“One year of seeds brings seven years of weeds!” – This is especially true when it comes to the battle between your lawn and winter grass.
If you have an invasion of Winter Grass, you’ll definitely want to treat it before it germinates. If you allow it to drop its seeds, next winter it will be back, twice as bad as it was the previous year. The best plan of attack is to treat it as soon as it appears.
What is Winter Grass?
Winter Grass, or Poa Annua as it is scientifically known, is a low growing turf grass. It has soft, drooping green leaves grown in tufts with triangular shaped seed heads.
Winter Grass is widespread in Australia and spreads throughout the winter months.
When does it appear?
Winter Grass typically begins germinating in the soil in late autumn (May). You will start to see it emerging within your turf in late May and June and continue to spread throughout the winter months.
How do I get rid of it?
Winter Grass Treatment
Winter Grass can be removed very easily by hand as it doesn’t have particularly deep roots. It doesn’t have any runners, growing in simple clumps. Removing it by hand can be somewhat tedious so fortunately there are specifically targeted herbicide controls you can use.
Amgrow Winter Grass Killer is a selective herbicide that will target the roots of the weed, making it extremely important to spray early in its life cycle before seed heads appear.
This product is suitable to use on Blue Couch, Common Couch, Bent, Buffalo (including Sir Walter DNA Certified Buffalo) and Brown top Lawns. Amgrow Winter Grass Killer cannot be used on Kikuyu or Fescue lawns.
Munns Winter Grass Killer is another option that is safe to use on Kikuyu lawns.
Winter Grass Prevention
Targeting it before it emerges during May is the key to preventing it from germinating and going to seed. A pre-emergent like Oxafert can be applied and it will target the Winter Grass before it emerges from the soil.
A 3kg bag of OxaFert treats up to 100m².
Once it goes to seed, they will be present again in your turf the following year and the cycle will continue. Using a combination of a pre-emergent like Oxafert and a selective control like Winter Grass Killer at the correct time of year should ensure it is eradicated from your lawn.
While it is not a quick fix it can be eradicated with a little planning and action at the right time.
