How to Get Rid of Poa Annua

Upon a casual glance, it can be easy to miss poa annua in the midst of your turfgrass. Also known as annual bluegrass (not to be confused with the much beloved Kentucky bluegrass!), this cool-season weed has a grassy appearance that blends in with many different types of lawns. Don’t let that fool you. Poa annua is a fast and persistent grower that can quickly take over your lawn if you aren’t careful. This annual weed can come back year after year. That means you can’t just expect poa annua to go away on its own. Instead, you’ll need to learn how to kill poa annua so this weed doesn’t replace your lawn.

What Is Poa Annua and Why Is It a Problem?

Poa annua is one of the most common weeds that can find its way into your lawn. Though not native to the United States, it has made itself at home in most areas of the country. One of its most pernicious tricks is hiding in plain sight since it has a grassy appearance. Look closer, however, and you’ll notice that poa is often a lighter shade than most surrounding turf grass.

The main issue with poa annua is its growing cycle. In the spring, poa grows rapidly, taking over big patches of lawn. This can give your lawn a messy appearance, especially when the poa sprouts its seed heads. Poa doesn’t do well in the heat. It often dies off during the hot summer months, leaving bare patches in your lawn. That’s not exactly a great look for your home’s curb appeal.

How to Kill Poa Annua Without Killing Grass

If you’ve got a poa annua problem, it’s time to take action. But how do you kill poa annua without killing grass? The easiest solution is to manually hand-pull the weeds. This can work well if you only have small patches of poa in your yard. The weed has shallow roots that are relatively easy to pull. Just make sure you get the entire root structure and that you pull the weed before it drops its seeds so it doesn’t grow back.

Poa annua seeds can live for years in the soil, so you may need to accept that you’ll be dealing with small outbreaks in the coming years.

If you have a lot of poa annua in your yard, your best bet is to use a post-emergent herbicide to kill it. To protect your lawn, choose a selective herbicide designed to kill grassy weeds. Read the label of the herbicide carefully to ensure it won’t harm your type of turfgrass.

Best Poa Annua Weed Killer Options

Manuel hand-pulling and post-emergent herbicides are both excellent ways to stop poa annua in its tracks, but you have other weed-killing options as well. If you’d prefer to avoid putting chemicals on your lawn, try using boiling water or a vinegar solution to kill weeds. Both of these methods work best on smaller weed infestations. Just be careful. Boiling water and vinegar will kill any plants they hit. Use them carefully to avoid harming your turfgrass.

If you have a major poa annua outbreak and don’t want to save your lawn, you can opt for a non-selective, post-emergent herbicide. This chemical will kill every plant in its path.

Pre-Emergent Care Against Poa Annua: Preventing Future Growth

Post-emergent herbicides are exactly what their name implies. They work on weeds that have already grown (emerged) from your lawn. But what if you want to know how to kill poa annua before it ever pokes its head through your soil?

In that case, look for a pre-emergent herbicide formulated for grassy weeds. Apply the herbicide in late summer or early fall when poa annua seeds germinate. The herbicide should stop the seeds from growing, so you’ll never see poa annua on your lawn.

Protect Your Lawn from Poa Annua

Want to know one of the best methods for how to get rid of poa annua? Take great care of your lawn. The stronger and healthier your turf grass, the harder it will be for poa annua or any other types of weeds to take a foothold.

Maintaining your lawn means mowing, watering, fertilizing, aerating, and keeping an eye out for pests and diseases. If you don’t have the time or desire to spend your weekends on lawn care, call the experts.

At The Grounds Guys®, we offer commercial and residential weed control. We can take on your poa annua outbreak and then perform ongoing landscape maintenance to ensure it never comes back.

Request a free estimate today.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. The Grounds Guys are not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact The Grounds Guys location nearest you for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.