With the arrival of Spring and Summer, your garden looks lush, green, and colorful. However, during these times, lawn weeds become more serious issues, as they can turn a manicured garden into one that looks like it has been overrun. Creeping lawn weeds can be an eyesore, as these aggressive plants make your garden look messy. Also, it might choke some of the garden plants growing nearby.
While it may seem like it’s impossible to get rid of them, that’s not the case. Understanding and knowing about these creepers can help you take precautionary measures that’ll keep them from coming back, no matter how tough they are.
16 Tough Creeping Lawn Weeds
Here are 16 weeds that grow in your yard and make it look run-down. Some of them are even poisonous -
Bindweed
Bindweeds are broadleaf perennials that climb to 6 feet or more, often found in sunny garden beds and landscaped areas. They have arrowhead-shaped leaves on twining vines, and produce pale pink flowers that resemble morning glories. They need to be controlled early and consistently.
Consider applying mulch, as it can suppress its growth by blocking sunlight. For existing plants, cut and pull them regularly. It’ll weaken the roots over time. If the weed is persistent, spot treat with a nonselective herbicide, as it targets the roots, not just the upper parts of the plant.
Black Medic
Black medics are broadleaf annuals and short-lived perennials. They grow 1-2 feet tall and 1 foot wide in poor and dry soil, and love full sun. They feature clover-type leaves and small yellow flowers. Due to its creeping stems, it grows like a dense green mat.
They can be prevented with mulch. Also, you can consider pulling them by hand. Additionally, herbicides work well, too, to prevent their growth. Moreover, keep the soil well-watered and add compost or other organic matter to prevent them from sprawling.
Black Nightshade
Black nightshades are broadleaf annuals that can be either bushy or climbing plants, growing up to 2 feet tall and wide. They grow to give white or purple flowers and purple or red fruits. Again, like black medics and bindweeds, black nightshade can be prevented in your garden using mulch.
Also, consider pulling them by hand and ensure to get the roots out too. Additionally, you can use herbicides to get rid of them from your garden.
Canada Thistle
Canada thistles are broad perennials and can grow up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. They grow well in sunny areas, have spiny, gray-green leaves, and purple flowers. They have extensive roots, posing a challenge to get rid of them. The root grows several feet out from the main plant.
But, like any other weed mentioned above, they can be prevented using mulch. Use herbicides during spring or fall. They may be difficult to remove by hand. Hence, you may have to dig them out. But ensure to wear protective gloves to avoid their sharp spines from hurting you.
Creeping Charlie
Creeping Charlie is a broadleaf perennial and has small, scalloped leaves with blue or purplish flowers that appear in the spring or summer. They are invasive, spread quickly, and cover the yard heavily. It can make the garden look shabby and messy, in addition to depriving the grass and other plants of essential nutrients.
They are really hard to remove as they can grow back even if a small part of the root is left behind. To get rid of them, it is advisable to add water to the soil and then gently pull them. The water loosens the soil, making it easier to dig and remove. Be sure to take out all the roots.
Also, consider laying a tarp over the weeds to smother them. If you have large patches of creeping charlie growing around, use broadleaf herbicide or vinegar.
Henbit
Henbits are winter annuals that can produce 2,000 seeds at a time. They can be identified by their heart-shaped leaves and purple flowers. They may seem harmless at first, but they can take over your lawn in no time. To get rid of henbit, consider using a pre-emergent herbicide during the fall season to stop the dropped seeds from germinating.
If the weed has already invaded your lawn, pull it by hand. Note that the weed’s fibrous roots make it hard to remove, so it is advisable to remove them at their early growing stage. Take good care of the lawn and prevent it from growing again.
Creeping Bentgrass
Creeping bentgrass may not be considered a weed, but if it invades your garden, it definitely is considered a weed. Although it is commonly used in golf courses, if it grows in your garden, it can quickly take over. It has a sharp blade, and once it grows to its full length, it can bend down.
Creeping bentgrass may not look very bad during spring, but it turns brown during summer. This makes your lawn look dead and patchy. Hence, they need to be removed by pulling them out of the ground and reseeding the area.
White Clover
White clover is a perennial grass and is appreciated for its nitrogen-fixing capabilities through a symbiotic relationship with soil microorganisms. However, it can be very invasive. It can be identified by its three-lobed leaves and white globe-shaped flowers. It is small and can spread very quickly, which may make your lawn look messy.
Hence, they need to be controlled immediately. They grow in less fertile and nitrogen-poor soil. Therefore, they can be controlled by applying a high-nitrogen fertilizer to counteract their competitive advantage.
Also, keep the yard mowed to prevent the weeds from flowering and spreading their seeds. Additionally, applying herbicides containing mecoprop or dicamba can also work well.
