Weeds grow quickly and can transform your beautiful lawn into chaos. Many of these common weeds can hide in your grass until their roots are deep and their leaves start stretching above the grass line making it feel near impossible to get them all under control.
Common Weeds You’ll Find in Your Lawn
Crabgrass
One of the most common weeds is crabgrass. Disguising itself within your grass, crabgrass grows from a central point and creates a star-like shape. The easiest way to keep crabgrass at pay is to try and maintain a thick healthy lawn, eliminating space for crabgrass to grow. Using a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring is another great way to prevent crabgrass from germinating.
Foxtail
Foxtail weeds can grow up to 3 feet tall if left unattended and can be toxic to pets. Foxtail loves areas that have poor drainage, so ensuring you have well-draining soil and proper watering techniques are both great ways to try and ensure foxtail stays out of your lawn.
Quackgrass
Quackgrass is one of the hardest weeds to get rid of as it creates an intricate underground root system that is difficult to pull by hand without leaving a trace of root behind. Herbicides are the easiest way to eliminate quackgrass, however, even with the help of herbicides, you may find you need to treat the spots more than once until the quackgrass is fully eliminated.
Annual Bluegrass
One of the most common weeds among the U.S. annual bluegrass can spread quickly if left unattended. This common weed is best known for it’s light green color and boat-shaped leaf tips. Producing white seed heads, it can spread quickly. In an effort to prevent annual bluegrass, try to maintain proper mowing heightsfor your specific type of grass and ensure you aren’t overwatering your lawn.
Tips to Eliminate Common Weeds
- Keep your lawn thick and healthy: Dense turf leaves little room for weeds to take hold.
- Mow at the right height: Taller grass shades the soil, making it harder for weed seeds to germinate.
- Water deeply but infrequently: Encourages deep root growth in your grass while discouraging weeds.
- Fertilize properly: Balanced nutrition strengthens your lawn against weed invasion.
- Use pre-emergent herbicides: These can stop many grassy weeds before they even sprout.
Weeds can be extremely frustrating as they can quickly transform a once lush and beautiful lawn into a space sprinkled with pests that are difficult to get rid of. While many common weeds can easily take over your lawn, as long as you try to maintain a healthy lawn and keep up on routine maintenance, you can easily ensure that the weeds are kept at bay. Whether you have a lawn that needs some professional attention, are searching for routine maintenance to ensure your lawn always looks its best, or are ready to completely transform your outdoor spaces with a customized outdoor design plan, our team of professional landscapersis ready to help elevate your outdoor spaces. Contact us today to get started!