How to Identify Your Weed Problem
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BINDWEED
(a.k.a. hedge, field or European bindweed, creeping Jenny, wild morningglory, woodbine)×AppearanceWith trumpet-shaped purple and white flowers, the stems of this vining weed are several feet long.
Flowers close in the afternoon and reopen in the morning. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe aggressive weed can trail along the ground or climb on plants.
Hardy seeds can survive years of dormancy. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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CHICKWEED
(a.k.a. stitchwort)×AppearanceIf you’ve found a mat of branches and stems in your yard, check the end of the stems, where chickweed features white flowers with five deeply notched petals in small clusters.
The leaves are also smooth and oval or elliptic. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe low-growing annual is common in new lawns.
You may find it in cool, moist conditions, particularly during late spring. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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CLOVER
(a.k.a. white clover, red clover, sweet clover)×AppearanceThe elliptic to oval leaflets have small, marginal teeth at the leaf’s edge.
White flowers with pink tinge are arranged in round heads.
The smooth stems sometimes have minimal hair. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe low-growing weed forms dense mats, and its creeping stems root right where the leaves start to grow.
Its presence could be a sign of low nitrogen, drought or soil compaction problems. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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CRABGRASS
(a.k.a. crowfoot grass, finger grass, pigeon grass, polish millet)×AppearanceThe weed has tufts of smooth leaves with visible membranous ligules at the base and leaf sheath and long hairs at the collar.
Its seedhead has two to six fingerlike branches. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThis perennial weed remains green year-round and aggressively spreads into dense mats.
It’s more invasive in shady and moist conditions and easiest to control when flowering in late spring to early summer. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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CREEPING CHARLIE
(a.k.a. ground ivy, cat’s foot, gill-over-the-ground)×AppearanceIts purple, tube-like flowers grow in the spring, but look for its square stems and round leaves with scalloped edges all year.
When crushed, it gives off a minty scent. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThis perennial weed remains green year-round and aggressively spreads into dense mats.
It’s more invasive in shady and moist conditions and easiest to control when flowering in late spring to early summer. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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DANDELION
(a.k.a. blowball, lionstooth, cankerwort, doon-head-clock)×AppearanceThe stemless weed has basal leaves and single yellow flowers at the end of each smooth, long, hollow stalk.
When broken, it exudes milky juice. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe perennial weed flowers in late spring and again in fall and is very common in turfgrass, gardens and containers.
Deep taproot makes hand removal almost impossible. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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DICHONDRA*
(a.k.a. kidney weed, Mercury Bay weed)×AppearanceThis lawn-only weed has circular leaves. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe perennial weed can choke healthy lawns.
It thrives in moist, nitrogen-rich soils. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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DOLLARWEED
(a.k.a. manyflower marshpennywort)×AppearanceThis weed grows greenish, rounded, flattened fruits and erect long-stalked leaves with scalloped margins.
Its flowers are elongated spikes or rounded umbels (a cluster in which the flower stalks grow from the same point and resemble an umbrella). -
Ideal Growth ConditionsYou may find this weed anywhere with moisture.
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On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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GOOSEGRASS
(a.k.a. silver crabgrass, crowfoot grass, yard grass, wiregrass, bullgrass)×AppearanceThe tough, clumped weed has white to silver coloration at its center with a smooth leaf blade.
The seedhead has two to 13 fingerlike spikelets with two rows of seeds on the underside of each. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThis summer annual occurs later in the season than crabgrass, usually in midsummer.
The mat-forming grassy weed is typically found in warm areas with high-traffic, compacted soils. -
On-Lawn SolutionsN/A
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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HENBIT
(a.k.a. dead nettle, blind weed, bee nettle, giraffe head)×AppearanceThe weed features red-purple flowers with spotted dark colorings on its lower petals and green or purple four-sided stems.
Lightly haired, it also has egg-shaped leaves with toothed margins and prominent veins on its underside. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsIt spreads through thin or dormant leaves in late fall and persists through winter.
The winter annual spreads by seed and is most prolific in moist, fertile soils. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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KNOTWEED
(a.k.a. knotgrass, doorweed, matgrass, yardweed)×AppearanceIt has numerous slender, wiry, highly branched stems (up to four feet) that form mats and have a zig-zag appearance.
It may also attract predatory insects. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe summer annual can survive on poor and compacted soil.
It germinates in cool, moist weather, but it can even survive summer drought. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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MILKWEED
(a.k.a. butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, Virginia silkweed)×AppearanceThis erect perennial herb has a single hollow, hairy and unbranched stem.
Its leaves are hairless on the top and hairy on the underside, with prominent, white midveins.
The plants exude a white, milky sap when cut. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe weed is found in eastern North America and from Georgia to Oklahoma.
It grows well on low-nitrogen soils, but balanced fertilization provides optimal growth conditions. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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OXALIS
(a.k.a. sourgrass, wood shamrock, yellow woodsorrel)×AppearanceA plant with a sour, acrid taste, oxalis is an upright, herbaceous weed with hairy stems, a narrow okra-like fruit capsule and bright yellow flowers with five petals.
It features alternate leaves divided into three partly folded, heart-shaped lobes. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe perennial weed can invade even healthy, thick lawns and thrives in moist, fertile soils.
It flowers from May through September. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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PLANTAIN
(a.k.a. common plantain, Rugel’s plantain, blackseed plantain, buckleaved plantain, ribgrass)×AppearanceA tall spike of inconspicuous flowers and tiny seeds cover the three- to 12-inch central flower stalk.
The weed has broad, irregularly round to oval leaves with parallel veins that form a basal rosette (leaves radiating from the base of the stem to form a circle). -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe perennial weed is so common in grassy areas that it’s likely to be overlooked.