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is a grassy annual weed that mostly grows in summer. They have a coarse texture and a flat, broad loaf that grows on compacted and dry soil. They spread close to the ground in a crab-like pattern and usually grow during hot weather. They take over the lawn very quickly, making it look patchy and uneven.
It becomes a nuisance when it grows too much, so it must be controlled immediately. Apply pre-emergent herbicides during early spring before it starts growing. If the weed has already taken hold, consider using a post-emergent herbicide with quinlorac. Also, keep the lawn healthy to prevent growth.
Dandelions
Dandelions have bright yellow flowers with distinctive seed heads that children love to blow. These are invasive because they produce thousands of seeds and develop deep taproots that go several feet deep in the ground. This makes it challenging to get rid of.
They can be removed using your hands, but ensure to pull the entire root to prevent it from growing back. If you’re looking for long-term solutions, use herbicides that contain 2,4-D or dicamba. Apply it before the growing season (fall), as this is the time they start drawing nutrients into their roots.
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is a common lawn weed found across the United States. It is known for its fast and aggressive growth. While it is valued as turfgrass in warmer regions, it becomes problematic when it spreads into other grasses during warm months. It thrives in full sun and poor soil conditions due to its deep root system, rhizomes, and stolons.
To prevent the growth of Bermuda grass, you can use post-emergent herbicides that are specifically formulated for grassy weeds. Also, it is advisable to keep the lawn maintained and add nutrition to the soil. This makes the condition non-conducive for the weeds to grow.
Stinging Nettle
Stinging Nettle is a broadleaf perennial that thrives in hot, sunny areas with moist, nutrient-rich soil. It grows 6-8 feet tall and features thin, green-toothed leaves and produces clusters of tiny, tan or green flowers.
They don’t like being touched, as it can release a mix of chemicals that may result in redness, pain, swelling, and itching. They’re challenging to control as they reproduce through an underground network of stems. It is advisable to hand-pull them using leather gloves (as the hair can penetrate through cloth). You can also use herbicides to control their growth.
Yellow Woodsorrel
Yellow Woodsorrel is a broadleaf perennial that thrives in moist soil and sunny regions. Due to its three-clovered leaf, it may be mistaken for white or red clover or a shamrock. It produces small, yellow, five-petaled blooms, which may look pretty at first.
But they can be aggressive, as they can pop up anywhere. This is mostly because of their seed pods, which explode upon drying. It contains soluble oxalate, which can be toxic to pets if ingested in large quantities.
Hence, they should be eliminated from the yard as a priority. To remove Yellow Woodsorrel, use herbicides containing glyphosate before it flowers. Also, consider mulching the soil to prevent it from receiving sunlight and germinating.
Yellow Nutsedge
Yellow Nutsedge is a perennial that looks like grass, but is actually a sedge. It grows up to 3 feet tall and features stiff, yellowish-green leaves, a distinctive triangular stem, and golden-brown flower heads. It thrives in sandy and moist soil, particularly in areas with poor drainage or excessive watering. It also requires a large amount of sunlight.
To control it, consider planting dense ground covers or tall shrubs, as they help block the sunlight. Also, avoid overwatering, and wherever possible, dig them out by hand. Additionally, it is also important to turn the soil upside down to ensure the underground tuber is also dried.
If there’s too much Yellow Nutsedge spreading in the lawn, it is advisable to use a post-emergent herbicide that contains halosulfuron-methyl or rimsulfuron while the plants are young.
Goosegrass
Goosegrass is are summer annual and may look like crabgrass, but it has light-colored strips running down the center of its leaves. Controlling goosegrass involves the same methods used for crabgrass.
You can apply a pre-emergent herbicide during early spring. Also, maintain a thick and healthy lawn to prevent them from growing. Ensure to keep the soil fertilized and water it consistently during dry spells. This will stop them from regrowing in the garden.
Plantain Plants
Plantain plants are a harmless-looking weed that often shows up in lawns, especially in areas with compacted soil and heavy foot traffic. They tend to spread quickly in the yards that are often used by families and pets, but they can be mowed along the grass.
To control it from infesting the garden, pull or dig it out before it produces seeds. It’ll take several tries, but if you consistently keep at it, the weed will eventually stop growing.
How to Prevent Weeds From Growing in Your Yard?
You are more likely to experience weeds if you don’t maintain your lawn. So, here are some tips to help you prevent weed growth -
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Mow your lawn regularly.
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Avoid waterlogging in your yard.
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Keep your lawn well-fertilized and well-watered.
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Apply mulch to cover the ground and block sunlight.
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Aerate your lawn and allow nutrients to penetrate deep into the soil.
The best way to keep weeds from growing is to pull them from the root whenever you see them. Also, you can use herbicides, in addition to some natural solutions, such as vinegar and salt spray solutions, boiling water, or corn gluten meal.
