Weeds

 

While weeds are visually unasthetic, they also compete with your desirable turfgrass for light, nutrients and water which can be to the detriment of your turf. They also have a tendency to grow faster than your lawn, requiring more unwanted attention.  

When controlling weeds it is essential to first identify the weed or weeds you have. Turf Finder has gathered a detailed collection of narrow, broadleaf and grass weeds commonly seen growing within turfgrass. It is then important to look at an integrated control program of how you can treat and reduce future weed growth and development. 

Pre-emergent weed control may be used to control a number of weeds. The pre-emergent herbicide, applied in either granular or liquid form, provides a barrier, which kills germinating weeds before they develop. Refer to their irrespective product lables for further details.

Pesticides work best when the target weed is actively growing. This will be different for different weeds. To ensure an effective kill, do not mow the turfgrass to be sprayed at least 3 days prior and after herbicide application. When spraying pesticides, either in a spray on bottle or knapscak, make sure you prevent any drift from your pesticide spray so you don't harm other plants in your, or your next-door neighbour's yard. Also be aware that some herbicides you may want to use to control any weeds in your lawn may also kill your turf. Be sure to read the product label carefully and only apply turf registered prodcuts.

If you do not wish to spray any pesticides, please visit our Turf Services section to see if a local contractor is available in your area once you have identified what weeds require control.

 

Turfgrass Weeds

Below we have provided a range of turfgrass weeds which can be found within warm- and or cool-season turfgrasses. Included within each weed thumbnail are technical descriptors and control options for both the home owner and professional sports turf ground manager or superintendent. For further information on pesticide regulations and what you can legally spray, please visit our Pesticides page.

African lovegrass

Eragrostis curvula

 

Asthma plant

Euphorbia hirta

 

Awnless barnyard grass

Echinochloa colona

 

Bahia grass

Paspalum notatum

 

Billygoat weed

Ageratum conyzoides

 

Bindi

Soliva sessilis

 

Black medic

Medicago lupulina

 

Blue heliotrope

Heliotropium amplexicaule

 

Blue snake weed

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

 

Burr medic

Medicago polymorpha

 

Capeweed

Arctotheca calendula

 

Carrot weed

Cotula australis

 

Catsear

Hypochoeris radicata

 

Chickweed

Stellaria media

 

Clover

Trifolium repens

 

Cobbler's pegs

Bidens pilosa

 

Creeping indigo

Indigofera spicata

 

Creeping oaxlis

Oxalis corniculata

 

Crowsfoot

Eleusine indica

 

Cudweed

Gnaphalium spp.

 

Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

 

Emilia

Emilia sonchifolia

 

Fireweed

Senecio madagascariensis

 

Flaxleaf fleabane

Conyza bonariensis

 

Flickweed

Cardamine hirsuta

 

Gomphrena weed

Gomphrena celosioides

 

Green amaranth

Amaranthus viridis

 

Hairy armgrass

Urochloa piligera

 

Indian bluegrass

Bothriochloa pertusa

 

Khaki Weed

Alternanthera pungens

 

Lambs tongue

Plantago lanceolata

 

Lilac oxalis

Oxalis debilis

 

Liverseed grass

Urochloa panicoides

 

Long Storksbill

Erodium botrys

 

Mallow

Malva spp.

 

Mexican poppy

Argemone ochroleuca

 

Milk thistle

Sonchus oleraceus

 

Mother-of-millions

Bryophyllum spp.

 

Mouse-ear chickweed

Cerastium glomeratum

 

Mullumbimby couch

Cyperus brevifolius

 

Nutgrass

Cyperus rotundus

 

Old World Diamond Flower

Hedyotis corymbosa

 

Paspalum dilatatum

Paspalum dilatatum

 

Pearlwort

Sagina procumbens

 

Pigweed

Portulaca oleracea

 

Pink purslane

Portulaca oleracea

 

Poa

Poa annua

 

Red caustic weed

Euphorbia prostrata

 

Rhodes grass

Chloris gayana

 

Ricardia

Richardia Humistrata

 

Ryegrass

Lolium spp.

 

Scarlet Pimpernel

Lysimachia arvensis

 

Sensitive plant

Mimosa pudica

 

Shepherds Purse

Capsella bursa-pastoris

 

Slender celery

Cyclospermum leptophyllum

 

Summer grass

Digitaria spp.

 

Three-flower beggarward

Desmodium triflorum

 

Turnip weed

Rapistrum rugosum

 

Water couch

Paspalum distichum

 

White root

Lobelia purpurascens

 

Wild radish

Raphanus raphanistrum

 

Wiregrass

Eragrostis tenuifolia

 

Wireweed

Polygonum heterophyllum

 

Yellow Wood Sorrel

Oxalis corniculata