Zoysia Seed Head
Don’t despair, you don’t have a problem, it just your lawn seeding.
Seed heads typically grow from the stem of the turf leaf and the colour can range from purple to brown to white.
Can seed heads be a problem?
Kikuyu Seed Head
Not really, all plants will flower at least once a year and turf varieties are no different.
During Spring, seed head can emerge from the lawn as they can be part of its natural survival and a reproductive mechanism which is in response to a change of season.
It is important to note that most common lawn types in Australia produce a sterile seed head, meaning they cannot be grown from the seed they produce and can only be grown via turf rolls/slabs, vegetative sprigs or runners.
Seed heads can also be a result of turfgrass stress, especially if it is not within the Spring to early summer season.
How to get rid of seed heads
Bermundagrass/Couch Seed Head
In most cases the seeding process of your lawn turf should stop after 2-3 weeks. In the case that the seed heads continue, it may be that your lawn is under stress.
This could be from any number of things such as:
- Lack of water
- Nutrient deficiency
If you suspect that this may be the case, then follow these steps:
- Mowing – Mow (using sharp blades) the tops of your lawn often to remove the seed heads.
- Watering – It’s important your lawn receives an adequate amount of water, a thorough watering to give the lawn profile adequate soil moisture. If you have a watering system check that it is working adequately.
- Fertilising – Fertilise your turfgrass with a quality balanced N:P:K product to encourage the lawn to grow out of the seed head production stage rapidly.
- Spring Renovation – This can be as simple as a light top dress to a full renovation (including aeration, scarification, topdressing, etc.).
If any of these don’t work, its advisable to contact your local turf specialist to assist you in how to rectify your issue.
