Living in the South has many advantages, including a warm climate that makes it possible to enjoy the lush landscape of your lawn year-round. But as any attentive lawn owner knows, some specific weeds can be a real challenge to eradicate, and some are native only to this region. If maintaining a healthy lawn is a point of pride for you, be aware of the following common Southern lawn weeds that can easily encroach upon your lawn and become a source of frustration.
Common Southern Lawn Weeds
- Bluegrass: Though bluegrass shares its name with a beloved music genre, this weed brings its fair share of discord to many lawns throughout the South. One of a few weeds of Southern turfgrasses that make our list, bluegrass re-seeds itself, which means that it can reproduce year-round and disrupt the uniformity you strive to maintain across your lawn. To identify bluegrass, look for a fine-bladed grassy weed with a prominent seed head.
- Crabgrass: Crabgrass can be identified by its flat, light green blades that have a visible coarse texture. The blades grow in a crab-like pattern, hence the name. Crabgrass represents common weeds of Southern turfgrasses, and it’s recognized for its ability to thrive in warm and humid conditions. An annual weed, crabgrass spreads most rapidly during the summer months and can form dense mats that threaten to overtake your lawn.
- Dandelions: A perennial weed, dandelions can be difficult to control because they can quickly regrow from their roots. These weeds are easily identified by their bright yellow flowers, and they tend to do well in most soil types, making them both adaptable and persistent across Southern lawns.
- Dallisgrass: This stubborn perennial weed grows in circular clumps, often creating unsightly patches across your lawn. The stems of this weed contain seed heads that can produce a significant number of seeds that contribute to its spread.
- Nutsedge: Also known as nutgrass, this common Southern lawn weed has triangular stems. Nutgrass can be difficult to control on account of its deep root system and ability to reproduce via underground tubers. Another weed that’s part of the weeds of Southern turfgrasses category, nutgrass is a complex perennial that can regrow even after you’ve attempted to remove any visible foliage you spot aboveground.
- Clover: White or pink-colored flowers help distinguish clover. While clover can sometimes be tolerated in Southern lawns, clover that’s left unchecked can make your lawn appear patchy or uneven. Like other weeds on this list, it can outcompete your desirable grasses for essential nutrients and sunlight.
- Virginia buttonweed: Like clover, Virginia buttonweed also produces small flowers. The small, white flowers on this perennial weed can help you identify it, along with its four petals clustered in a button-like arrangement. Southern weed identification is crucial for these and other weeds because Virginia buttonweed will spread faster than you expect, forming dense mats that can make it challenging for your most desirable grasses and plants to grow.
- Chickweed: Here’s another flowering weed that can form dense mats across your yard. Chickweed’s small white flowers and light green leaves grow low to the ground. This common annual winter weed is especially prevalent in the South, and it grows best in moisture-rich soil.
- Spurge: This is one of those common Southern lawn weeds that love the summertime heat. Spurge can produce its seeds and mature within the span of a few days. Need some help with Southern weed identification as it relates to spurge? Look closely for leaves on long stems, growing directly across from each other. If the stem’s broken, it releases a milky sap.
Stand Against Common Southern Lawn Weeds
While some of these common Southern lawn weeds can be eradicated by applying the correct herbicides and maintaining diligent lawn care practices (such as regular mowing and hand pulling), lawn owners must remain vigilant in identifying, monitoring, and managing these unwelcome weeds. Proactive weed control can be achieved on your own, but we hope that you’ll consider placing your trust in Arbor-Nomics for all your weed control needs. Our team of certified landscape specialists is well-versed in Atlanta lawn care and equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to correctly identify weeds, including common Southern lawn weeds and weeds of Southern turfgrasses.
We’re pleased to provide free estimates to customers in and around the Atlanta area; if you’re interested in giving Arbor-Nomics a try, please visit our website to view our current specials. You can contact us via our website’s chat feature or by submitting an online contact form. Alternatively, you can call 770-447-6037 to schedule your free estimate and to learn about our affordable plans.
Our treatments and services are customized to suit the unique needs of your lawn. Arbor-Nomics can effectively treat Southern lawn weeds that have invaded your turf while also dedicating our utmost care to nurturing the growth of healthy plants and grasses. For more than 40 years and counting, we’ve been trusted to care for Southern lawns, and our expertise and passion for lawn care is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Contact us today!