Guide to Common Weeds

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* Most of the common weeds listed below can be prevented naturally by applying a Fertilizer with Corn Gluten, and can be killed by spot spraying with Herbinatur. *

Crabgrass

Crabgrass is an annual weed, characterized with branching, spreading stems. It can also be identified by its coarse, blue-green to purplish leaf blades, which can be smooth or hairy (depending on the species) and has flower heads with multiple fingerlike spikes that rise from their narrow stems. Crabgrass thrives in lawns mowed shorter than 2 inches, underfed lawns, and those watered frequently and lightly.

The best control against crabgrass is a deep irrigated turf. Also, be sure to dig up the crabgrass before it seeds.

 

Dandelion

Dandelion is a broadleaf perennial weed, easily recognized by its bright-yellow flowers and large, flat rosette leaves rising from long, fleshy taproot. Dandelions grow best in thin turf.

To control, pull out of dig out young plants before they go to seed. To follow, cut any regrowth from leftover root pieces. 

 

 

White Clover (Dutch Clover)

White clover is a broadleaf perennial weed, distinguished by three-lobed leaves with a crescent-shaped white band. It spreads by creeping stems and thrives in sparse, undernourished turf with excessive moisture.

To control white clover, be sure the water well, apply nitrogen based fertilizer and avoid excessive applications of phosphorus. 

 

Ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie)

Ground ivy is a broadleaf perennial weed distinguished by square stems and bright-green rounded leaves with scalloped edges. It uses seed and creeping stems that root as they touch the ground in order to reproduce. Ground ivy prefers damp soil and shade.

To control ground ivy, improve the drainage of your lawn and water less often. Pulling stems and roots young plants is also extremely beneficial in controlling the weed.

 

Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis)

Yellow woodsorrel is a broadleaf perennial or annual weed (depending on the species). With its five petal cloverlike leaves and yellow flowers that, it spreads by roots and seed. It can be very difficult to control, and thrives best in thin turf watered frequently and lightly.

To control yellow woodsorrel, ensure to water throughly and fertilize properly. It is ideal to dig out small plants before the seed.

 

Quackgrass

Quackgrass is a perennial grass with flat light-green to blue-green leaves. It spreads by seeds and aggressive underground stems, called rhizomes.

For best control, dig out roots and rhizomes.

 

Yellow Nutsedge (Yellow Nutgrass)

Yellow nutsedge is a grasslike perennial sedge distinguished with triangular stems and 1/4 inch wide leaves. It reproduces itself with weeds and tubers that grow at the root tips. These tubers often persist in the soil, which makes established plants difficult to control.

To control, be sure to mow high in early to midsummer and water infrequently through throughly. Control is easiest when the plants are small, and not as strongly established.

 

Spotted Spurge

Spotted surge is a broadleaf annual weed that grows close to the ground in a fast-spreading mat. It can be recognized by its small green leaves with a brown-red spot on top. Its cut stems discharge a milky liquid. It reseeds itself heavily.

For best control, be sure to mow on a high setting, fertilize well, and make certain of an overall heathy lawn. As with most weeds, pull small plants before the reseed.