[b0nk3rs]

Hi all! I need to start prepping for July 4th and I have a few questions. I was planning on making a long post with a timeline of the lawn from spring until now but I just want to make this quick and simple.

Some quick background. May was brutally dry and hot. Multiple stretches of multiple days 90+ and total rainfall for a 5 week period was 0.22". I started irrigating a little late so there was some recovery to be done. The past two weeks have had two significant rainfalls of 2.8" and 2.5".

Few pics of the lawn from the past month:

Seedheads were pretty much dominating my lawn for a few weeks


Lots of them....


Fast forward a few weeks...looks healthy minus the brown seedheads


HoC


My lawn as of today


Mostly all the dormant/dead stuff are seedheads


Ran out after dark and grabbed a few pieces


After all this rain these are still showing no signs of color. This had me wondering if I had been staring at poa all along. Color has been pretty light green all spring (no spots just overall lawn color is light), these all died when we got our 90+ heat wave, the seedhead pattern is close, and none of the reseeded spots from the fall have had these seedheads so far this year (0.00% weed seed mix from SSS).

I had assumed these were just KBG all along but i'm seriously questioning that now. Do KBG seedhead stalks die off or do they just resume growing normal blades? They don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Appreciate some insight!

 

[Delmarva Keith]

I tried to look this up for a definitive answer, but no luck. All I can tell you is I observe the same thing on some lawns, but not on others.

Using some info to deduce more info: seedhead production is increased somewhat by a degree of nitrogen deficiency. The plant uses a lot of its energy to produce seed. If adequate nitrogen isn't available, the stand may even thin out to produce seed. Therefore, low doses of adequate (but not excessive) fert during seeding time (May into June) should reduce seeding as well as the die back of leaves and seed stalks.

 

[kolbasz]

I know it does not help you at all, but I have the same thing. I am figuring it will go away with time. Even with its issues, the lawn looks better than my neighbor, so that is a win.

 

[LIgrass]

The seedhead dies and remains there until it decomposes. There's really not much you can do other than lower the HOC to chop them down lower then raise it back to normal HOC. They should drop to the soil and go away soon enough.

Anything with a triangular panicle is most likely Poa. It will usually be a dainty stalk as well, where KBG seed heads are thicker stalks. It's hard to tell from the pics if it is or not.

poa

 

[g-man]

I would spray some unsulfered molasses. The sugars helps decompose the dead stuff. A healthy soil with lot of earthworms will also speed this up. That's one of the reasons I like to improve my organic matter in my soil.

While this happens, keep an eye for fungus. Lots of moisture and dead material with heat are the recipe for a petri dish. I would also bag to remove some of that from the soil.

 

[jha4aamu]

I would spray some unsulfered molasses. The sugars helps decompose the dead stuff. A healthy soil with lot of earthworms will also speed this up. That's one of the reasons I like to improve my organic matter in my soil.

While this happens, keep an eye for fungus. Lots of moisture and dead material with heat are the recipe for a petri dish. I would also bag to remove some of that from the soil.

how much of this should be applied per K? i just purchased some unsulfered molasses for this purpose a few weeks ago but have been reluctant to spray it because i was unsure of the app rate

 

[SNOWBOB11]

I'd lower the HOC to around 2.5" for 1 or 2 mowings and see if you can get them. Definitely bag your clippings if you do so.

 

[g-man]

No hard science behind this. I use 2oz/ksqft in a hose end sprayer. From morpheouspa in aty, he recommended 2-4oz/ksqft.

PS, I would like for morpheouspa to join us. His organic approach to lawn care and gardening are really good.

 

[b0nk3rs]

I tried to look this up for a definitive answer, but no luck. All I can tell you is I observe the same thing on some lawns, but not on others.

Using some info to deduce more info: seedhead production is increased somewhat by a degree of nitrogen deficiency. The plant uses a lot of its energy to produce seed. If adequate nitrogen isn't available, the stand may even thin out to produce seed. Therefore, low doses of adequate (but not excessive) fert during seeding time (May into June) should reduce seeding as well as the die back of leaves and seed stalks.

4/22 - Milorganite at 0.5lb N
5/1 - Milorganite at 1lb N
5/22 - Milorganite at 1.5lb N

The seedhead dies and remains there until it decomposes. There's really not much you can do other than lower the HOC to chop them down lower then raise it back to normal HOC. They should drop to the soil and go away soon enough.

Anything with a triangular panicle is most likely Poa. It will usually be a dainty stalk as well, where KBG seed heads are thicker stalks. It's hard to tell from the pics if it is or not.

poa

I know, I thought nothing of it at the time so I didn't take pics or inspect them at all. All I have left are the dead remnants which aren't too helpful right now especially since they're wet and not drying out anytime soon.

I would spray some unsulfered molasses. The sugars helps decompose the dead stuff. A healthy soil with lot of earthworms will also speed this up. That's one of the reasons I like to improve my organic matter in my soil.

While this happens, keep an eye for fungus. Lots of moisture and dead material with heat are the recipe for a petri dish. I would also bag to remove some of that from the soil.

