Seed Head produces by Poa
Another entry about
Poa annua. It has been discussed enough so hopefully everyone knows what
Poa is. Every spring
both types of Poa (annual and perennail) produce an
inflorescence that makes all the green surfaces appear white. The seeds produced by the annual bio type will germinate either this fall or sometime next spring when conditions favour germination. The seeds produced by the perennial bio type will germinate soon after they are produced this year. It is pretty tough to distinguish visually between the annual and perennial bio types but it doesn't make a difference as long as there is seed being produced to help fill in bare spots. In Canada there are very few products available to manage Poa and its seed head. In the U.S. there is a selection of pre-emergence, post-emergence herbicides, and products for seed head control. One post-emergence herbicide just registered for use on golf course (actually the only one) in Canada is able to selectively remove
Poa from
bent grass greens and will help all the recently build golf courses keep their green surface free of
Poa. Use of such a product on the green surfaces at
KGC is not feasible because of the large percentage of
Poa on the green surface. The only other tool available is a growth regulator which acts to limit the elongation of turf. If you time it right the product will not suppress seed head but act to keep the stalk producing the seed head shorter and deeper in the the turf canopy. However, this product I'm describing is better for controlling growth of leaf tissue. It has the added benefit of encouraging lateral growth and will help increase turf density and being dense, with respect to turf, is a good thing.
