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      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding - Front of Bag
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
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      Raking a lawn before planting new grass seed.
      Planting Grass for a New Lawn
      Illustration of person mowing a lawn.
      Spring Lawn Care Tips
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      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding - Front of Bag
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Triple Action Built For Seeding
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
      Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader
    • Featured Articles

      Raking a lawn before planting new grass seed.
      Planting Grass for a New Lawn
      Illustration of person mowing a lawn.
      Spring Lawn Care Tips
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Lawn Spreader

Weed Control

Keep crabgrass, dandelions and clover from invading your lawn.

Weed Control

How to Control Poa Annua in the Lawn

This grassy weed can leave behind bare spots in the lawn. Learn how to block it.

PoaAnnua - How to Control Poa Annua in the Lawn

What is Poa Annua or Annual Bluegrass?

Poa Annua, or annual bluegrass, is one of the most common grassy weeds in the United States. It looks very similar to Kentucky bluegrass, except it is a lighter shade of green, has a shallower root system, and develops a short seed head early in the season. It usually dies off in the summer when the weather gets hot, leaving behind bare spots in your lawn. Poa annua germinates in late summer or early fall. The seedlings grow throughout the fall and then flower the following spring. To keep it out of your lawn, spread a grassy weed preventer, like Scotts® WeedEx™ Prevent with Halts®, in late summer before seeds sprout.

How to Prevent Poa Annua

Avoid Overwatering

Poa annua is widely adapted to growing in different conditions, though it prefers the damp, shady areas of your lawn. Fight the weed by watering your lawn deeply and infrequently. Its shallow roots won’t be able to reach down to where the moisture is.

For more information see our Lawn Watering Tips.

Set Your Mower High

Poa annua is short. When you mow your grass high, between 3 to 4 inches, you make it hard for annual bluegrass to survive. Lawns with taller grass tend to have very few Poa annua problems.

Check out these lawn mowing tips.

Fertilize Regularly

If your lawn is thick and lush, weeds like Poa annua will have a hard time becoming established. A well-maintained lawn doesn’t leave any room for weed seeds to sprout. To keep your lawn thick and Poa annua at bay, feed your grass regularly (4 times per year) with Scotts® Turf Builder® lawn fertilizer products. Remember, each feeding should be spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart.

For more information on fertilizer timing, read When to Feed for a Greener Lawn.

Use a Pre-Emergent in Late Summer

The Poa annua seeds produced in the spring wait patiently in the soil for the cooler temperature of fall to arrive before they sprout. You can stop them from sprouting by applying a pre-emergent weed control product, like Scotts® WeedEx™ Prevent with Halts®, in early fall (August through early September). Follow up your pre-emergent weed control application with an application of Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Food to help your lawn recover from the stresses of summer and keep it thick and green.

Winterguard packshot
Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Food
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Scotts® WeedEx™ Southern
Scotts® WeedEx™ Southern
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Bag of Scotts WeedEx Prevent with Halts
Scotts® WeedEx™ Prevent with Halts®
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Related Articles

Whether you are just starting out, maintaining or troubleshooting, you'll find advice and answers here for all your lawn care needs.

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When to Fertilize for a Greener Lawn

When it comes to feeding your lawn, timing matters. This simple guide tells you all you need to know.

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2021-04-19
2021-04-19
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Main navigation (US)

  • Shop

    • Scotts Bundles

    • Lawn Food

    • Grass Seed

    • Weed Control

    • Spreaders

    • Mulch & Garden

    • Insect, Grub, & Disease Control

    • Outdoor Cleaners

    • Tools & Accessories

  • Learn

    • Lawn Basics

    • Lawn Food

    • Grass & Grass Seed

    • Weed Control

    • Spreaders, Mowing & Tools

    • Insect & Grub Control

    • Lawn Disease Control

    • Mulch & Garden

    • Other Lawn Problems

    • Watering

    • Backyard Transformations

    • Lawns Matter

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