Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is a matted, herbaceous, winter annual broadleaf plant. Chickweed is a prolific spring weed as it thrives under cool, wet conditions. It rarely tolerates hot, dry conditions that occur in late spring or early summer. Other common names for chickweed include starweed, winterweed, satin flower and tongue grass.



Chickweed is more regarded as a weed than as a useful plant, but has a place in folk medicine as a remedy for asthma, constipation, cough, fever and various other ailments. The seed of chickweed is a source of food for birds.

To remove chickweed, you'll need to hoe or hand-pull the plants. The top-growth is brittle and the roots are tenacious, so this will take some effort.

Trace the stems back to the growing point and loosen the roots - though being an annual these do not have to be completely removed, just the growing point. Dispose of uprooted plants if flowers and seed heads are present. Regular hoeing of the seedlings for a few seasons reduces the frequency of germination.

As far as weed killers you can use, a residual herbicide can be applied to suppress germination in non-cultivated areas. Look for the ingredients Paraquat or Diquat, with contact action killing top growth. Apply before flowering begins.

Dallis Grass is a broadleaf weed that closely resembles crab grass. It is one of the most difficult to control weeds for lawn care. Patches will appear in clumps with leaves that extend upright. Some patches can grow quite large if left untended and can appear unsightly in an otherwise beautiful lawn.

Dallis grass is a perennial grass with light-green color. Dallis is easily identified by its long seed-heads that protrude from the top. Dallis tends to thrive in wet areas with lots of heat, and grows in circles out from the center of the weed.

Try to improve the drainage of your lawn to take dampness away from the areas were they grow. Additionally, allow the top of the soil to partially dry between each watering to help retain the water only in the root area.

Apply pre-emergence fertilizers (usually in the late-spring ) to prevent seed germination and growth. Once weeds are established, pull them by hand and make sure you get the roots as well. After pulling, reseed the area with the desired grass.

Broadleaf plantain is a common broadleaf weed in lawns. It is identified by oval leaf blades 2 - 6 inches long with 5 to 7 ribs that that parallel the leaf margins. In turf grass they form dense clumps

No single procedure has been successful in controlling plantain in turf grass. Early removal of new seedlings has been successful when practiced diligently. Digging out perennial plantain plants must be done regularly for several years to be successful. Repeated applications to perennial plants with products containing 2,4-D or triclopyr can be helpful. Once these weeds are killed in open sites, these areas should be over-seeded to establish a vigorous turf grass sod.

Pre-emergent turf grass herbicides commonly used for crabgrass control have not been successful in limiting germination of plantain. Isoxaben, a relatively new broadleaf pre-emergent herbicide, has been effective in limiting germination of plantain in turf grass.

Post-emergent broadleaf herbicides (2,4-D, triclopyr, MCPA, and mecoprop) can control plantain seedlings, but control of established plantain plants with post-emergent treatment is much more difficult.

For established plants, 2,4-D works best while triclopyr, MCPA, and mecoprop will only reduce its vigor. Best control is achieved from a fall application. Repeat applications are needed to kill weakened perennial weeds and new germinating seedlings.

See also removal instructions for dandelions as the removal of the two are similar.

Establishing and maintaining a healthy and beautiful lawn can be a daunting task, but if you are committed to making your home look good, it is essential that you pay attention to the quality of your lawn.

Certain types of grasses - the most commonly used, in fact - are prone to patch diseases that can devastate the most carefully groomed lawn.