Types of Weeds in the Lawn

There are several types of weeds that can attack your lawn and diminish curb appeal. A basic understanding of the types of weeds will help you to determine what creeping green pests are invading your turf.

These perennial weeds are the hardest to distinguish because, upon initial viewing, they actually look like grass. However, the difference is that they have stems that are triangular. Examples include wild onions and yellow nutsedge.

You will typically see these weeds sprout up during the early spring. Prime examples include chickweed, speedwell and henbit. To prevent these annuals, avoid fertilizing during cool months, mow grass high and rake in the summer to eliminate the creeping stems for these weed types.

Crabgrass is a lawn-conscious homeowner's worst enemy. This summer weed, along with purslane and wood sorrel, can quickly take over a lawn. The best prevention is avoiding fertilization in the summer and to bag grass clippings when you mow, especially when the seed heads for the weeds are visible.

Active in the early spring, weeds like clover, violets, ground ivy and dandelions tend to spread rapidly across a lawn. It's a good idea to rake out the creeping stems of these weeds and then mow the grass short afterward. These weeds tend to re-root from stems to promote spreading, so dispose of what you rake/mow.

Summer perennial weeds tend to spread when your beautiful cool-season turfgrass weakens in summer heat. To keep these weeds from spreading, you need to remove roots and all. It's also important that you mow turfgrass high to help it retain moisture and stay strong.