For Release March 7, 2004

Lawn Weeds By Color

AGRI-VIEWS
by Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent

Now that the snow is gone, the rains have come and spring is edging near, we all are going to enjoy an explosion of colors in our yards. Unfortunately, the color may not just be contained to the flower beds, it may spill over into the lawn as well. One of the challenges with controlling these unwelcome splashes of color is that one size never fits all and one weed killer may not control all these weeds.

The other problem is that identification of the weeds is tricky too. Everyone will try to describe the same green plant over the phone. Forget it, all green plants sound alike over the phone! Fortunately, we can pretty well sum the lawn weeds up by the colors of the flowers. Keep in mind that we are going to concentrate on lawn weeds that will be blooming in the next 30 days.

Remember that weeds are often the symptom of a problem rather than the real problem. The real problem is often a weak lawn with bare spots that is being mowed too short. If you treated at the appropriate time last fall, you probably aren't going to see many of these weeds. If you treated but are seeing a lot of weeds now, you may have treated too early. You can treat now, but be very careful of any newly emerging vegetation and be sure not to spray when it is too cold or too windy. Always read and follow label directions!

Let's start with yellow. While we can have black medic and common yellow wood sorrel blooming later this summer, anything in the spring that's blooming yellow is probably none other than good old dandelion. Dandelion is a perennial that is easily controlled in the fall or spring with almost any herbicide labeled for broadleaf weeds.

A blue flower, especially early in the season, in fact this one is already blooming, is speedwell. Speedwell flowers are small, blue-violet with a tiny white center. While it isn't much of a competitor and often dies by late spring, Speedwell is one of the toughest lawn weeds to kill. You will probably have to use a lawn herbicide that contains the chemical triclopyr to really knock it down. Again, a treatment in early to mid October will have an easier time of controlling this annoying rascal!

A small, white, star like flower is probably common chickweed, especially if the leaves are bright green, smooth and in pairs along the stem. Chickweed, and the soon to be discussed henbit, is another one that will come on strong through the spring and then die quickly as the weather warms up. Make sure you are using a product that has chickweed on the label such as chickweed and clover killer! One other white flower that you may see this spring is white clover. It is easily distinguished from speedwell by the larger ball shaped blossom on the typical three leaf clover leaf shape.

Finally the pretty K-State purple flower that belongs to henbit. It really likes open areas with little other vegetation and can become a purple wave across yards and fields. Anything that will control speedwell or chickweed will get henbit. Again, a little tougher weed to control. Finally, remember that if the weeds are in full bloom when you spray, even though they will be dying, they will still produce seed. You will need to follow up with improved lawn management to make your lawn more aggressive and resistant to weed invasion, and then plan another lawn weed treatment in mid October.

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