GETTING RID OF POA ANNUA | ANNUAL MEADOW GRASS | Lawn Association

David discusses Poa Annual/Annual Meadow Grass and answers your questions on the grass species and the most important question of all, How do you get rid of poa annual/annual meadow grass?
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The Lawn Association Team
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[@mstar011]

The most informative, honest and well explained KZbin videos on lawns. I learnt more with these series of videos than watching years of others and reading. Thanks David and your team!!!!

[@lawnassociation]

Thank you for these kind words! Do you mind if I share them?

[@mstar011]

@@lawnassociation no problem. I love the content.

[@ataylor3684]

Thank you for your information. Would you advise a fescue seed when reading. Or fescue bent grass combination? Would do you recommend?

[@dsteeley42]

Just come across this. Excellent video with more info than any of the others I've watched on YT. Good knowledge and advice from someone who really knows what they are talking about. Thank you.

[@inderjitsandhu4332]

Been waiting ages for this. Thanks

[@samsammsammm1547]

This is an amazing channel full of such authoritative and honest and valuable advice. I've watched many of your videos and they have corrected confusions from youtube channels such as Daniel Hibbert and LawnRight. Thank you so much for sanding your wisdom and knowledge

[@lawnassociation]

Many thanks Sam.....and do spread the word! 🙂

[@richardfarris6418]

Great video. Really helpful. Extensive talk about varieties and what they do was superb. Thank you

[@BenCFord]

Thank you David. Every video you make changes my outlook on lawncare! I've also signed up the online course 👍

[@ForzaVryheid]

Fantastic video, answered so many questions I had! Could easily grab a beer and listen to this man talk about grass all day long! 🍺

[@stephenwilliamson6118]

This is a great video. I totally agree with everything here, I see lots of folk on here with rye grass lawns that look great to be fair but are surely an ideal area for meadow grass. Our side garden is mainly crf and bent and we have a few patches, I just pull it out and sow bent in it’s place. If you want meadow grass you will get it, if you don’t want it, you will get it. I just mow regularly and maybe pull the seed heads off if I see them and drop them in the flower bed. Not mown for over a week now, it’s hot, the grass has stopped growing but it’s still green. Stay safe folks. The online course is first class by the way, highly recommended

[@lawnassociation]

Thank you for your kind comments regarding our course Stephen, so glad you are enjoying it!

[@michaeldonohoe5738]

Another great video, thank you David! 🙌

[@hstcrouchy]

Excellent video David, actually one of the best, most informative videos I've ever watched regarding this particular subject. Happy birthday by the way!👍

[@lawnassociation]

Glad you enjoyed it! And thank you very much!

[@davidbradford8542]

I always spring rake and box my cuttings and if i see any seed heads i pull them up just a quick walk around each day with a bucket.

[@KB996]

I thought i was strange going around the garden every morning picking out the seed heads, glad to know there are other strsnge people out there🤣🤣 Nrighbour saw me the other morning and asked what i was doing, she said i was barking mad!!

[@Louisthesaxman1]

I've been doing this every day after work with the Mrs rolling her eyes at me haha

[@Conservator.]

Another ‘barking mad’ man here. And worst of all, I’m proud of it!

[@stephenwilliamson6118]

Totally first class information

[@bbr9707]

Brilliant…. Great advice… thank you

[@roger4880]

Good video thank you. I think I know the video you spoke about, he showed a few 'techniques' to control his Poa A problem, one being brushing it, verticutting and mowing in slow motion :) All hilarious.

[@ringsidejudge4302]

Good Info

[@Nils-H]

Would love a similar video on Poa Trivialis.

[@lawnassociation]

Apologies we forgot to add the front lawn update! We’ve just uploaded an update to our Instagram/Facebook. You can view here: instagram.com/tv/Cex7bF1jDNA/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[@leeedwards3783]

Thanks for the video. Good knowledge there. I didn't know that poa was a weed grass and have discovered too late. I have hundreds of them about the size of my fist and a couple around a m2 in a 300m2 lawn. My wife was the one who said, what are these ugly pale green coarse grasses that are in our lawn? Then the research and nightmare began. Going to Try and dig them all out and replace with soil and see and transplant grass that may not have it to fill in the m2 patches. Gutted

[@lawnassociation]

Hi Lee, it’s all down to the ryegrass sward tou probably have. Take a look at some of our other videos to understand more about the species that can help combat Poa anua. It will eventually turn into a perennial form which is nicer to look at but with rye it will dominate your head space ( and lawn) every year

[@leeedwards3783]

@@lawnassociation hi. Thanks for the reply and advice. Are you able to get a really nice looking lawn with the bent grasses you recommend?

