How to Recognize Common Lawn Weeds

There are many lawn weeds that could become a problem in your yard, and if you aren’t careful they could cause some major damage. By familiarizing yourself with some of the most common lawn weeds, you can quickly identify them in your yard and know the best steps to take to prevent them from creating problems. There are thousands of varieties of lawn weeds that could create issues, the biggest threats vary depending on the part of the country that you live in. Here are four of the most common lawn weeds experienced in American lawns:

1) Dandelions

Dandelions are attractive yellow flowers that can spring up during any time of the year as long as the soil is not frozen. These lawn weeds spread in the wind, and if a large number of seeds are blown into your lawn you could end up with a yard full of these bright yellow weeds. You can prevent them from sprouting using pre-emergent herbicide treatments, or for a more natural approach you can spread corn flower through your lawn during the early weeks of spring. This method may not be 100% effective, but it can greatly reduce the number of seeds that find their way into your soil.

If you see dandelions growing in your lawn, it is too late for either of these preventive approaches. To eliminate the chances of this weed spreading further, the entire plant will need to be removed from your lawn. Dig up the entire plant, including all of the roots, to manually remove them.

2) Crabgrass

Crabgrass can be a very problematic plant. This variety of grass has no problem overpowering the seeds that you’ve planted in your lawn, and if you aren’t careful you could end up with a yard that is entirely covered in crabgrass. Crabgrass grows extremely rapidly and can reach heights as tall as three feet, and these seeds are present in just about every US state.

Simply mowing crabgrass will not remove it, nor will it prevent the spread of this lawn weed. To remove this plant permanently, you’ll need to remove the entire weed, roots and all. This can be a time consuming and frustrating process, and many homeowners decide to reach out to a lawn care professional in order to put an end to their crabgrass problems.

3) Poison Ivy

Most people have come in contact with poison ivy at some point or another, and you’ll know it when you have. This plant is extremely toxic and just brushing against it quickly can lead to severe reactions, including itchy and raised skin. This noxious weed pops up in yards all over the nation, and you’ll want to be very careful when removing it.

Always wear thick gloves when doing so, and be very careful of how you choose to dispose of the vines following removal. Never burn this plant for any reason, inhaling the smoke that is created from burning poison ivy can have serious, sometimes deadly, effects. If you have had a strong allergic reaction to poison ivy in the past, do not attempt to remove this lawn weed on your own.

4) Ragweed

Ragweed grows wild all throughout the United States, with the exception of just a few northern states including Wisconsin and Minnesota. This plant, which flowers all summer long and even into early fall, spreads and grows quickly, creating the pollen that aggravate allergies and cause hay fever. If you experience allergies in the summer, ragweed is probably the cause.

If you find ragweed growing on your property, you should remove it as quickly as possible to avoid negative side effects in your family members. Make sure to wash your hands and clothing thoroughly after dealing with ragweed, otherwise you could be bringing large amounts of pollen into your home.