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Poa Annua (Annual Bluegrass) Poa annua (annual Bluegrass) is a common winter annual grassy weed seen in all turf types. Poa annua is one of the more frustrating weeds in home lawns from November to May. It is easily seen in warm season turf during the winter because the turf is dormant while Poa annua… Read more »
Poa annua (annual Bluegrass) is a common winter annual grassy weed seen in all turf types. Poa annua is one of the more frustrating weeds in home lawns from November to May. It is easily seen in warm season turf during the winter because the turf is dormant while Poa annua is green and actively growing. However, most people with fescue turf do not realize they have it until late spring when the Poa annua produces tan colored seed heads and the leaf blades turn an off green.
Poa annua (annual Bluegrass) control in fescue is extremely difficult. It requires two (2) applications of a special product in November, then again in December. They need to be completed roughly 30 days apart. This application process will not eliminate or control 100% of the possible Poa annua. It will only control 70% to 75% of the potential Poa annua germination*. Due to excessive product cost, applications are an addition to regular service at the same application price per application.
Poa annua control in Bermuda and Zoysia is completed in the fall from October to December. It is a special warm season turf product, different from the cool season product that is applied roughly 30 days apart. You can expect 75% to 80% control after these two applications. This product is included with your regular Round Five and Round Six applications
Please contact us through the customer portal or visit FairwayGreen.com to request service.
*Reminder, it is rare to get 100% Poa annua control in most managed turf.
It is important to remove and keep leaves off your turf. Severe damage will occur if leaves stay on your turf for extended periods. It is best to blow leaves off of immature turf rather than raking. It is equally important to keep leaves off dormant warm season turf. Damage can be quick and severe for fescue lawns that had fall seeding or sod.
Germination and development will be slow until spring with shorter days (less photosynthesis) and cooler ground temperatures (less than ideal for germination and plant activity). As of this writing, night time air temperatures have been below normal causing even cooler ground temperatures than normal this time of year.
If you still have thin areas and seed on the ground, be patient. Adding more seed to these areas will not produce a different outcome and just waste seed. It is not uncommon to have seed germinate and develop throughout the winter and very early spring. Usually the turf has developed enough to use pre-emergence safely in late February and early March.
Generally, we receive enough rainfall to maintain good soil moisture this time of year for seedling development. Seedling development and germination has naturally slowed down allowing vigorous watering to be less. However, if we go through a warm dry period, it may be necessary to water between natural rainfalls. This can be challenging if you have in-ground irrigation that has been winterized.
It is not uncommon to see different parts of your cool season turf (fescue) lawn developing faster than others after seeding. Many lawns have areas with more shade or harder clay soil than others. Perhaps it is slow in an area with tree roots that were drawing more moisture later in the season. If one section of your lawn gets more sun, it could be drying the soil faster than others delaying development. Rarely does turf germinate, develop, and mature at the same rate throughout the lawn.
Broadleaf weeds can be prolific in many fescue laws right now. Late August through late October is the time of year to seed fescue lawns. Broadleaf weed control can and will cause injury and damage to young immature turf. Therefore, broadleaf weed controls should not be used during this time period and a couple weeks prior to seeding. The current broadleaf weeds will be controlled again when post-emergent weed control can safely be applied.
Broadleaf weeds will never stop developing in the lawn, no matter how many years they have been managed. There are millions of weed seeds naturally occurring everywhere. Most weed seeds stay viable in the soil profile for many years and do not germinate at the same time. You can see this natural species survival occur when wooded areas are cleared and broadleaf weeds start to germinate once they have sunlight. This is why we try to apply post-emergent broadleaf weed control on most applications every year.
Late September starts the large patch fungus season on zoysia, bermuda, centipede, and St. Augustine. Fairway Green is seeing more cases of this disease every year in our area. This disease is similar to brown patch fungus on fescue.
Large latch fungus needs to be controlled with two applications of fungicide in the fall and possibly two in the spring when ground temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees. Damage occurs before you are aware you have it and is not visible until green-up in the spring. Preventative fungicide in the fall and early spring is the only way to control this disease.
Dormant oil, also known as horticulture insecticide oil, can generally be applied safely from now till around March. Horticultural oils control insects by suffocation and tissue absorption and can be a good insecticide to control some of the difficult-to-control scale insects. However, oils will not help control all scale insects and eggs. Knowing your insect and proper timing is always the best way to control insects of all types. Oils are an effective tool in controlling difficult mites and scale. However, dormant oils can cause plant injury so read and follow the label carefully.
Limestone with micronutrients is part of your regular turf maintenance program and can be applied any time of year. This product is not dependent on timing like your other scheduled services. Therefore, you may receive this application very close to a previous or upcoming application.