[@lawnassociation]

@@leeedwards3783 the very best lawns will be bent fescue. See our other SM channels for examples?

[@leeedwards3783]

Hi. Thanks for this. What is your other SM channels? I am not sure how to find them?

[@lawnassociation]

@@leeedwards3783 if you search for @lawnassociation on Facebook, instagram, or TikTok or type in linktr.ee/lawnassociation into the search bar you can find access to everything.

[@steveg7739]

Was that an early Cambridge, have the liberty 43, that was very short lived…,

[@thesugarlipslove]

good information thank you. i was hoping to see the front lawn (as mentioned) to see how it was looking at this time of year!

[@lawnassociation]

Forgot to add it in the end! We’ll upload an update tomorrow on our instagram!

[@lawnassociation]

Just uploaded the video! instagram.com/tv/Cex7bF1jDNA/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[@rickwhitehill1801]

Can i overseed my rye grass with bent?

[@lawnassociation]

Of course but you’ll have to stress the rye and ensure best possible bent/fescue chances

[@rickwhitehill1801]

@Lawn Association thanks. By stress do you mean scalp the lawn for example?

[@lawnassociation]

@@rickwhitehill1801 ensure it doesn't have food, scalp low prior to seeding (it'll thin itself quite well as we know)

[@thewelshwizard5869]

Hi there, a fascinating series of videos, when do you think is the best time to scarify, verticicut, and over seed with bent/fescue seed please.

[@lawnassociation]

Hi there, the best time can obviously change according to circumstances, but late April/early May can be perfect with warming temperatures as also can be September/October. Also, remember that fescue will germinate before bent so look at opening the sward if you are contemplating adding this species into a lawn. Most people dont show the results of seed success. Once you have fescue/bent of course, you'll rarely need to overseed again.....you will be able to prune and re-develop the grasses you have

[@thewelshwizard5869]

@@lawnassociation Thank you for taking the time to reply. I need to find out about your course 👌👍🙂

[@JC-un4bg]

Dehydration and low ph works well . And low fertility

[@martinlogan8329]

David, that was a great watch and really informative, thank you. Been a while since the last video, I've genuinely been looking forward to it! I took your earlier advice and reached out to the grass people, they sorted me out with a bespoke order just as you suggested, 2kg of 007 creeping bent. Now I just need to wait for you to bring out a episode on what I do with it?! 😅 I have to admit I do watch those other KZbinrs you're talking about and I have tried to emulate their results, but I would love it if I could have a nice thick lawn without having to stay off it for a month each year whilst it's being renovated... the summer's too short to waste it! Hopefully the creeping bent will give me and the family more time on the lawn rather than watching it germinate from the patio! 😃👍

[@rugs108]

David I took your advice from your previous video . I overseeded with bent ( manor variety) . What is the best height to cut it at ?

[@lawnassociation]

Whatever height you wish. It will like most heights......25mm is good if growth is good, but does depend on quantity of bent and quality of existing lawn. Try a few heights and see what works...... :-)

[@markchester7584]

Is glyfosate the same as glyphosphate?

[@grahammacklam4736]

David said at the end 'it comes down to the timing of the scarification and overseeding' . By this would this mean late summer/early autumn?

[@inderjitsandhu4332]

I’m interested in the response to this question too.

[@lawnassociation]

It’s the trick to see when Poa germination takes place in your area as it will be different in many places. As far as our lawn for eg, we maintain it rather than need seed. So scarifying and filling back in happens before Poa starts to grow so not a problem but with rye lawns, autumn is probably better yes but Poa germination is evolving with the changing environment too

[@photoeducationbydaniel]

Can you please tell me the grass seeds that I would need to look for?

[@lawnassociation]

They are seemingly only available on our website. We tried to get companies to sell (as they once did) but were not interested, so we had to sell ourselves....

[@photoeducationbydaniel]

@@lawnassociation I dont see where to buy the seed on your site though? Just fertilizer and Bundles

[@lawnassociation]

@@photoeducationbydaniel lawnassociationstore.co.uk/collections/grass-seed That should take you there...

