You want to just enjoy your yard, but you have noticed that weeds have been showing up more often and seem to be taking over your lawn. The first thing you need to do to put a stop to those weeds is to figure out what types of weeds you actually have. Check to see if broadleaf weeds are common in your area and what treatment your neighbor’s have found successful.
Here is what you need to know about figuring out if you have broadleaf weeds, and what you can be doing to get rid of them.
What are broadleaf weeds?
Generally speaking, there are two types of weeds that can affect most lawns – broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds. The key to understanding the difference between the two comes with the names: broadleaf weeds generally have broad leaves, and grassy weeds have leaves similar to grass. Unlike grassy weeds, broadleaf weeds are generally very distinct from grass, so they can be easily noticed when looking at your lawn.
Broadleaf weeds have no one distinct style
There are many different styles of broadleaf weeds. They can look as well as act much differently from each other. According to the University of California’s Guide to Healthy Lawns, broadleaf weeds in turf are “plants with wide leaves,” with “veins branching out in different directions.” They may have one, two or more leaves per the plant’s node. According to the guide, the lower leaves can be opposite, wrorled, alternating, or in a basal rosette.
Some broadleaf weeds can be a real nuisance, like poison ivy, which can cause an itching reaction. Ragweed can cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, with those who are sensitive to it. Getting either of these weeds removed can be problematic because of those issues.
Other broadleaf weeds, like wild sunflowers, might not be a nuisance at all. In fact, wild sunflowers might be something that people might want to keep in their yard. As NPR says, “the line that separates a despised weed from a valuable crop is sometimes a very fuzzy one.”
In addition, some of the weeds may be annual, while others are perennial. Plus, the growing season for the weeds depends on your climate, and on the type of weed. There is no one particular time of year that weeds grow in.
What are some of the types of broadleaf weeds?
In addition to the above referenced broadleaf weeds, some of the other weeds you might see in your yard can include dandelions, violets, thistle, chickweed, clover, and chicory. As you may know from those types of weeds, they can look very different from one another. Penn State offers a look at common broadleaf weeds, with photos for each one that can help you identify them.
How to get rid of broadleaf weeds?
You may not have a problem with having some of these weeds in your yard, like the wild violet or the chicory. But in many cases, you may not want to have weeds on of your lawn. Many professional lawn care companies can help with that. Lawn Doctor’s broadleaf weed control services for example include a treatment process that incorporates:
- Identifying what types of weeds you have
- Applying treatments to remove them
- Use post-emergent weed control to keep the broadleaf weeds from coming back
How to prevent broadleaf weeds in your grass?
One of the best broadleaf weed prevention techniques is simply to put the time into having a healthy, lush lawn. Keeping your yard healthy and strong can prevent broadleaf infestations before they even become an issue. The better condition your lawn is in, the less likely weeds can take over.
The first step in getting rid of broadleaf weeds (and most weeds for that matter) is learning how to tell what types of weeds you have. Figuring out if you have broadleaf weeds is the best way to find the most effective treatments. Don’t let weeds ruin your time in the yard you worked so hard for!