It shades and crowds out desirable grasses and garden plants.
It thrives in moist, compact soils, in full sun or part shade. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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POISON IVY
(a.k.a. eastern poison ivy)×AppearanceThe rootlets of this weed allow it to harness itself to the surface where it grows. So, it can grow as a vine on trees or as a shrub in soil.
The blades of these compound leaves are divided into three leaflets, each with small points (teeth) on only one side. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsPoison ivy is found everywhere in the U.S. except Alaska, Hawaii and some parts of the West Coast.
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On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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POISON OAK
(a.k.a. western poison oak)×AppearanceThis weed has three to nine leaflets with rounded tips per stem.
The leaves’ undersides are fuzzy and lighter in color than the tops. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsPoison oak grows as a vine in the coastal Pacific Northwest and California.
As a low-growing, non-climbing shrub, it grows in eastern and southern U.S. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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PRICKLY LETTUCE
(a.k.a. wild lettuce, China lettuce or compass plant)×AppearanceAll parts of the plant emit a milky sap when cut.
Its leaves have prickles along the margins. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThis weed is a winter annual (or biennial in California) that flowers from April to October.
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On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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PURPLE NUTSDEGE
(a.k.a. watergrass)×AppearanceThis upright, grass-like herb has triangular stems and a closed, overlapping sheath (lower part of the grass leaf).
The stems produce leaves without any ligules (thin membrane or fringe of hairs) or auricles (small outgrowths or ear-like lobes) at the junction of the sheath and blade. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe ideal growth conditions depend on the species of nutsedge.
Purple nutsedge is prevalent in the southeastern U.S. from Virgina to Texas and parts of Arizona and California.
It favors temperatures above 54 degrees Fahrenheit with long periods of wet soil. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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PURSLANE
(a.k.a. common purslane, pusley, pursley, duckweed, wild portulaca)×AppearanceThe weed has purple-red smooth stems, a round fruit capsule and solitary yellow flowers in leaf axils or clustered on the ends of stems.
It also has spoon-shaped, fleshy leaves that alternate. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThis succulent summer annual grows in dry, loose, sandy soils that are nutrient rich.
It spreads and chokes out grasses. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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QUACK GRASS
(a.k.a. couchgrass, dog grass, quickgrass, quitch, scotch, twitch, witchgrass)×AppearanceThis perennial grass forms clumps of tillers (groups of shoots growing from the plant base) with hairless leaves.
Its inflorescence (clusters of flowers arranged on a single stem) is flattened with two alternating rows of numerous spikelets. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe weed can be found throughout the U.S.
It can persist in low-fertility soils, but it grows well in variously textured soils.
The weed is highly responsive to nitrogen, with little growth response to potassium and phosphorus. -
On-Lawn SolutionsN/A
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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RAGWEED
(a.k.a. Roman wormwood, hogweed, hogbrake, bitterweed)×AppearanceThis branched summer annual has a shrub-like appearance with lobed leaves. In some cases, the weed has a main tap root.
One species, the western ragweed, is a perennial with a tap root. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsIt’s common in the central and eastern parts of the U.S.
The weed can tolerate short-term drought conditions but thrives well with high rainfall and highly fertile soil. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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SANDSPUR*
(a.k.a. sandburr, burgrass or buffelgrass)×AppearanceFeaturing seedheads comprised of spiny burs (rough seedcases), sandspur can have flattened spines spread over the body or fine, slender, bristle-like spines in a ring. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThis in-lawn annual makes its home in Florida and other hot areas.
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On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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SPEEDWELL*
(a.k.a. Veronica)×AppearanceIt stands two to five feet tall, erect, with green or reddish-green angular, strongly veined and hairless stems.
It also features leaf blades with a fern-like appearance and branching taproots (tapering root growing vertically downward). -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe in-lawn summer annual prefers acidic, moist, infertile soils in shady areas.
The creeping stems form dense mats in lawns. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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SPURGE
(a.k.a. Euphorbia)×AppearanceThe pale green, sometimes purple-spotted leaves are paired at the node and grow opposite each other.
Its stems exude milk sap when broken. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe weed grows when soil temperatures reach 60 degrees and continues into 90-degree weather.
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On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
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YELLOW NUTSEDGE
(a.k.a. chufa, tiger nut, atadwe, yellow nutsedge, earth almond, and in Chishona, pfende)×AppearanceThis erect, grass-like perennial weed has shiny, yellowish-green, waxy leaves and a triangular stem.
It also has a golden-brown, branched, umbrella-shaped flower head at the top of the stem. -
Ideal Growth ConditionsThe ideal growth conditions depend on the species of nutsedge.
This type of nutsedge occurs widely in the U.S. and southern Canada. -
On-Lawn Solutions
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Non-Lawn Solutions
(Driveway, Walkway, Fence lines + Patio)
Disclaimers:
*These weeds are typically found in lawns. Don’t use non-selective herbicides on your lawn unless you want to kill the weeds and grasses.
**Excluding Spectracide® Weed Stop® for Lawns for St. Augustine & Centipede Lawns Concentrate
References:
https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/purdueweedscience/resources/weed-herbicide-id/
https://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/weed-id/goosegrass/ https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEEDS/prickly_lettuce.html
https://www.montana.edu/extension/invasiveplants/documents/publications/extension_publications/Grass%20identification%20basics_mt201402AG.pdf
Charles L. Mohler, John R. Teasdale, Antonio DiTommaso. 2021. Manage Weeds On Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies. SARE Outreach. 416 pages. www.sare.org/manage-weeds-on-your-farm.