) Aerate and overseed with professional grade Fescue seed in September or October. Fetsko uses certified seed with 0.0% weed and 0.0% other crop. Beware of the box store seed. 3) If you have irrigation, water a few times per week in the early morning. 4) Take the dogs for walks or to the park to save some stress on your lawn! Haha, this only partially works. It should also be noted that annual bluegrass dies in the heat. As soon as we see regular temperatures in the 80s, the bluegrass will die out.
We have a lawn care program to promote strong and healthy turf. We also have crews available for weekly and bi-weekly maintenance to ensure the lawn is mowed at the right height and clear of debris.
by: Marlene Civis