Weed Identification

Click on the weed for more information:

Name: Dandelions (perennial)

Cause: Thin grass cover and bare patches.

Treatment: Hand pull or use a garden tool to remove 80% of the root. For best results, remove when soil is moist.

Prevention: If present in the lawn, mow off flower before it seeds to prevent further spread. Raise the mowing height and fertilize to create a thick grass cover. Overseed areas with a mixed seed and aerate compact soil.

Name: Crabgrass (annual)

Cause: Short grass and compact soil, also thrives in drought conditions and elevated soil temperatures.

Treatment: Pull by hand or use a garden tool when the soil is moist. The application of Gypsum can help reduce salinity in curb areas. Apply corn gluten meal in the spring to prevent weed seed germination (although you must wait 3 to 4 weeks to apply grass seed after applying corn gluten meal).

Prevention: Raise the mowing height, fertilize, aerate, and water properly. Apply Corn Gluten Meal in early spring to prevent weed seed germination in an established lawn.

Name: Common plantain (perennial)

Cause: Thin grass cover, and low nutrient, compact soil.

Treatment: Pull by hand or use a garden tool to pull when the soil is moist.

Prevention: Aerate, and follow proper cultural practices such as raising the mowing height, fertilizing and dethatching, to ensure a thick, healthy lawn.

Name: Thistle (perennial)

Cause: Thing grass cover, bare patches, and compact, low nutrient soil.

Treatment: Hand pulling is not effective due to deep root growth. Improve the growing conditions for the grass by following prevention practices such as aerating, raising the mowing height, fertilizing and overseeding. It may take several seasons to improve.

Prevention: Increase fertilization, aerate, and raise the mowing height.

Name: Creeping Charlie/ ground ivy (perennial)

Cause: shaded, damp areas with low grass height.

Treatment: Hand pulling is difficult due to deep root growth. Make sure to remove any plants pulled so they cannot re-root. A dethatching tool (power rake or vertical mower) can be used to clean up larger areas, and is most effective mid-August to mid-September. Reseed after dethatching.

Prevention: Improve drainage, raise the mowing height, and increase sunlight exposure to area. Plant shade loving grass types or grass alternatives

Name: Black medic (annual)

Cause: Thin grass cover and low nitrogen content in the soil.

Treatment: Hand pull or use a garden tool, or spot spray with acetic acid.

Prevention: Use a high nitrogen fertilizer, follow proper cultural practices to ensure a thick, healthy lawn.

Name: Creeping speedwell (annual or perennial)

Cause: Shady, moist areas with good fertility and a low grass height.

Treatment: It is difficult to control. Pull or spot spray. Raise mowing height, and increase sunlight.

Prevention: Follow proper cultural practices to ensure a thick, healthy lawn.

Name: Quackgrass (perennial)

Cause: Thin lawn with bare patches.

Treatment: Increase nitrogen fertilization and mowing frequency to hide its presence. Hand pulling is not effective.

Prevention: Follow proper cultural practices to ensure a thick, healthy lawn.

Name: Common mallow (annual)

Cause: Thin grass cover; often found along fences, walkways, foundations and property boundaries.

Treatment: Hand pulling or removal with a garden tool is extremely effective. Regular mowing at 2.5 to 3 inches and proper fertilization will help prevent spreading.

Prevention: Follow proper cultural practices to ensure a thick, healthy lawn. Pay attention to bare patches along fences, walkways, foundations etc., and reseed when necessary.

Name: Clover (perennial)

Cause: Moist soil that is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorous.

Treatment: Hand pulling is effective, especially before the plant seeds. Use a fertilizer with a higher concentration of nitrogen and reduced phosphorous to discourage clover.

Prevention: Follow cultural practices that encourage a thick lawn and enable the turf to out-compete the clover. However, clover is a good groundcover, will supply your lawn with nitrogen, and will remain green throughout a drought.

Name: Knotweed (perennial or annual)

Cause: Heavily compacted soil that is low in fertility; often found along sidewalks and pavement, and in heavy-traffic areas of lawns.

Treatment: Increase fertilization and aerate the lawn.

Prevention: Aerate, fertilize and follow other preventative cultural practices to maintain a thick, healthy lawn.

Name: Henbit (annual)

Cause: Thin grass cover and nutrient rich turf.

Treatment: Hand pull if possible, but the plant will die after spring. Routine mowing and fertilization will prevent henbit from becoming a yearly occurrence.

Prevention: Thicken your lawn through proper cultural practices.

Weeds are opportunistic plants that compete with grass for space, water, nutrients and sunlight. Just a slight weakness in the grass can allow a weed seed to germinate and become established. Your best defense against weeds is to follow proper cultural practices. When removing weeds, whether hand pulling or spot spraying, prevent future weed growth by planting topsoil and a fast germinating grass seed like perennial ryegrass in any bare spots.