The low heat and drought tolerance of Poa cause further management problems for the superintendent during the summer months. Increased irrigation and fungicide applications are needed to keep it alive during the hot summer months, and often this grass will die despite intensive management. Before beginning a Poa control program, one must have realistic expectations. One hundred percent control is almost impossible, regardless of method you and even partial control should not be expected overnight, it may take three or more years to reduce Poa to manageable populations. A good understanding of the habits and life cycle of Poa will better enable the superintendent to utilize all the available tools for its control.
Annual bluegrass is a prolific seed producer.
An individual plant is capable of producing more than 360 viable seeds. The seed may lie dormant in the soil for many years before germinating. Annual bluegrass flowers and produces seed over several months and at any mowing height. Poa grows well under short days and cool conditions, and it will out-compete all other turf species during late fall and early spring. There are two main types of annual bluegrass found in Indiana.