Let’s explore the top 20 most common weeds you would find in the great State of Texas, their characteristics for easier identification, and the best eradication methods. 

1. Henbit Deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule)

• Local Name: Henbit
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Henbit is a winter annual weed that is mostly found in Central Texas and other parts of the state. The low-growing plant can grow 10-25 cm tall. 

It can be easily identified by its soft and hairy greenish-purple stems, deeply-veined rounded leaves, and purple blooms. 

It is a common weed of lawns, pastures, crop fields, roadsides, and other disturbed sites. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• North Africa

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Trimming down the plants and hand-pulling the remaining plant fragments in spring can help eradicate henbit infestations.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides like prodiamine, pendimethalin, isoxaben, and dithiopyr by mid-September for effective control. Postemergence herbicides indicated for henbit include 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, and, fluroxypyr.  

2. Mustang Grape (Vitis mustangensis)

• Local Name: Mustang grape
• Family: Vitaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Mustang grape is a woody perennial that can be found in most counties in Texas. It can be recognized by its heart-shaped leaves with white velvety undersides and clusters of 2 cm wide dark purple berries. 

The Mustang grape can grow in any type of soil and vines cover fences, trees, shrubs, and other objects, sometimes killing entire populations of native vegetation. 

It is native to: 

• Texas
• Alabama
• Mississippi
• Louisiana
• Oklahoma

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Cutting and uprooting the plants from the roots is a viable option for small infestations. Burning can also help eradicate the weed if the plant is not twining on other desirable vegetation. 
• Chemical control: Apply products with active ingredients like dithiopyr and glyphosate on exposed stumps.

3. Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)

• Local Name: Purple nutsedge
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Nutsedge is a common perennial weed that can grow up to 60 cm tall. It has a triangular stem in cross-section and linear grass-like leaves with a prominent midrib. 

It reproduces by tubers and rhizomes, creating a vast underground network that makes it difficult to eradicate.

Purple nutsedge is mostly found in pastures, lawns, crop fields, riverbanks, fallow lang, irrigation channels, and waste areas.

It is native to:

• India 
• Australia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Consistent cultivation will wear out the tuber resources preventing re-growth. 
• Cultural control: Practices like mulching, cover cropping, crop rotation, and soil solarization can help control nutsedge infestations. 
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides like terbacil, bromacil, or carbamate products. Postemergence herbicides containing glyphosate, 2,4-D, or amitrole can also help control nutsedge.

4. Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium)

• Local Name: Silver-leaved nightshade
• Family: Solanaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Silverleaf nightshade is a common perennial weed 30-90 cm tall. It has silvery fuzz on its prickly stems and lance-shaped leaves and also produces blue to violet flowers with yellow stamens. 

Its deep root system and drought resistance abilities make it a highly persistent weed that can be found throughout Texas. It is a common weed of crop fields, roadsides, prairies, and open woods. 

It is native to:

• Southwestern United States
• Mexico
• South America

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pull small plants or slash the weeds once the green shoots sprout.
• Chemical control: Herbicides like glyphosate, 2,4-D, + picloram or fluroxypyr.

5. Pigweed (Amaranthus palmeri)

• Local Name: Palmer pigweed and Palmer amaranth
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Palmer pigweed is among the common weeds in the Pigweed family found in Texas. The summer annual is characterized by its reddish stems and oval-shaped green leaves.

As a prolific seed producer, pigweed can invade new areas quickly. It is now considered one of the most troublesome weeds in row crop fields in areas like Rio Grande Valley, High Plains, and Central Texas. The most affected crops include corn, cotton, sweet potato, and sorghum. 

It is native to:

• Southern United States
• Northern Mexico

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling, tillage, or mowing is effective depending on the degree of weed infestation.
• Cultural control: Cover cropping with plants such as hairy vetch or cereal rye can significantly reduce pigweed growth.
• Chemical control: There are herbicides indicated for different crops including glyphosate, 2,4-D, and dicamba but due to its high herbicide resistance, it’s best to consult a local extension expert. 

6. Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)

• Local Name: Johnsongrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Johnsongrass is a fast-growing perennial grass weed that reaches up to 8 feet tall. The leaves can grow about 60 cm and have a distinct whitish midrib. 

The grass spreads through its underground rhizomes with some extending over 60 meters in different directions across the ground. Due to its fast and extensive growth, it is considered one of the most troublesome weeds in agricultural and landscaping systems.

It is native to:

• The Mediterranean Region

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Repeated tillage and close mowing prevent seed production and rhizome growth and spread. Tillage can also expose the rhizomes to winter kill, helping eradicate the weed.
• Cultural control: Grazing livestock and crop rotation can help reduce the grass population.
• Chemical control: Various herbicides are indicated for johnsongrass including prodiamine, glyphosate, and ALS inhibitors. However, some variations have shown resistance to popular brands like Roundup (which contains glyphosate). It’s best to consult a local extension expert on the best herbicide product for johnsongrass control. 

7. Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

• Local Name: Common purslane
• Family: Portulacaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Purslane is an annual weed that grows in dense mounds around spring and summer throughout Texas. It is easily recognized by its smooth and reddish prostrate stems, succulent leaves, and cup-shaped blooms.

Although it’s an edible plant, common purslane is considered a weed due to its aggressive growth, high seed production, and prolonged dormancy. Purslane is a weed of lawns, crop fields, and parks.

It is native to:

• North Africa
• Middle East
• India

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Mulching and soil solarization can help kill the weeds and the seeds, preventing further growth and spread. 
• Chemical control: Apply preemergent herbicides containing pendimethalin, dithiopyr, or oryzalin. Postemergent herbicides indicated for purslane include 2,4-D, MCPP, sulfentrazone, or dicamba. 

8. Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum)

• Local Name: Late thoroughwort and Late-flowering thoroughwort
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Late Boneset is a large fall-blooming perennial about 1-2m tall. Its notable features include its ovate leaves with serrated margins and clusters of small white fuzzy flowers. 

Despite its value as a pollinator plant, late boneset is considered an aggressive weed due to its ability to thrive in diverse habitats, rapid growth, and difficulty in controlling it once it’s established.

It’s a common weed of pastures, roadsides, forest edges, and landscaping settings.

It is native to:

• Eastern United States

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling the plants from the roots before they flower and seed can help control the weeds.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing 2,4-D.

9. Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

• Local Name:  Bull thistle
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial

Bull thistle is a biennial herb that grows up to 1.8m tall. It is easily recognized by its prickly dark green leaves and stems and solitary purple flowerheads clustered at the top of the branches. 

The weed is a prolific seed producer, quickly colonizing almost any type of disturbed area. It is also highly competitive and can choke out native vegetation. Bull thistle is a common weed of pastures, meadows, riverbanks, fields, and wastelands.

It is native to:

• North Africa
• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or cutting the plant’s roots below the surface and revegating the areas will eradicate and keep away the tenacious weeds.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing triclopyr, picloram, glyphosate, or dicamba for effective bull thistle control.

10. White Mouth Dayflower (Commelina erecta)

• Local Name: Slender dayflower or widow’s tears
• Family: Commelinaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

White mouth dayflower is a perennial wildflower 60-80cm tall. It produces bright green, lance-linear leaves and two-petaled blue flowers with a smaller white petal that resembles a mouth. 

Slender dayflower is a common weed in gardens, woodlands, dry sand prairies, scrub habitats, and other disturbed areas.

It is native to:

• North America
• South America
• Africa
• Western Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or tillage are effective methods for small infestations.
• Chemical control: Apply products containing sulfentrazone + cloransulam-methyl. The weed is known to exhibit herbicide resistance, therefore, consulting a local extension expert is recommended.

11. Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

• Local Name: Annual ragweed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Common ragweed is an annual weed that grows up to 1.5m tall. It has upright, slender stems and deeply lobed leaves with a fern-like appearance and greenish-white inconspicuous flowers.

It is a common weed of agricultural fields, gardens, waste areas, waterways, and floodplains.

