Seedhead production saps energy from the plant and may cause turf blades to become sparse and off-colored. The seed stalks have fewer leaf blades and their woody structure resists mowing which adds to the eyesore. Seedhead production is seldom consistent throughout a home lawn and it sometimes occurs in patches. Thus, the problem is often made more obvious by patches seedheads occurring in an otherwise smooth, dark green lawn.

Turfgrass seedheads usually begin to form below the recommended mowing height of 2 1/2-3" for home lawns, thus the seedheads will still develop despite frequent mowing. However, turf managers should not lower the mowing height in an attempt to remove all of the seedheads.

Although frequent mowing will not prevent seedhead development, infrequent mowing will allow seedheads to fully develop; the seedheads will rise in their full glory to tower above the turf plants. Unfortunately, the frequent rainfall experienced in many areas of Ohio this spring has played havoc with mowing frequency. Curtis Young noted that recurring rainfall has prevented him from mowing his lawn for a couple of weeks; he quipped that towering seedheads are now a major feature of his lawn/hayfield! Thankfully, the unsightly seedheads and stalks will eventually disappear on their own allowing Ohio lawns to return to an aesthetically appealing uniformly green carpet.