Annual bluegrass is a light-green, clumping grass that shows up in dormant Bermuda lawns over winter and produces white seed heads in spring.
- Scientific name
- Poa annua
- Type
- Winter annual grass
- Most visible
- February–May
How to Identify Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)
- Soft, light-green blades with boat-shaped tips
- White seed heads even when mowed short
- Clumps stand out against brown dormant Bermuda
- Shallow roots
When It Shows Up in Oklahoma Lawns
Germinates in fall as temperatures drop, grows through winter, and dies out in late spring heat.
How to Control Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)
- Apply a fall pre-emergent before germination
- Spot-treat with a selective herbicide labeled for the weed and safe for your grass type, following the label exactly
- Avoid overwatering in fall
- Keep turf thick with proper mowing height, watering, and feeding so seedlings can't establish