Act now to control winter grass!
Author: Stefan Palm Date Posted: 27 February 2024
Did you know there is a herbicide you can apply now that will stop winter grass from germinating in the coming Winter? Sounds hard to believe, doesn't it? But you'll need to act quickly as there is an optimal window of time for its application.
Winter grass (otherwise known as Poa annua or annual bluegrass) is that annoying light green coloured grass that often comes up in your lawn during winter - It's an annual weed, meaning it only lives for a short time and only comes up at a certain time of the year. The season for winter grass is typically from mid-April through to September, and with cooler days and nights coming soon, the germination of winter grass seed in your lawn is just around the corner.
You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about if you have it. It produces lots of seeds and has a white cotton-like root zone. It’s easy to pull out, but there is always so much of it, and more often than not, as soon as you pull it out, more seems to grow back. One of the survival mechanisms of Winter Grass is its seed. It produces large amounts of it, which fall to the ground, ready to germinate next year. If each winter grass weed produced 50 seeds, and all of those seeds fell to the ground and germinated, you can see how quickly this weed could get out of control.
The big question is, how do you get rid of it, and how do you successfully keep it out? By far, the best way of controlling winter grass is with a pre-emergent herbicide.
Pre-emergent control
Wintergrass is best treated for now through a process called pre-emergent weed control. Pre-emergent control works on the principle that you control the weed's seeds before they germinate, therefore preventing the weed from taking its annual foothold. You can apply products such as Spartan that do exactly that, meaning you won't see it come winter.
That in itself is amazing. If you’ve got a serious winter grass problem and you’ve been attacking it for a few years, you’ll know two things:
- It gets worse every year, despite your efforts to remove it
- Selective herbicides that you buy and apply during winter don’t necessarily solve the problem.
A pre-emergent approach seems counterintuitive in a way because it can seem like you’re treating a problem that isn’t there (yet); however, as you have probably gathered by now, you’re doing a form of preventative maintenance, and in that way, you’re stopping the weed before it becomes a problem.
When to Apply pre-emergent herbicides
The best time of year to apply Spartan is the months leading up to Winter before the weeds germinate – i.e. February to early April. As soon as we get a couple of successive rains, combined with cooler weather, winter grass seeds will begin to germinate. It is critically important that this herbicide is sprayed before the weed emerges. In other words, if you can see winter grass growing in your lawn, then it is too late to apply this season.
If you've been battling it for a few seasons, try Spartan. It is an absolute weapon against winter grass!
Comments (48)
Bow and arrow
By: Celette on 9 October 2024Can I use Bow and Arrow on my Windsor Green now (october) and then Spartan in april
Paul Munns Instant Lawn Response
Hi Celette, Bow and Arrow can be applied now to control broadleaf weeds, but it doesn't kill wintergrass unfortunately. Spartan can be applied in April as long as you haven't started seeing any wintergrass at that time. Thanks for your enquiry!
Winter grass problem
By: Andy on 29 July 2024Hi , reading through these comments, it is too late for a pre emergent on Santa Anna. What is best for use now ?
Paul Munns Instant Lawn Response
Hi Andy, It is a bit late for a pre emergent now, you could use a post emergent to kill what has already germinated but it wont kill the seeds in the ground. Once the temperatures start to warm up the winter grass that you can see now will die off. You can apply the pre emergent in Autumn sometime around May. Thanks for your enquiry!
Winter Grass
By: Cheryl Howard on 18 February 2023Hi Paul, is it safe to use Spartan on Windsor Green lawn. Kind Regards Cheryl
Paul Munns Instant Lawn Response
Hi Cheryl Thanks for your enquiry Yes, Spartan is safe to use on Windsor Green Couch Thank you Regards Andrew
Winter grass
By: Brendan O'Leary on 25 March 2022Hi We have couch and in winter it needs infrequent mowing. The dreaded Poa emerges and is very obvious, even before going to seed. Our lawn is only about 70m2 and I patrol it once every week or 2 and pull up up the invader. We had instant turf rolled out about 10 years ago and the first winter I literally pulled up thousands of Poa. You can tell I'm retired - too much time on my hands.
Paul Munns Instant Lawn Response
Hi Brendan Thanks for your message To prevent winter grass from germinating in Winter you can use one of two pre-emergent products we stock. We have Pendi Pro which is a fertiliser and pre-emergent in one or we have Spartan which is a pre-emergent by itself. These can be applied now as long as no Winter grass has germinated. Thank you
Winter grass
By: Sue steendam on 20 August 2021Hi can you tell me is there any product l can use on tall fescue lawn to kill winter grass. Regards sue
Paul Munns Instant Lawn Response
Hi Sue Thanks for your enquiry Unfortunately there isn't anything selective to control Winter Grass in Tall Fescue lawns
Tall fescue and winter grass
By: Mat on 12 August 2021Hello, I see in the above comments there is no way to Control winter grass in tall fescue. Will winter grass die off after winter or should I be removing it as it appears? Or open to other suggestions.
Paul Munns Instant Lawn Response
Hello Mat Unfortunately there isn't anything selective to control Winter grass in Tall Fescue. I would recommend to get it all out (as much as possible) Winter grass will die off in the heat of Spring and Summer but will drop the seeds in the soil and germinate next winter Thank you
poa weed
By: Alan on 5 July 2021Paul - I have a santa ana lawn . Is it safe to use spartan in this lawn and when is it best used . Is it too late now
Paul Munns Instant Lawn Response
Hi Alan Thanks for your query Spartan is safe to use on Santa Ana. Best to apply it in Feb/March next year. Bit too late now Thank you