Managing Goosegrass and Crabgrass with PoaCure Program

Understanding Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)

• Germination typically begins when soil temperatures consistently exceed 55°F.
• A common natural indicator for initial crabgrass germination is when forsythia reaches full bloom.
• This aggressive weed spreads through prostrate growth, quickly outcompeting desirable turf for space and nutrients.

Understanding Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

• Goosegrass germination usually follows crabgrass, typically occurring about a month later in the spring.
• It thrives in compacted soils and areas with high foot traffic, forming a distinct tillered, bunch-like growth pattern.
• Because it germinates later and thrives in heat, it can be particularly difficult to control with traditional early-spring pre-emergent applications alone.

What is PoaCure®?

• Active Ingredient: Methiozolin.
• Mechanism: WSSA Group 30 herbicide that inhibits Fatty Acid Thioesterase (FAT), an enzyme in lipid biosynthesis.
• Use Site - Golf Course Only (As of March 2026)
  • Putting greens
  • Green surrounds
  • Fairways
  • Roughs
  • Tees
• Turfgrass Species
  • Cool-season: Creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Fescues
  • Warm-season: Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, Seashore paspalum, Kikuyugrass

Flexible Application Programs

1. PoaCure Alone Program

A spring application provides simultaneous POST control of annual bluegrass and PRE control of crabgrass and goosegrass.

• Initiation Timing:
  • Crabgrass: Soil temp >55°F for Crabgrass or when forsythia is blooming
  • Goosegrass: A month from crabgrass timing
• Note:
  • Warm-season turfgrass: Initiate applications after 50% green-up
  • Cool-season turfgrass: If environmental stress is too severe in the summer, adjust the number of applications during peak summer months

2. PoaCure Enhanced Program

Follow other PRE herbicides with a PoaCure sequence 4-6 weeks later to enhance residual control throughout the summer.

• Initiation Timing:
  • Typical PREs: Apply high rate of Bensulide (9 fl oz/M) or Bensulide + Oxadiazon (2.62 LB/M) or make two split applications (Bensulide 4.5-6 fl oz/M or Bensulide + Oxadiazon 1.31 LB/M) when soil temp >55°F or when forsythia is blooming
  • PoaCure Apps: Followed by PoaCure apps after 4-6 weeks of the last PRE app.
• Note:
  • This program utilized the tolerance profile of PoaCure to extend PRE control of goosegrass and crabgrass
  • If environmental stress is too severe in the summer, adjust the number of app during peak summer months to mediate any injury to the desired turfgrass species

Trial Results

'Pencross' creeping bentgrass putting green (Griffin, GA)

Trial conducted by Dr. Patrick McCullough (McCullough Research and Development) (Photo taken: Aug 29, 2025 (20WAIT))

• Bensumec 9 fl oz/M, Anderson’s Goose/Crab 2.62 LB/M (Apr 11, 2025)
• 5 apps of PoaCure at 0.6 fl oz/1,000 sq ft (May 22, Jun 6, Jun 19, Jul 2, and Jul 16, 2025)

'Champion' bermudagrass putting green (Griffin, GA)

Trial conducted by Dr. Patrick McCullough (McCullough Research and Development) (Photo taken: Aug 7, 2024 (16WAIT))

• 5 apps of PoaCure at 0.6 fl oz/1,000 sq ft (Apr 18, May 2, May 16, May 30, and Jun 13, 2024)
• 75% Goosegrass control (16 WAIT)

'TifEagle' bermudagrass putting green (Columbus, MS)

Trial conducted by Dr. Jay McCurdy (Mississippi State University) (Photo taken: Aug 1, 2025 (20WAIT))

• Bensumec 9 fl oz/M, Anderson’s Goose/Crab 2.62 LB/M (Mar 11, 2025)
• 5 apps of PoaCure at 0.6 fl oz/1,000 sq ft (Apr 23, May 6, May 21, Jun 3, and Jun 20, 2025)
• Goosegrass control (20 WAIT)
  • Anderson’s G/C fb PoaCure (100%)
  • Bensumec fb PoaCure (92%)

'Tifway' bermudagrass fairways (Knoxville, TN)

Trial conducted by Dr. Jim Brosnan (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) (Photo taken: Jul 29, 2025 (20WAIT))

• Bensumec 9 fl oz/M, Anderson’s Goose/Crab 2.62 LB/M (Mar 11, 2025)
• 4 apps of PoaCure at 1.2 fl oz/1,000 sq ft (Apr 23, May 7, May 20, and Jun 3, 2025)
• Smooth crabgrass control (20 WAIT)
  • Anderson’s G/C fb PoaCure (100%)
  • Bensumec fb PoaCure (94%)