[@joeb5924]

I stumbled across this video recently in my quest to beat poa. I'm not a huge fan on bent grass but found I can get kentucky blue grass from the US. This has a strong creeping ability sp I am assuming this would work just aswell?

[@lawnassociation]

not well enough in the UK sadly...need some more heat and changes in our climate and maybe one day....

[@joeb5924]

@lawnassociation thank you for the reply. With regards to the bent grass is there anywhere you'd recommend to buy the seed from? Struggling to find it on its own

[@lawnassociation]

@@joeb5924 Id message the Grass People to start and if they dont, then Germinal Amenity. You may have to ask specifically, but remember its 4-8gms per m2 not 35-50 or so....

[@vassarian]

what if you start with KBG ? is it the same scenario?

[@lawnassociation]

It does depend on how dense you get it. In general, it’s a tricky seed to get good take and density on. AMG is an opportunist and when we open the sward we allow it to take hold,

[@rozzer666]

Why can't I seem to find bent grass seeds in the uk

[@lawnassociation]

We had to get them especially made up to sell here on LA website, but didn't want at the time. People make yearly sales from ryegrass and that's why they don't sell bent/fescue

[@inderjitsandhu4332]

Could you clarify in the video you say with verticutting you’re wasting your time as you’ll spread seeds but at the end you say sensible verticutting will help manage poa ?

[@lawnassociation]

When it comes to management it’s exactly that. Grass species choice will help and vertical cutting can aid in some lawns. However, when choosing rye, it will die ( I know it rhymes) but the inevitability will happen and they will germinate in Spring…

[@davidbradford8542]

I think the jest of your video (of which I totally agree) is not to over-do it as your just make matters worse.

[@lawnassociation]

It’s inevitable and only the most enthusiastic ( or madly obsessed) can be bothered…

[@martinlong171]

Hi David, I came across your video by chance. I am now concerned as I have just over seeded my 28m2 lawn (yes, its that small) with rye grass after watching a couple of videos on you tube. I already have a lot of poa annua in my lawn and am trying to control it. Having watched your video, I am wondering if I can over seed with a bent grass and if so when would be the best time to do it. As I have over seeded with a rye grass 3 weeks ago, should I wait until the autumn to over seed with bent grass?

[@lawnassociation]

Hi Martin, the issue is that rye, when growing well, blocks out vital sunlight of not just seeds and seedlings but plants as well and the two never work together. Bent likes to germinate in this heat, especially when not buried too deep. It can pop in days. BTW, my house in Devon was 12m2 🙂

[@topmum100]

Sorry, but I’m not clear … if I’ve understood correctly, I need to overseed with bents and fescues, so those thicken up and leave less space for the poa annua, correct? When is the best time to overseed, given that watering (which I’ll almost certainly have to do after re-seeding) will encourage the poa? So does that mean I have to over-seed in the autumn? When is the best time to feed? And what feed should I use? And should I scarify in autumn or will that just make things worse? You say that poa annua becomes perennial but how’s that possible if it’s an annual? Or do you mean that it just keeps on seeding itself so it becomes like a perennial? Sorry, but lots of questions!

[@lawnassociation]

Hi, too many questions to answer but the one fact is that poa can only be controlled at best, but certain grass species will make it easier. It will naturally evolve into a perennial and still seed but become a prettier grass to look at. But no one has ever eradicated it. Its the worlds most prolific grass for a reason....

[@topmum100]

@@lawnassociation Thanks. I get that I can’t eradicate it. But when do I over-seed? And does scarification make it worse?

[@lawnassociation]

@@topmum100 its always better to overseed in Spring, however, autumn is also suitable. Poa is seeding much earlier and much later so its a little down to you to try and find YOUR best seeding date, but try and get the best seed germination, rather than poa control when seeeding. You need the seed there first.....

[@Dan-nh8nu]

Exacerbate is the word you are looking for. Good video btw.

[@Rich-in6ds]

My lawn is 80% this stuff. What bothers me is, when cut, the thick stems are very ugly and coarse under foot. The leaf colour is fine, it’s the hard stems I hate. It also sometimes goes very brown even when watered.

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

Could you recommend a proprietary grass seed mix containing bent seed ? I am struggling to find one! Thank you

[@lawnassociation]

We may have one ourselves soon but if you contact @thegrasspeople they should be able to help

[@davidbradford8542]

Happy 65th Birthday.

