With all the rain North Texas receives and the hot summer that always follows, lawns can quickly become a haven for weeds, making weed control services especially important. If you see one or more weeds in your yard, it’s essential to recognize them, identify them and deal with them properly. And since each weed has its own characteristics and traits, it can make eradication more complicated. In other words, treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
The Eight Most Problematic Lawn Weeds
If caught early, homeowners can often handle the problem. However, some weed issues are more complex and may require a more focused, targeted strategy from a lawn care professional. With the proper strategy these invaders can be defeated. Here are 8 of the most common weeds that can invade North Texas lawns.
1. Dandelions
Dandelions are troublesome weeds that reproduce extremely well. Their taproot is buried 2–3 feet deep in the soil, making them difficult to pull by hand, and their airborne seeds multiply quickly through your yard. To get rid of dandelions, start by creating a healthy lawn. Apply a weed-and-feed fertilizer once or twice a year to help lessen the likelihood that airborne dandelion seeds will survive. If that doesn’t work, contact your local lawn care professional.
2. Henbit
Henbit grows everywhere, from flower beds to lawns, making eradication difficult and often requiring the services of a lawn care professional. Henbit looks pretty with its purple flowers, but a closer look at the square stem shows you’re dealing with a troublesome weed in the mint family.
Henbit in North Texas usually blooms and releases its seeds during the winter, where they’re carried by air, water, insects and animals. A post-emergent herbicide can still be effective against existing plants. However, once henbit blooms appear, the seeds for next year’s crop have already been released and can germinate quickly.
3. Spurge Weed
The hot North Texas summers are a perfect setting for spurge weed. This speckled weed thrives in thin, weak spots in your lawn, with each plant capable of producing several thousand seeds annually. Its seeds can survive winter and sprout early the following spring. Spurge weeds begin producing seeds just 5 weeks after germinating, making early treatment imperative.
Spurge spreads quickly, especially in the heat of a Texas summer. Since herbicides are not usually effective against mature plants, early removal is often the best approach. Herbicides are also usually effective on young plants.
4. Oxalis
Oxalis (or yellow wood sorrel) spreads fast and is difficult to eradicate. Oxalis thrives in small patches of underperforming turf with ample water, in sun or in shade. It’s a low-growing, creeping weed with nodes on its stems that form new roots and stems when they come into contact with the soil. And as with most weeds, prevention is best, and these invading plants require quick attention.
Unlike other weeds, oxalis can be eradicated by hand pulling. This is most effective early in the weed cycle, any slight movement could send the seeds flying. Post-emergent herbicides may be effective against more mature plants, while a pre-emergent herbicide may prevent germination. For more information on getting rid of oxalis, contact a North Texas lawn care specialist.
5. Thistles
Thistles are covered with prickly protrusions that can pierce the skin when touched and may cause rash and irritation. Plus, some varieties release chemicals into the soil that can slow the growth of other plants. The thistle’s elaborate root network also makes them a tough weed to control.
While difficult to eliminate, you can control a mature thistle by repeatedly cutting it near ground level, which cuts off its sunlight. A late-summer or early-fall application of an herbicide directly to the weed’s rosettes may keep it from returning. For a serious thistle infestation, cut it back while mowing and then apply a systemic herbicide that travels through the plant and kills the roots, or call a professional lawn care service.
6. Bittercress
A frilly green weed with tiny white flowers likely means you are dealing with bittercress in your lawn or garden. It’s a winter annual weed that sprouts early in the spring and loves wet ground, so it’s particularly prevalent after recent North Texas rains. The white flowers of bittercress turn into powerful seed pods that burst, covering your lawn with next year’s seeds.
Preventing the seed pods from forming gives you a good chance of beating this weed. Bittercress has a long taproot, so pulling it by hand is usually not effective. However, frequent mowing cuts off the plant’s head and destroys the blossoms before the seed pods can form. Preventing the seeds from spreading is critical, as this plant is an annual that will not return without the sprouting of seeds.
7. White Heath Aster
White heath aster is a perennial broadleaf weed that can be recognized by its clumped, vertical stems, smooth or hairy stems, hairy leaves and woody-looking base. Its most distinctive feature is its white, pink or purple flowers, which generally bloom from August until November. When it dies, its fibrous root system survives at the soil surface. It’s a vigorous re-seeder, and one weed can quickly become a dozen.
Eliminating white heath asters takes more than just cutting them back. A lawn care professional can apply a selective herbicide that works from the roots up, killing the entire weed while leaving the rest of the lawn healthy.
8. Clover
Clover is a hardy perennial weed commonly found in Texas lawns. Its spiky white blooms attract bees. Clover seeds thrive in weak, nitrogen-deficient grass. Many homeowners who haven’t fertilized in a few seasons or haven’t been using the right fertilizer are likely to see clover taking over the lawn.
The good news is that you can beat clover. Clover grows low to the ground and has a relatively shallow root system, which means hand-pulling can be an effective way to mitigate the situation. However, if you leave even part of the roots behind, the clover will return. It may also make sense to treat clover with an herbicide. Unfortunately, many herbicides sold at home improvement stores are only somewhat effective against this weed. That’s why many people prefer to call in professional lawn care services.
Proven Ways to Beat Lawn Weeds
These are just some of the many weed types found in North Texas lawns. Some are more challenging than others to eradicate. Some are a minor nuisance, causing little more than cosmetic problems. However, others can result in long-lasting damage. Either way, if you find you can’t beat these weeds on your own, don’t give up—call in your local lawn care professional. With the latest technology and most efficient strategies, we can help rid your lawn of these invaders and promote a healthy, thick lawn that enhances the beauty of your home.
Reclaim Your North Texas Lawn From Weeds Today
Weeds can quickly turn a lush green lawn into an unsightly mess, but you can avoid them. At Green Top Lawn Care, we know how to tackle the most common weeds in North Texas lawns. By combining the most advanced techniques and proven strategies, we’ll keep your lawn healthy, green and weed-free. Call (817) 684-4044 or request a free weed control quote today.
