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Having a little weed here and there on your lawn doesn’t seem like a big deal. But if left unchecked, it can become a huge deal. Weeds are actually very aggressive plants that relentlessly compete with other plants for light, soil nutrients, and water, causing many detrimental effects. Weeds contend for these resources in an effort to survive and win out over the plants we want to grow.

Characteristics of Weeds

Penn Sate Extensionattributes a weed’s survival to several undesirable characteristics.

Seed Production. Weeds can produce seeds in abundance and at a high rate. Just because you rid your yard of a fully grown weed doesn’t mean it hasn’t already produced other seeds that will grow into full weeds.
Rapid Spread. Weeds have adapted the ability to spread far and wide as well as establish themselves quickly in a new environment.
Dormancy. Seeds become dormant during certain periods and can thus survive for long periods before even sprouting. They also can survive longer when buried.
Deep Roots. The roots of a weed typically grow very deep in the soil in order to establish itself for the long-term. Unless the entirety of the roots are removed, the weeds will simply grow back.

These are only a few of the characteristics that allow weeds to survive for so long. Nevertheless, you can see why they are difficult to deal with. Thus, it is imperative to notice weeds before they become a real problem.

Identifying Common Weeds

In order to treat for and prevent weeds, first you have to know how to identify them. Here, we will cover a few common lawn weeds.

Dandelion

Most people are familiar with the yellow dandelion flowers that turn into puffballs later in their life cycle, as illustrated by Neil Bromhall in his plant identification app. The seeds contained in the puffballs have far-reaching spread since they travel by wind. Their roots can reach 2-3 feet deep and even survive through the winter in dormancy.

Henbit

Fun fact: henbit gets its name from the fact that chickens like to eat it. People often confuse it for dead nettle or creeping charlie. To identify it, look for green or purplish square stems with scalloped round leaves. The leaves, covered with fine hairs, come in pairs with a wider under-leaf supporting a small upper-leaf. Henbit exhibits dark lavender or pink flowers with deep red spots. Each individual plant can produce thousands of seeds—what a nightmare!

Nutsedge

This grass-like weed is not actually a grass, though it looks like it. You can distinguish it from grass by its v-shaped stem and leaves of yellow and purple varieties. Its root system consists of tubers that grow 8-14 inches deep. Sprouting from late-spring to mid-summer, nutsedge prefers moist soil.

Crabgrass

This grassy weed grows in a star-like pattern out from a central point. As it continues to develop, more shoots grow out of the center until it becomes a thick matted patch. As one of the most aggressive weeds, it will quickly take over any stressed areas of a lawn, such as where grass has thinned, dried up, or become sun-damaged.

Dandelion

Most people are familiar with the yellow dandelion flowers that turn into puffballs later in their life cycle, as illustrated by Neil Bromhall in his plant identification app. The seeds contained in the puffballs have far-reaching spread since they travel by wind. Their roots can reach 2-3 feet deep and even survive through the winter in dormancy.

Henbit

Fun fact: henbit gets its name from the fact that chickens like to eat it. People often confuse it for dead nettle or creeping charlie. To identify it, look for green or purplish square stems with scalloped round leaves. The leaves, covered with fine hairs, come in pairs with a wider under-leaf supporting a small upper-leaf. Henbit exhibits dark lavender or pink flowers with deep red spots. Each individual plant can produce thousands of seeds—what a nightmare!

Nutsedge

This grass-like weed is not actually a grass, though it looks like it. You can distinguish it from grass by its v-shaped stem and leaves of yellow and purple varieties. Its root system consists of tubers that grow 8-14 inches deep. Sprouting from late-spring to mid-summer, nutsedge prefers moist soil.

Crabgrass

This grassy weed grows in a star-like pattern out from a central point. As it continues to develop, more shoots grow out of the center until it becomes a thick matted patch. As one of the most aggressive weeds, it will quickly take over any stressed areas of a lawn, such as where grass has thinned, dried up, or become sun-damaged.

Preventing Weed Growth

1. Catch them early.

If you can identify the weeds early enough—before they flower—they will be easier to manage.

2. Destroy the roots.

Do not pull weeds up by hand. Their roots are strong and can withstand the force of being pulled without the use of tools to dig them out. If the roots remain, weeds will just grow back, rendering all of the work wasted time and effort.

3. Keep your lawn thick.

If you aerate and seed your lawn thoroughly, healthy, desirable plants will not have to compete with undesirable plants for light, water, and soil nutrients. A thick lawn ensures that weeds have no space to take root and, thus, cannot receive the other resources needed to thrive.

4. Consistently feed and water.

Every living thing needs a source of nutrition on a consistent schedule, to survive, including plants. Watering and providing nutrients to your lawn must also be done regularly. If not, an irregular schedule offers opportunities for it to become damaged or die, eventually inviting weeds to take root in place of healthy grass.

5. Mow to a proper height.

Short grass allows weed seeds access to soil and sunlight. Mowing on a higher setting keeps grass thick, shading the soil and reducing the number of seeds that can reach the ground and sprout. Stay tuned for our upcoming April blog on tips for proper mowing.
Once you can identify weeds and know how to stop them from spreading, prevention becomes possible. Catch them early and let them know who’s boss. If weeds have become a nuisance to you, we can help. As part of our lawn programs, we guarantee weed & crabgrass service that will destroy them at the root. Reach out to us today.