Please be sure to read the product label of any insecticide you choose to use to get information on the personal protective safety gear you will need. In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.
Poa annua, also known as annual bluegrass, can be difficult to control and completely eradicate from your yard as seeds can lay dormant for years. However, there are several steps you can take to prevent poa annua from overtaking your lawn. Read below to learn more.
Consult our lawn care schedules to determine when to apply your pre-emergent herbicide treatments. Depending on where you live and what your local climate is like, you could apply your spring treatment in February or March and your fall treatment in September or November. Fall applications should be applied when soil temperatures are below 70 degrees but before the first frost of the season. Spring applications should be applied as the weather warms but before soil temperatures reach 55 degrees.
Pre-emergents should not be applied when the lawn is being seeded or sodded as the pre-emergent will prevent the germination of the new, desirable grass seed.
Watch the video below to learn how to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your yard.
Be sure to read the label of your pre-emergent herbicide to make sure it is compatible with your turf/grass type. Not all pre-emergent herbicides can be used in all grasses.
Poa annua thrives in moist and compact soil. By removing these conditions in your yard, in addition to applying a pre-emergent herbicide treatment, you will reduce the amount of poa annua that will grow. Removing these conditions will also help create and maintain a strong and healthy turf.
Prevent moist soil by watering your lawn sparingly, only as needed.
Avoid overwatering in shaded areas of your lawn. Without the sun to dry the moisture, disease, fungus, and weeds will flourish.
Aerate your lawn to loosen the soil. Perform a core aeration before poa annua begins to germinate, in the early fall, and before you apply a pre-emergent herbicide. Watch the video below to learn how to aerate your lawn.
We hope you found this guide helpful. If you are not sure if you have poa annua in your yard, read our guide on what poa annua looks like to make a positive identification and our guide on where poa annua grows to better inform your treatment plan. Our how to get rid of poa annua guide will walk you through both pre- and post-emergent herbicide treatments.
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