Fungus is definitely becoming a concern, the lawn has been wet for quite a few days now and its raining again today. Brown mushrooms started popping up all over yesterday. Advice? I'm making an order today of whatever is necessary. I can spray anything.

I'd lower the HOC to around 2.5" for 1 or 2 mowings and see if you can get them. Definitely bag your clippings if you do so.

I'm not sure I can go much lower without causing some ugly side effects, my last cut was already getting too low for comfort.

Thanks for the responses so far...........Need to try and find out if this is poa or not for my own sanity.

 

[chrismar]

Same issue here. Lots of brown seedheads and bbdl (brown blades down low). New growth is all green and lush. I started a serenade+disease ex regemin 3 weeks ago to hopefully keep any brewing disease at bay.

 

[Delmarva Keith]

4/22 - Milorganite at 0.5lb N
5/1 - Milorganite at 1lb N
5/22 - Milorganite at 1.5lb N

Do you ever add any potassium? How long ago?

 

[b0nk3rs]

4/22 - Milorganite at 0.5lb N
5/1 - Milorganite at 1lb N
5/22 - Milorganite at 1.5lb N

Do you ever add any potassium? How long ago?

My spring soil test showed me "above optimum" on K

 

[Delmarva Keith]

4/22 - Milorganite at 0.5lb N
5/1 - Milorganite at 1lb N
5/22 - Milorganite at 1.5lb N

Do you ever add any potassium? How long ago?

My spring soil test showed me "above optimum" on K

Would appear nutrition is out as the cause.

I've not seen annua that widespread and so evenly distributed in any lawn (but who knows, lots of things I'm sure I've never seen).

As a last gasp, did you by any chance let it get unusually tall between cuts at some point this Spring? I have seen that.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Looking at the pictures you posted especially the ones of the hole lawn I don't think they are poa a. They look like KBG seed heads to me.

 

[b0nk3rs]

Do you ever add any potassium? How long ago?

My spring soil test showed me "above optimum" on K

Would appear nutrition is out as the cause.

I've not seen annua that widespread and so evenly distributed in any lawn (but who knows, lots of things I'm sure I've never seen).

As a last gasp, did you by any chance let it get unusually tall between cuts at some point this Spring? I have seen that.

Same thoughts here, literally never once thought it might be poa. The area pictured above (lowest spot in the lawn) was the last to go to seed, the rest of the lawn had already been through it at this point (with the exception of the reseeded areas from the fall...no seedheads there at all). Lawn has not been overgrown at all. The closeup picture of the seeded spot is the longest it has been this year and I think the longest I have gone between mows was 5 days.

 

[Delmarva Keith]

My spring soil test showed me "above optimum" on K

Would appear nutrition is out as the cause.

I've not seen annua that widespread and so evenly distributed in any lawn (but who knows, lots of things I'm sure I've never seen).

As a last gasp, did you by any chance let it get unusually tall between cuts at some point this Spring? I have seen that.

Same thoughts here, literally never once thought it might be poa. The area pictured above (lowest spot in the lawn) was the last to go to seed, the rest of the lawn had already been through it at this point (with the exception of the reseeded areas from the fall...no seedheads there at all). Lawn has not been overgrown at all. The closeup picture of the seeded spot is the longest it has been this year and I think the longest I have gone between mows was 5 days.

Has me stumped. Just not consistent with anything I've seen that doesn't seem to be ruled out. The way you asked the original question, it's a safe guess what you have growing there doesn't just do this every year.

So why this year? Just can't imagine. Trying to be optimistic, might just be its time and age to aggressively seed with lots of seed stalks.

 

[b0nk3rs]

Until last year it was mostly uncared for. In the fall I repaired a lot of problem areas and overseeded some thin spots. I pushed it hard the last two months of the growing season. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. Also, I went pretty aggressive with a thatch rake this spring.

 

[Delmarva Keith]

Until last year it was mostly uncared for. In the fall I repaired a lot of problem areas and overseeded some thin spots. I pushed it hard the last two months of the growing season. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. Also, I went pretty aggressive with a thatch rake this spring.

The irony would be if it's a reaction to finally being really healthy for the first time.

I'd appreciate it a lot it if you would report on its progress as the season goes on. I am really curious to see what it does.

 

[Harts]

No harm applying a pre-m in the fall and again in the Spring and see if this issue pops up again next year. From my untrained eye, it looks like poa to me. But there are much smarter and more experienced people on here than me!

 

[b0nk3rs]

Until last year it was mostly uncared for. In the fall I repaired a lot of problem areas and overseeded some thin spots. I pushed it hard the last two months of the growing season. Not sure if that has anything to do with it. Also, I went pretty aggressive with a thatch rake this spring.

The irony would be if it's a reaction to finally being really healthy for the first time.

I'd appreciate it a lot it if you would report on its progress as the season goes on. I am really curious to see what it does.

Sure thing.

No harm applying a pre-m in the fall and again in the Spring and see if this issue pops up again next year. From my untrained eye, it looks like poa to me. But there are much smarter and more experienced people on here than me!

Applied Prodiamine at 3.5mo rate and have planned for this fall as well. Only pre-m last fall was meso in the starter fert.