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What's this weed in new sod?

8 years ago

Hello. Thanks for having me on your forums. We recently purchased a new house. About 2 weeks ago they came out and laid sod. After about 8-10 days, we noticed this weed taking over our yard. It started out in a few places, but has not taken over the yard it seems.

Can you help me identify this weed and give me some advice on getting rid of it?

Thanks!

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Comments (8)

jean001a
8 years ago
It's Poa annua, the common name annual bluegrass.

It's a common weedy grass contaminant in lawns.

Because your lawn was recently sodded, and if you have a limited amount of Poa, I suggest you weed out individual plants now -- Before they drop their seed.

If the sod is riddled with the stuff, suggest you discuss the issue with the supplier/installer.
Now; not latter.
jmetz1.5
Original Author
8 years ago
Could this be Kentucky bluegrass? The heads have a blue/purple color to them.

Thanks for your help!
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Where in NC are you located? Bermuda is not a good choice for a residential lawn, specially in NC. It does best as a sports turf where it gets the professional treatment it needs in order to grow dense, green, and weed-free. Bermuda becomes very thin during the dormant period in late Fall, all of winter, and half of Spring, allowing weed seeds to easily germinate and take over the area until warm weather returns. POA Annua can be controlled in the early Fall with an application of pre-emergent herbicide like Dimension. Surflan works very well at keeping POA Annua and many broaleaf winter weeds from ever germinating in your lawn, but your best defence against weeds is a very dense turf canopy.
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There's no crabgrass in your pictures, so don't get something specific to crabgrass...yet. That might be orchard grass or barnyard grass, but it isn't crabgrass. Crabgrass sprouts about now at the earliest and could not possibly be that tall. Besides that just doesn't look like crabgrass. Historically the advice on first fertilizer FOR BERMUDA is to apply after the second time you mow real grass, not weeds, in the spring. This is only for bermuda, because it can take it. It will speed up the normal spring flush of new growth, so get ready to mow 3x per week. The reason for not applying before the 2nd mowing is that the roots are not awake yet to take up the fertilizer. You would be wasting it. After 2 mowings the grass is fully awake. It doesn't look like the contractor rolled the sod down after laying it. Have the roots grown down into the soil? Can you lift any corners up? Is that a live oak tree in the front yard? If so the bermuda underneath will eventually die out as the tree grows up to provide lots of shade.
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Ground ivy, Glechoma hederaceae (aka creeping Charlie). This is a perennial weed/groundcover so most likely came with the sod. Because of its stoloniferous nature, it is hard to pull and get very good results so herbicides are recommended. But nighttime temps lower than 45F make herbicides more or less ineffective, so winter is not a great time to attempt control. Wait until spring when things warm up and active growth resumes. In the meantime, feel free to pull to your heart's content!
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jean001a
8 years ago
Whatever it is, it's a contaminant in the lawn, right?
Or is it the dominant grass?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
Here's the low-down on Poa annua. We don't know your zone so bear in mind this info is aimed at temperate climate gardeners.

Here is a link that might be useful: Advice on removing Poa annua
jmetz1.5
Original Author
8 years ago
At this point it's about everywhere. I'll upload a picture when the sun comes out. Sod was put down 14 days ago today.
Kimmsr
8 years ago
I, too, would suspect that the seed head you have is Poa annua, annual bluegrass. Some consider this a good fill in until the more desirable grasses start growing because it will grow, and produce seeds, in cooler weather then those others.
Take some samples to your local Cooperative
Extension Services office for proper ID and ask the sod supplier, if possible, about what grasses are in that sod.

Here is a link that might be useful: grass seed images
jmetz1.5
Original Author
8 years ago
I spoke to the landscaping company that laid the sod. They informed me the sod itself is Kentucky Bluegrass sod. The neighbors lawn looks the same, as does the sod at some of the other houses.

I suppose I'll just keep my eye on it.

Thanks,

Josh
gsweater
8 years ago
I see a purplish hue and the seed heads are tight. That suggests to me it's Poa Pratensis (KBG). Cross your fingers! :)

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