How to control winter grass in your lawn
Winter grass is the kind of weed that, when left uncontrolled, can spread like wildfire. If you have an infestation of winter grass, or ‘Poa’, you’ll definitely want to know how to treat it. So let’s take a look at what winter grass is and how you can control this nasty weed.
What is winter grass?
Winter grass (Poa annua) is a low-growing, thin-blade grass. It has soft, drooping leaves in tufts with triangular seed heads. Winter grass is widespread throughout Melbourne.
When does winter grass appear?
True to its name, winter grass is most common during the cooler months. It typically begins to germinate in May, then emerges around late May/early June and continues to spread throughout winter and early spring. This is more damaging in warm-season lawn varieties such as Sir Walter DNA certified Buffalo, Eureka Premium Kikuyu VG, and Sir Grange, as they are dormant during winter and therefore unable to crowd out the winter grass.
How do I get rid of winter grass?
The best way to prevent winter grass is to use a pre-emergent product such as Lawn Solutions’ Oxafert every three months. This will prevent the winter grass from germinating in the first place. However, if winter grass has already established itself in your lawn, we recommend using Amgrow’s ‘Winter Grass Killer’ to spot spray the winter grass. Winter grass can be a stubborn weed, so it may take one or two seasons to fully eradicate it from your garden.