What is the Best Time of Day to Water Grass?

One of the worst enemies to your lawn is weed. Since they’re great survivors and reproducers, weeds can quickly colonize and take over your lawn. If your lawn has patchy grass with some areas that have a different texture or color, the yard may be weed infested.

If you don’t act promptly, the weeds will steal nutrients, take up space, and act as parasites to weaken and damage your grass. Apart from the lawn, weeds can also harm you, your family, and your pets. For instance, some weeds such as ryegrass, pigweed, and ragweed can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and worsen asthma conditions. Also, poison oak, poison ivy, and buttercup weeds can cause skin irritation to both humans and animals.

Here’s a guide to help you identify, control, and prevent the growth of common lawn weeds.

Dandelion Weed
You can easily identify dandelion weeds with their bright yellow flowers. Also, the weeds have basal green leaves that are teeth-edged. Dandelion weeds are perennial and can thrive anywhere regardless of soil conditions. Also, these weeds can withstand freezes, frost, crowding, heat, and even inadequate moisture.

Dandelion weeds also have deep taproots making it hard to uproot established plants by hand. You’ll need a dandelion fork or broadleaf herbicide to eliminate these weeds. To prevent the growth of dandelion weeds, ensure your lawn is thick and dense.

Crabgrass Weed
Crabgrass weeds are grassy with bright or dark green leaves. The weeds grow to form a clump of grass with stems resembling crab legs. Crabgrass seeds sprout in mid-spring and grow through summer when the weather is dry and hot. These weeds spread vigorously during summer, and you should remove them once you spot them.

During the first frost in the fall, crabgrass will die out but will have produced numerous seeds to germinate in the following spring. If you spot the weeds early enough, you can remove them by hand before they start to produce seeds. Otherwise, use herbicides to kill the weeds. Spray your yard with a preventer early to mid-spring to protect the lawn from crabgrass.

Oxalis Weed
Oxalis is a common weed with numerous different types. The weed is perennial but thrives and can quickly dominate the lawn if not controlled. Oxalis has clover-like foliage and pink or yellow flowers bloom between spring and summer.

To kill oxalis weeds, spray your lawn with a non-selective herbicide. Also, you can remove the weeds by hand, but this method can be tiresome if they are widespread. Feed your lawn regularly, mow high, and water deeply to prevent oxalis weeds from growing.

White Clover Weed
White clover weeds are creepy with bright green, trifoliate compound leaves. The weeds produce white flowers that resemble a pom-pom. White clover weeds appear in early spring and summer and grow vigorously.

You can use organic weed killer to eliminate the weeds by spraying vinegar solution. If you’ve only noticed a few white clover weeds on your lawn, remove them manually. Also, you can kill these weeds by depriving them of sunlight and oxygen. To stop white clovers from growing in your yard, apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer or use corn meal gluten.

Dollarweed
Also referred to as pennywort, dollarweed is a perennial weed growing in moist lawns. The weed has bright green shiny leaves shaped like a coin. This weed spreads both by seeds and underground rhizomes. Get rid of dollarweed by using selective herbicides, boiling water, baking soda, or vinegar.

For every homeowner, lawn weeds can be troublesome to deal with. And if you don’t know what weeds are on your lawn, getting rid of them becomes even more challenging. For an effective, safe, and long-lasting solution, hire an expert. Contact us at Dirt & Turf for expert lawn care services, including weed control.