Best Management Practices:
Bluegrass
Annual Bluegrass, referred to as Poa Annua is a cool season, annual grassy weed that normally has small white seed heads and a canoe-shaped leaf. Annual Bluegrass comes back from seed each year, usually germinating in the early fall season. Annual bluegrass creates havoc in lawns because it will germinate seeds throughout the winter as well. Annual bluegrass begins its life by germinating in the fall from seed. Pre-emergent herbicides work by killing germinating seeds from weedy plants like annual bluegrass. Normally, an application of a pre-emergent in early/mid September will work well. A second pre-emergent application in November may be needed.
There are several pre-emergent herbicides that can be used to control annual bluegrass in most turfgrass sites including bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, and buffalograss. Examples include XL-2G (Benefin plus Oryzalin), Pendulum 2G or Anderson 11-3-11 (Pendimethalin) and Balan 2.5 G (Benefin).
If you have annual bluegrass that escapes the pre-emergent or you do not apply a pre-emergent, you may need to apply a post-emergent herbicide. Post-emergent herbicides can be effective if used when the annual bluegrass is very young/immature and actively growing. Examples of effective products are Monument 75 WG, Image 70 DG, Revolver or Certainty. These products works very well if used in the correct manner and it may require multiple applications. CAUTION: Read the labels carefully for the tolerance level of your specific turfgrass for all herbicides.
Best Management Practices courtesy of:
BES-TEX Supply, LLC P.O. Box 664 San Angelo, Texas 76902 325.653.1300
