This article provides information on the different types of weeds that can attack your lawn and offers simple suggestions for getting rid of them.



Chickweed/Mouse-Ear: A perennial that grows thickly in your grass, this weed has many wildflowers that bloom between April and October. This weed loves moist soil and cooler weather. It is found in most of the United States, except along the Mexican border and in North Dakota.

Pulling this weed out is not an easy task, but if you don't pull out the entire root it will grow back the following year. Use a post-emergent herbicide to control this particular weed. A weed killer will get rid of any chickweed that is already on your lawn.

Crabgrass: An annual weed that grows on lawns all across the country, crabgrass appears between July and October. However, blooms rarely show up in cut grass. Crabgrass doesn't like shade and grows best in moist conditions and full sunlight. Crabgrass seeds become fully mature at the end of summer and early fall, at which time they germinate seeds for the next year.

Luckily, crabgrass is quite easy to control. As long as you properly maintain your lawn this weed shouldn't become a problem. For added protection against crabgrass, always mow your grass a bit higher than normal so that there's more shade - a great way to prevent germination. If you want, you can apply pre-emergent control in early spring just to be safe.

Dandelions: Perhaps the most recognizable weed, dandelions are common all across the country. They're famous for their tough green leaves and bright yellow blooms. Once the blooms disappear they are replaced by round white seed heads that fly through the air, carried by the wind. This is how the dandelion spreads for the next growing season.

If you opt to remove dandelions by hand, make sure you take out the whole root. This is the only way to ensure that the dandelion won't grow back. In fact, if any of the root structure is left behind, an even stronger dandelion will take its place. You can use special tools to move the dandelion, or if you prefer, use a spot treatment weed killer. You can also use a post-emergent herbicide in the fall.

Curly Dock: A perennial with a 1 1/2 to 2ft. tap root, this weed grows one or more tall stems with white flowers on top, between the months of June and September. If you are having a problem with this particular weed, spray each plant crown with a weed killer. However, if the problem hasn't gotten out of hand, simply deal with it by hand and remove the entire root.