Prevent annual meadow grass after drought damage!

Weather conditions during the summer months are getting more extreme. The result is very dry soil and poor conditions for grass. A dry and cold autumn simply serves to make the conditions even worse. Annual meadow grass that often starts growing and colonising bare patches in the turf is also killed by drought. Poa annua (annual meadow grass) is an annoying, weak plant, a weed that germinates and flowers at low temperatures. In reaction to drought, the plant experiences stress causing it to form and spread huge numbers of seed heads. The number of seeds produced by Poa annua can quickly amount to hundreds per plant. If no action is taken, the seeds will develop into seedlings and grow. The turf will become very sensitive and ultimately there will be no turf left at all.

Lifecycle of Poa annua in drought

Damage caused by drought is an open door for weeds such as annual meadow grass.

Annual meadow grass is everywhere and when the conditions are even slightly favourable for this plant (wetness), it will soon appear on a lawn or sports pitch. Traditionally, autumn is the time when annual meadow grass will once again attempt to stay put or to start rooting, just before the cold winter arrives. And this will be even easier when the playing field provides space for annual meadow grass to establish itself. For this reason, timely overseeding with RPR or SOS is of crucial importance.

SOS - Super Over Seeding

This is an excellent product, especially in the winter months as it germinates at a temperature as low as 4 °C. This is sooner than annual meadow grass, which germinates at around 8 °C. SOS is therefore another serious challenger of annual meadow grass.

RPR

Most grass mixtures lose the battle against annual meadow grass. This is due to the very fast germination of annual meadow grass. It germinates and establishes itself faster than most grass mixtures. However, at Barenbrug we have mixtures that are even faster.

Keep overseeding with SOS right through the winter, if possible! If this is done regularly, there will always be always germinating seed in the soil.

Erwin Beltman

Football stadium De Kuip Rotterdam (NL)

Danger annual meadow grass!

Poa annua is very sensitive in responding to stress. In times of very limited rainfall, the plant will start producing seeds abundantly to ensure it reproduces and survives. Tufts of grass appear which hold the many hundreds of seeds. These seeds are dispersed when the plant dies. The dead plant leaves an ugly bare patch behind - full of new Poa annua seeds.

Danger! - Discoloration turf

Poa annua is very pale green. This colour makes the weak patches of Poa annua more visible and adds to the unattractive appearance of the turf.

Danger! No traffic tolerance

The short, shallow roots mean that Poa annua has no wear or traffic tolerance. Studs on football shoes, tyres on machinery or the impact of a golf club pull the plants away from the soil, leaving ugly bare patches.

Danger! Not sustainable

The plants need large quantities of water and fertiliser. Sustainable grass management is not possible with annual meadow grass.

Risk of annual meadow grass

Annual meadow grass (Poa Annua) is an annual, sometimes biennial and occasionally even perennial grass that forms short roots.

What is First Aid for Drought Damage?

First Aid for Drought Damage.

SOS® Sport

Fastest establishment
For overseeding at low temperatures (from 4°)
For extremely fast recovery of football fields and parks

RPR® Sport

Highest wear tolerance!
Revolutionary: perennial ryegrass with stolons!
Extremely strong and fast turf
Less annual meadow grass

RPR® Lawn

Strong as iron
Quick green-up
Beautiful ornamental lawn

For over 100 years

The Royal Barenbrug Group is a family-owned business, the core activities of which are plant breeding, grass seed production and the international marketing of seed for turf and forage grasses and legumes. Barenbrug has been the leading grass seed business in the world for over 100 years.

The Royal Barenbrug Group is a family-owned business, the core activities of which are plant breeding, grass seed production and the international marketing of seed for turf and forage grasses and legumes. Barenbrug has been the leading grass seed business in the world for over...

The Royal Barenbrug Group is a family-owned business, the core activities of which are plant breeding, grass seed production and the international marketing of seed for turf and forage grasses and legumes. Barenbrug has been the leading grass seed business in the world for over 100 years.

Where to buy

our grass seeds

Buying Seeds

back