5 Quack Grass & Annual Bluegrass

Slide 1 Turfgrass ID: Elymus repens - Quackgrass Slide 2 QuackgrassElymus repens Slide 3 QuackgrassElymus repens Perennial Noxious weed - THERE ARE NO PROS, NO MANAGEMENT Prefs!! Has been known to have allelopathic control 95% of lateral buds are dormant Rhizomes can travel more than 3 metres underground and invade other areas Slide 4 QuackgrassElymus repens Once established, very difficult to control due to lack of selective herbicides Can be controlled at the 3 -4 leaf stage Must use a non-selective systemic herbicide Consider “weed & feed” Repeat every month In turf control is by “hand painting” leaves with herbicide Slide 5 QuackgrassElymus repens Rhizomes can cross underneath sidewalks, come up in cracks in the sidewalk Ensure new areas to be seeded are kept clean of rhizomes (ie. check loam, buy screened loam etc.) Pick rhizomes! Use of mulch helps with control in shrub beds - lazy opportunist… but within a lawn, it is nearly impossible. Slide 6 Rhizomes growing through landscape fabric… Slide 7 Slide 8 Turfgrass ID: Poa annua - Annual Bluegrass Slide 9 Annual BluegrassPoa annua Apple Green colour - when it is growing in KB / CRF / PR - it stands out. Considered a weed in our climate! Very well adapted and will set seed at low mowing heights! Encourage the grass you do want, so you don't give it a chance! Slide 10 Annual BluegrassPoa annua Considered a weed in MOST applications due to incompatible colour and circular growth habit. Has been known to produce 60 seedlings per square inch Prefers over-watered compacted ground, will be very competitive in this situation Very aggressive – can complete its life cycle in 7 weeks Does not enter summer dormancy; really starts to grow in June Competitive in places with compaction and too much water Slide 11 Annual BluegrassPoa annua If it’s so compaction resistant… why don’t we plant it on purpose? Very poor winter hardiness & high temperature tolerance Shallow roots = Poor drought tolerance No recuperative potential Slide 12 Annual BluegrassPoa annua Areas in which you’ll find it growing: Heavily compacted areas where no grass will grow Areas prone to excessive soil moisture (poor drainage) Poor soil quality (structure/texture) areas Invades high intensity traffic areas and intensively cultured areas managed under low mowing heights – bowling greens, golf greens Slide 13 Annual BluegrassPoa annua Management to discourage growth Reduce or eliminate compaction Aerate before summer or in early fall Longer, less frequent irrigation cycles (Water past its root zone) Reduce nitrogen levels (it likes .75 kg N) Restrict phosphorus levels (it needs P to promote stronger roots) Increase mowing heights above 25 mm Repair damaged areas quickly Note that all of these practices will ENCOURAGE other competitive species Slide 14 Annual BluegrassPoa annua Slide 15 Annual BluegrassPoa annua