Introduction
Maintaining healthy, vibrant turfgrass can be challenging for your operation, especially with the persistent battle against weeds. From sprawling invaders like crabgrass to the sneaky spread of nutsedge, weeds can rob turfgrass of nutrients, water, and sunlight, leaving the turfgrass you manage thin and unhealthy. This article highlights top 10 turfgrass weeds common in the West, offering identification tips and strategies to keep them under control. Whether you’re managing a golf course, sports field, or home lawn, understanding these weeds is the first step to maintaining a beautiful, weed-free landscape.
1. Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)
Description: Light green, low growing with sprawling stems.
Why it’s a problem: Competes aggressively with turfgrass, especially in hot, sunny conditions.
Control Tips:
- Prevention: Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring when soil temperatures reach 55°F, as this is when crabgrass seeds germinate.
- Physical Removal: Hand-pull small infestations, ensuring you remove the entire root system
- Cultural Practices: Mow at the proper height for your turf species to shade out crabgrass seedlings and reduce germination.
2. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Description: Bright yellow flowers; deep taproot; wind-dispersed seeds.
Why it’s a problem: Quickly spreads and establishes in weak turf areas.
Control Tips:
- Manual Removal: Use a weed puller or digger to remove the taproot fully. Leaving any part of the root behind can result in regrowth.
- Chemical Control: Spot-treat with a post-emergent herbicide labeled for broadleaf weeds, ideally when dandelions are young and actively growing.
- Cultural Practices: Aerate compacted soil and overseed thin areas to improve turf density and competitiveness.
3. Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.)
Description: Grass-like but with triangular stems and fast-spreading nutlets.
Why it’s a problem: Thrives in wet soils, competing with turfgrass.
Control Tips:
- Herbicides: Use selective herbicides containing halosulfuron or sulfentrazone, as these are specifically effective against nutsedge.
- Improved Drainage: Nutsedge thrives in wet areas, so correct drainage issues or reduce overwatering.
- Frequent Monitoring: Remove plants early before they form nutlets to prevent spreading.
4. Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon)
Description: Coarse texture with creeping stolons and rhizomes.
Why it’s a problem: Invasive in cool-season lawns, hard to eradicate.
Control Tips:
- Eradication: Apply a non-selective herbicide to isolated patches, taking care to protect desired turfgrass species.
- Physical Barriers: Use edging or barriers to prevent creeping stolons and rhizomes from invading landscaped areas.
- Maintenance: Keep turfgrass healthy with proper irrigation, fertilization, and mowing to reduce Bermuda grass invasiveness.
5. Clover (Trifolium spp.)
Description: Low-growing, trifoliate leaves, often with white or pink flowers.
Why it’s a problem: Competes for nutrients and space in weak turf.
Control Tips:
- Prevention: Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to discourage clover growth, as it thrives in nitrogen-deficient soils.
- Spot Treatment: Use a broadleaf herbicide for targeted control.
- Cultural Practices: Mow regularly and maintain turf density to outcompete clover.
6. Oxalis (Oxalis spp.)
Description: Heart-shaped leaves, yellow flowers, spreads via seeds and stolons.
Why it’s a problem: Rapid growth can outcompete turfgrass.
Control Tips:
- Herbicide Applications: Use a post-emergent herbicide labeled for oxalis control.
- Mulching: Apply mulch in bare areas to suppress seed germination.
- Consistent Mowing: Keep mowing heights consistent to reduce oxalis’ ability to photosynthesize effectively.
7. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)
Description: Flattened growth with silverish, ribbon-like seed heads.
Why it’s a problem: Compact soil and thrives in high-traffic areas.
Control Tips:
- Aeration: Regularly aerate soil to reduce compaction and create an unfavorable environment for goosegrass.
- Pre-Emergent Herbicides: Apply in late winter or early spring to prevent germination.
- Improved Drainage: Address poorly drained areas to discourage goosegrass growth.
8. Foxtail (Setaria spp.)
Description: Seed heads resembling a fox’s tail; coarse, clumping growth.
Why it’s a problem: Seeds can embed in pets' fur and harm humans.
Control Tips:
- Early Removal: Remove plants before seed heads mature to prevent spread.
- Mowing Practices: Keep mowing heights slightly higher to reduce sunlight exposure on seeds.
- Spot Treatments: Use post-emergent herbicides to control established plants.
9. Spurge (Euphorbia spp.)
Description: Small, low-growing plant with reddish stems and tiny leaves.
Why it’s a problem: Prolific seed producer and thrives in thin turf.
Control Tips:
- Cultural Practices: Maintain dense turfgrass to crowd out spurge seedlings.
- Herbicide Use: Spot-treat with a post-emergent herbicide formulated for spurge.
- Manual Removal: Pull weeds when soil is moist to ensure removal of the taproot.
10. Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
Description: Vine-like plant with arrow-shaped leaves and white to pink flowers.
Why it’s a problem: Twines around turf and landscaping, choking growth.
Control Tips:
- Persistent Removal: Hand-pull or hoe regularly to deplete the root system over time.
- Systemic Herbicides: Use herbicides like glyphosate that are absorbed into the plant’s root system.
- Ground Covers: Plant dense ground covers to outcompete bindweed in bare areas.
Conclusion:
Weeds are more than just an eyesore; they’re a threat to the health and vitality of turfgrass. By recognizing common invaders like crabgrass, dandelions, and bindweed, you can act quickly to prevent their spread and minimize their impact. Combining cultural practices like proper mowing, irrigation, and fertilization with targeted herbicide applications ensures your turf stays dense and resilient. Remember, the best defense against weeds is a healthy, thriving lawn. With a proactive approach, you can maintain the lush, green turf that sets your landscape apart.
