Can you please tell me what kind of grass this is?

Question: I can pull this grass up in sheets. The root system does not appear to be very deep. Thank you for your help.

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 03, 2024, 10:43 PM EDT
response: Thanks for your question.  It has been assigned to me. The grass in the first picture is a type of Kentucky bluegrass also known as meadow grass (Poa pratensis).  In the second picture, I’ll assume that because you could pull up the grass you felt it was a different type of grass from the rest of your turf.  My initial thought is that a high population of Japanese Beetle grubs is present.  They can lead to destruction of grass roots so that large sections of turf can be pulled up.  See: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/japanese-beetles - :~:text=Japanese beetles feed on the,soil, like a loose carpet. One final point, on 8/13/20 you submitted a question regarding a substitute for Kentucky bluegrass.  In the answer to your question, it was suggested that you plant some fescue.  Did you ever do that? Thanks for consulting us.

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 04, 2024, 10:34 AM EDT
response: Hi, Thank you for getting back to me so soon. I did put down Grub Ex in June and didn't have any dead spots. The grass I asked about seemed a little thicker that the rest of my yard. This is the seed mix I ended up putting down last year: 25% Boreal Creeping Red Fescue, 20% Epic Creeping Red Fescue, 20% Reliant IV Hard Fescue, 15% Park Kentucky Bluegrass, 10% Double Time Perennial Ryegrass, 10% Laser Poa Trivialis Last week I put down a different mix. 22.5% Daybreak Turf-Type: Tall Fescue, 22.5% 4th Millennium SRP Turf-Type Tall Fescue, 22.5% Valsetz Turf-Type Tall Fescue, 22.5% Xanadu Turf-Type Tall Fescue, 10% Blue Gem Kentucky Bluegrass. I didn't put any starter fertilizer down. Was that a mistake? My soil sample came back telling me that the perfect fertilizer mix would be 1-0-4. That seemed pretty close to needing nothing was my thinking. Thank you for your help, Steve Kempenich

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 04, 2024, 11:04 AM EDT
response: Thanks for getting back to me. Looking at the type of seed you put down last week, I think that I'll revise my identification of the grass in image 090449.  I suspect that it is tall fescue. So here's what I need in order to give you my absolutely best answer: 1).  A picture of the area that you seeded in 2023 and of the area most recently seeded in 2024.   2).  Then and I know this is redundant, a picture of the grass for which you need an identification.  Clearly label this picture so that there is no confusion. 3).  Is the grass you pulled up, the grass for which you need identification or is it grass from someplace else? 4).  A picture of the front side of your soil analysis. Many thanks.

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 04, 2024, 11:17 AM EDT
response: One other thing. I was a bit surprised by your choice of grass seed for 2023. Was this your decision or was it recommended to you? I say this because that 2023 seed contained Poa trivialis. This is NOT a grass normally prescribed  for yards. Do you recall the brand name of this 2023 seed mix?   See: https://newgarden.com/newsletter-articles/undesirable-bluegrasses Thanks

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 04, 2024, 12:54 PM EDT
response: The area I seeded last year was quite shady. Since then, I've had four large trees removed. I purchased last year's JRK seed from Gerten's after consulting with a salesperson, before I had done much research. The seed mix was designed for dense shade. However, after further investigation, I was quite irritated to find that it contained Poa trivialis. This year, I killed some of the areas where I had planted that seed and had clumping fescue.Then I slice-seeded those spots with a mixture I bought at Twin City Seed Co., after speaking with someone there.The grass I pulled up is what I need help identifying. I would like to know if it is Poa trivialis or something else. Grass I would like identified and pulled up.2023 grass planted2023 grass planted. killed grass and replanted 2024Thanks,SteveOn Wed, Sep 4, 2024 at 10:17 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 07, 2024, 2:25 PM EDT
response: Thanks for the pics. As far as I can tell, The grass in the two upper pictures is annual meadow grass (Poa annua).   Will get back to you with further details. You may also want to goggle this grass to find out more about it. Thanks again for using our forum.