[@lawnassociation]

😂😂

[@marekokon6150]

I liked the video but ..... poa annua starts to grow @ 6 Celcius and the normal grass needs warmer soil. After winter there is no chance that normal grass will block poa. It will grow and spread very fast. And every year the same happens. If it is spring like this year in Poland, when there where low temp @ night whole april and may then you have poa annua all over and bent grass or any other grass will not block poa annua couse its already there and everywhere. And you have no lawn after 2-3 years. One bad spring and you wont control anything.

[@lawnassociation]

No grass will block it out forever and we say that on many videos. Bents will hide Poa better than anything and grown at 20mm plus it can outplay Poa but there is no point in growing rye and expecting any competition

[@mmdoof]

31:05 Nothing wrong about taking about TERF groomers - as long as you don't mind losing your monetisation😉

[@JonRyan-yv3oc]

great video and i agree on the main points. i wonder though if you have any scientific evidence for your claims about the "youtuber method" only making it worse? in my experience, it actually holds some merit. the point is that the seedheads cut are not full-grown seeds. i've done some experimenting, and the seeds from my clippings do not germinate, while the control (fescue seeds) do. with that in mind, i think raking and cutting as many seedheads as possible is a viable tactic since you most likely cut them in time.

[@lawnassociation]

A nice thought but is a pipe dream I'm afraid. No scientific proof as such but just 43 years of trialling etc. The seed heads be in the soil, regardless and even more so when done the 'You tuber' way. This method is used by Golf courses as an actual way to promote poa increase when they want it to spread. And even worse with rye lawns as you open them up to re-seed every year in about May or Sept when seed heads are at their peak.

[@Arietje]

I've also collected some seedheads from my lawn and tried germinating them in a small container. At first I thought it didn't work, but then after about 3 tot 4 weeks of keeping it regular moist, it did start germinating, at least quite some of them. So from that we could reason that freshly cut seedheads will create more poa within weeks. But don't forget there had been poa in there longer and they have dropped seeds already as well, waiting for the scarifying to open up the soil and they may be ready to seed sooner.

[@JohnDoe-og2tw]

Do i need to trow my robotic mower away?

[@lawnassociation]

Not at all John.....great additions to your mowing regime...poa will be in the soils so even adding clippings wont make better or worse.

[@JohnDoe-og2tw]

@@lawnassociation ah, that's great to hear. I live in the Nederlands and noticed the last 2 years that my lawn is taken over by poa. I do verticutting, overseeding in spring en autumn. Also tried the pro plugger and made made some trays with newly seed grass to file the removed holes with the pro plugger but this is so mucht work to maintain.

[@jeremyminns5627]

That little suspect stands up like a solider this time of year.

[@lawnassociation]

Reaching for the sky…

[@shaunray6660]

Ethofumesate gets rid of it in rye 👍

[@lawnassociation]

Unavailable and illegal now….🤷🏻‍♂️

[@boyasaka]

You talk about no chemical to kill poa I thought USA used chemicals to kill poa ?

[@lawnassociation]

they do have some available but do still struggle to kill it. Many of their climates keep it at bay with it being so hot, but they do apply many chemicals apparently. But we dont know too much about exactly what they use these days....

[@boyasaka]

@@lawnassociation cheers for reply I read other day most golf courses over there are now using prograss ec to tackle poa kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqvUYWSkZ7OJbJo

[@lawnassociation]

@@boyasaka they have a desire as well as a much easier access to chemicals, and of course, they are businesses unlike lawns. These sorts of chemicals will never be available in the UK or EU.

[@SuperChalkster]

you talk like a pro, you just need a lawn to back you up, im here for advice but the lawns you showcase are worse then mine. lol

[@lawnassociation]

of course. We dont have the time to care for ours in the way some want but the whole point is that this is the starting template to get that. We are considering offering that link for someone else to do that next level. We just dont have the time

[@SuperChalkster]

@@lawnassociation i have a question, when you refer to the poa seed head as having millions of little seeds, ive seen poa seed head have tiny little balls dropping from them is that seed? i thought it was pollen.... to me a poa seed head looks like it has maybe 10 seeds on it.

[@Arietje]

@@SuperChalkster He said by scarifying you spread millions, so the whole lawn with all of its seedheads. Not sure about the exact number but the point is not just 1 seedhead.

[@Sheep316]

exacerbate not exasperate

[@Reece634]

Masta bate

[@ringsidejudge4302]

Good Info