Poa season -- make sure it's not KBG before killing it

[turf_toes]

I've posted this before. But now that we're in Annual Bluegrass weed season, I figured it's not a bad time to remind everybody that not everything that puts up seedheads is Poa Annua:

[cberhomengarden]

Thanks for the comparison photos side by side. I must be honest, I've looked and looked at photos on the internet of Poa Annua and I still am not very good at figuring out if I have it or not. However, I don't have an elite KBG lawn, so am less picky about what's in the lawn.

[turf_toes]

hi cber,

If it isn't turning brown and dying in june (every year) (and getting larger every year). It's probably not annual bluegrass.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[73Chall]

turf_toes, this 'resurrection' is to say, "Thank You" for your original post and the pics. Very much appreciated!

[gintasr]

Easiest way to determine poa annu that I found was looking for the "wrinkles" about half way up the leaves.

[mitten]

Thanks for the comparison photos side by side. I must be honest, I've looked and looked at photos on the internet of Poa Annua and I still am not very good at figuring out if I have it or not. However, I don't have an elite KBG lawn, so am less picky about what's in the lawn.

I'm with you. I've spent the last couple weeks wondering if I have Poa Annua in my new Fall 16 renovation, EVEN after seeing the side by side photo. Maybe I'm just in denial. So here are some pictures. That kind of looks like the membrane...


[url=https://postimg.cc/image/g5f1668zt/]

[url=https://postimg.cc/image/taujca2vd/]

[url=https://postimg.cc/image/fig4gnc3t/]

[url=https://postimg.cc/image/usfznu7m1/]

[71GTO]

First, I though it was a weed grass, then some pics made me think this was kbg, now your pics make me think it's poa....

[seiyafan]

yes, it's poa.

[Billybob]

I just got hit hard with a poa annua infestation. Seed heads everywhere. Just when you thought everything was coming together.

Been using a pgr every 3 weeks. Should I continue or let the seeds grow out and bag mow?

[71GTO]

So this one is blue grass? It looks like I
Might have a lot of poa in some areas...

[Green]

KBG seedheads eventually spread out like the Poa annua heads if you let them stay long enough. If you're mowing and trimming, that probably won't happen though. One key difference is that the KBG seed stalk tends to be thicker.

[rtomek]

Before my reno, I would say that the seedheads from 30 year old KBG and from poa annua were pretty similar looking. After the reno, it's pretty clear which is which. The new cultivars are such heavy seed producers compared to the old ones that each seedhead looks like one giant clump of seeds, and the panicle shape isn't as noticeable anymore.

[Envieddesigns]

Hey guys, so my back yards full of seed heads. Here's a pic is it just good ol Kb?

Also how does poa get into ones lawn and what are steps to avoid getting it?

[ken-n-nancy]

Hey guys, so my back yards full of seed heads. Here's a pic is it just good ol Kb?

I'm no grass id expert, but that pic sure looks like KBG to me.

[ligrass]

So this one is blue grass? It looks like I
Might have a lot of poa in some areas...

The one you're holding is KBG but others in the background look like Poa A.

The easiest way to differentiate is Poa A seedheads quickly form into a triangular panicle. As Green mentioned, KBG seedheads also fan out from their cluster if you let them go long enough. It can be tougher to tell them apart at that point.

[HoosierLawnGnome]

Blueberry KBG on the left, poa annua on the right, cut @ 2"

[mgarnto1]

Just a word of advice for newbies like myself. Take all the pictures and word of mouth here with a grain of salt.

I pulled two seed heads from the exact same plant. One was a bit older and looked like "poa" and when looked like what kbg should. The one that looked like poa had no ligule, and the one that looked like kbg had a slightly larger ligule like poa should have. Again, this was two seed heads from the same plant.

Point being, don't start spraying roundup, because identifying the two, outside of a very lime green poa, is not as simple as people make it seem.

I'm personally going to wait til summer die off. Then address the poa with pre em rather than trying to pick it out now and round up.

[GaryCinChicago]

You guys can look at seedheads til you're blue in the face and still not know. Revert to the original post at the top and look for a ligule.

[Green]

Also how does poa get into ones lawn and what are steps to avoid getting it?

It's everywhere. There could be seeds in the soil from the past. It can be transported in excrement, or on an animal as it moves. Don't forget wind. And of course, the seed you buy. Also, lawn mowing equipment.

That's why it's important to get seed with 0% weed and other crop as well, from a reputable seller who has checked it themselves.

[rtomek]

Blueberry KBG on the left, poa annua on the right, cut @ 2"

I'm not convinced from this photo alone, especially if it's in-season for KBG seedhead production. Stem and flower production sucks up carbohydrates and stresses the turf, which will degrade its color. All I see is poa X not producing seedheads and poa Y producing seedheads. It could still be X = Y = pratensis.