Controlling Some Common Lawn Weeds

This tip from Bonide Products

There are many types of broadleaf weeds which are commonly found in home lawns. These weeds often thrive in lawns that are growing in poor soil or where incorrect lawn maintenance is followed.

The best defense against lawn weeds is to maintain a healthy, vigorous lawn by keeping your lawn adequately fertilized, properly watered, and mowed at the correct height. 

Sometimes, however, weeds persist in spite of good maintenance. For small lawns or where there are only a few weeds popping up, hand pulling as weeds appear can be good exercise and often provides good results. The use of herbicides to control weeds is more practical for large areas, difficult-to-pull weeds with deeper root systems, or small patches of persistent weeds.

Below are a few common lawn weeds and some suggestions on their control.

Dollarweed:

Dollarweed or pennywort as it is sometimes called is a perennial broadleaf weed which is common in warm season grasses. It looks like a small lily pad and will thrive in weak and infertile soils where the ground is wet. Because dollarweed reproduces several different ways (seeds, tubers and rhizomes), controlling this weed is difficult, especially when the weed has been left untreated for a season. 

• If Dollarweed is a problem in your lawn be sure to reduce your irrigation frequency and duration.
• Chemical controls for dollarweed vary depending on where the weed is a problem. In lawns, the weed can be controlled by using a high quality selective lawn weed control such as Bonide Weed Beater ULTRA or Bonide Weed Beater PLUS. Both products list dollarweed on the label and offer full control in a variety of lawn types without harming the grass. 
• Dollarweed can be controlled in planting beds by applying glyphosate to the weeds being careful not to apply to desirable plants. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide and is the active ingredient in Bonide KleenUp Grass and Weed Killer. 
• Because of its extensive root system and the various ways that dollarweed reproduces, multiple applications of weed control in lawns and in beds may be necessary. 

Be sure to read and follow the label directions carefully and pay attention to the temperature guidelines if applying in the summer.

Ground Ivy:

Whether you know it as Ground Ivy, Creeping Charlie, or Creeping Jenny, this annual weed can be very difficult to control in lawn areas. The difficulty comes from the fact that the plant spreads using both above ground stems called stolons and below ground shoots called rhizomes. This combination of root and stem systems means that, in order to control this weed, you not only have to choose the right product, but your timing has to be good as well. 

• Chemical controls currently available include: 
  • Products containing Tryclopyr such as Bonide Chickweed, Clover and Oxalis Killer
  • Products which combine 2, 4-D and Quinclorac such as Bonide Weed Beater PLUS
  • Carfentrazone formulations such as Bonide Weed Beater UTRA. 
  • Granular products containing a combination of Prodiamine and Sulfentrazone found in Bonide Weed Beater COMPLETE also work well to control this weed.
• Best control is achieved with 3 separate applications of products, once in spring just after the plant flowers, one following up 3-4 weeks later and a final fall application to kill any residual weeds and to prevent any re-growth in the spring.  Always read and follow the label directions when spraying any herbicide.
• Cultural practices including mowing to a height of at least 3", applying a fall fertilizer, and overseeding with a quality grass seed can also help control this challenging weed.

 

Nutsedge or nutgrass:

Yellow nutsedge is a perennial plant that reproduces primarily by small underground tubers called nutlets. It can also spread by rhizomes (below ground stems). Farmers have difficulty controlling this weed, and as farm land is converted to home sites, yellow nutsedge plants and nutlets, are often found in the soil of lawns.

Nutsedge is most easily identified by the triangular shape of the stem ("sedges have edges"). If you roll the stem of the plant in your fingers, you should be able to feel the triangular shape. The leaves are light green to yellowish in color and are very slick or waxy to the touch. Yellow nutsedge grows most actively during the hot months of summer. Often the leaves of yellow nutsedge will grow 2 to 4 inches above the turf canopy. During spring and fall, when temperatures are cooler and growth is slower, yellow nutsedge is not as easily noticed.

Nutsedge thrives in moist soils. One of the best ways to control it is to improve the drainage so that the area dries out. This will make the conditions less favorable for the nutsedge and allow your turfgrass to take over and fill in.

Herbicides may be required when large patches of nutsedge are present in the turf area.

• For homeowners, herbicides like Bonide Weed Beater Complete containing Prodiamine and Sulfentrazone provide good control when applied according to directions.
  
  • Bonide Weed Beater Complete offers an effective control for all varieties of nut grass in your lawn.
  • Bonide Sedge Ender Concentrate also provides pre and post emergent control of nutgrass (and all sedges) and many other problem grassy type weeds.
  • These products are not available in some states.

When things get really bad ...

When weed infestation becomes serious (greater than 40%) and the turf condition is poor, consider a total renovation of your lawn. Be sure to replant with a turfgrass mixture that is well suited for your particular site.

Learn more about controlling lawn weeds