It is native to: 

• North America
• Central America

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand weeding and slashing can provide effective control for small infestations.
• Cultural control: Plant the red clover in field crops to suppress annual ragweed.
• Chemical control: Apply mesotrione, flumioxazin, or metribuzin to prevent growth. Postemergence herbicides include  2,4-D, metsulfuron-methyl, paraquat, imazapic, and dicamba.  

12. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Local Name: Dandelion, Common dandelion
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Dandelion is a common perennial broadleaf weed that thrives in the sunny regions of Texas. It produces dense mats of basal leaves, hollow stems, and yellow blooms. 

It is a common weed of lawns, gardens, golf courses, athletics fields, roadsides, meadows, pastures, and other disturbed sites. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: A combination of mulch and landscape fabric can block plant growth.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides containing dithiopyr or isoxaben in the soil to prevent germination. Postemergence herbicides indicated for dandelion control include glyphosate, triclopyr, dicamba, mecoprop, and MCPA. 

13. Chickweed (Stellaria media)

• Local Name: Common chickweed, Birdweed, and Starweed
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Chickweed is a cool-season weed about 30-45 cm tall. It is commonly identified by its hairy sprawling stems, broad oval-shaped leaves, and small white star-shaped flowers.

While it may be a beneficial plant because of its edible leaves, stems, and flowers it is also considered a weed in lawns, gardens, farmlands, grasslands, and waste areas. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• North Africa

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling and cultivation can provide effective control for small infestations.
• Cultural control: Mulching will reduce seed germination and establishment in gardens while maintaining a thick vigorous lawn can control chickweed infestation in turf.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides containing prodiamine, pendimethalin, dithiopyr, and isoxaben in late fall or early winter. Postemergence herbicides containing glyphosate, dicamba, triclopyr, or diquat can be applied in turf lawns, landscapes, and non-planted areas.

14. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)

• Local Name: Bluegrass, Annual blue
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Poa annua is among the top invasive weeds in Texas. The clump-forming grass has vivid green, leaf blades, distinct white flowerheads, and stems that can reach a height of 25 cm.  

It is a common weed of lawns, farmlands, and other turfgrass areas where it forms unsightly brown patches in hot weather. Due to its prolific seed production and prolonged dormancy abilities, it can be a difficult weed to eradicate. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia
• Africa

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Frequent hand-pulling or hoeing can help control bluegrass infestations. The empty spots should be overseeded to grow competitive turfgrass against the weed.
• Chemical control: Apply preemergence herbicides like prodiamine, dithiopyr, oryzalin, and benefin in early fall and the following early spring. Different postemergence herbicides are recommended for different grasses, therefore it’s best to consult a local expert. Alternatively, apply the non-selective glyphosate and replant the desired turfgrass.

15. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

• Local Name: American pokeweed and Common Pokeweed
• Family: Phytolacacceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Pokeweed is a perennial shrub about 3m tall. Apart from its towering height, you can also identify it by its reddish-purple stems and hanging clusters of dark purple to black berries. 

It is a common weed in the eastern part of Texas in farmlands, meadows, fencerows, and waste areas.

It is native to:

• North, Central, West, and Southern United States 

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling is effective for small plants while digging, repeated cutting under the root crown, and tillage can provide better results for established plants.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing dicamba, 2,4-D, and glyphosate for large pokeweed infestations.

16. Southern Dewberry (Rubus trivialis)

• Local Name: Southern Dewberry, Dewberry, and Blackberry
• Family: Rosaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Southern dewberry is a perennial low-growing shrub that can grow up to 90 cm with a spread of about 90-180 cm. It is easily recognizable by its hispid stems, starlike-shaped leaves with teeth on the edges, and showy white flowers.

The weed can be located in the east through central Texas in fields, thickets, roadsides, fencerows, and other disturbed areas.

It is native to:

• Eastern and Southeastern United States
• Mexico

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Pull out the plants at the seedling or low-growing stage. Deep tillage is also required to remove all root fragments. 
• Cultural control: Lay a thick layer of black mulch, straw, or sawdust in winter or spring on the area to prevent germination.
• Chemical control: Apply herbicides containing metsulfuron or triclopyr in the fall for effective control.

17. Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

• Local Name: Hairy crabgrass or hairy finger-grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Crabgrass is a common annual grass weed that is hard to miss in almost every landscape or turfgrass. It has coarse yellowish-green leaf blades that are grass-like, making it hard to identify in its initial growth stage. 

Once the grass is mature, the leaves become lighter and wider, creating an unsightly contrast to the turfgrass. Crabgrass can be found throughout Texas including North Texas, the Gulf Coast, and the Big Bend.

It is native to:

• Europe 
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Uproot or dig the grass using a weeding tool to get rid of the grass weeds.
• Chemical control: Apply a preemergence herbicide containing prodiamine in early spring or postemergence products containing quinclorac or mesotrione such as Tenacity in the summer.

18. Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)

• Local Name: White crownbeard, Iceweed, and Richweed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or Perennial: Biennial and Perennial 

Frostweed is a perennial herb that can grow up to 2m tall. It produces soft oval to lanceolate leaves and clusters of white flowers at the end of the stems. Frostweed is also a beneficial plant for butterflies and bees. 

It is a common weed in many parts of Texas and is mostly found in thickets and the edges of woodlands. 

It is native to:

• Southeastern United States

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Pull or dig the young plants from the roots to prevent establishment.
• Cultural control: Lay a thick layer of mulch, sawdust, or landscape fabric on the area to inhibit seed germination.

19. White Clover (Trifolium repens)

• Local Name: Clover or Dutch clover
• Family: Fabaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

White clover is a perennial herb about 15 cm tall. The low-growing plant forms dense mats with stems creeping up to 7 inches in a year. It is also easily identified by its trifoliate leaves and flowerheads with white florets that also bear a pink to cream hue in maturity. 

While it is considered a valuable forage crop, clover can also be a persistent weed in lawns, gardens, vineyards, pastures, meadows, and roadsides.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Central Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or cultivation can provide effective control for small infestations.
• Cultural control: Lay a thick layer of mulch or landscape fabric to prevent seedling establishment.
• Chemical control: Apply a herbicide containing glyphosate at the seedling stage for effective control of white clover.

20. Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)

• Local Name: Eastern poison ivy or Poison oak
• Family: Anacardiaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Poison ivy is a perennial weed that can grow as an upright or trailing shrub about 1.8 m high, or a woody vine 60-150 cm tall. It is easily identified by its compound leaflets with the middle leaflet more prominent than the other outer two. 

The weed grows throughout Texas and can be located in gardens, lawns, riverbanks, woodland edges, roadsides, valleys, fencerows, and waste areas.

It is native to:

• United States 
• Canada

Removal Methods

• Mechanical methods: Hand-pulling or repeated mowing can control small poison ivy infestations.
• Chemical control: Spray glyphosate herbicide directly on the plants or apply the herbicide on freshly cut stumps to effectively eradicate poison ivy.

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post 20 Most Common Weeds in Texas appeared first on InsightWeeds.

“So, how do I deal with weeds that look like grass?”, you may ask. 

The key to effective control is early identification and targeted treatment to prevent these weeds from taking over your landscape.  

This article will help you achieve all the above by identifying the common weeds that resemble grass and the best control methods to help you keep your flawless lawn.

1. Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

• Local Name: Crabgrass, Hairy crabgrass, and Large crabgrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Crabgrass is perhaps the most infamous annual grassy weed due to its rapid growth and spread on lawns. It has coarse, yellowish-green blades with a width of 3-12mm that grows in a clump, sprawling from a central root. 

The blades are wider and lighter than most common lawn grasses, making it easier to identify.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Mechanical control: Uprooting the weed from the roots using a weeding tool can help control the weed. 
• Chemical control: Apply a pre-emergent herbicide like Quali Prodiamine or post-emergent herbicides like Quinclorac or Tenacity for turf.

2. Quackgrass (Elymus repens)

• Local Name: Common couch and Twitch
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial 

Quackgrass is a common aggressive perennial weed that can grow over 1m in height. The weed’s wide, flat blades 5-30 cm long can be mistaken for lawn grass. 

Its key distinguishing feature is the long, creeping rhizomes that help the weed spread over 3m long. It generally grows quicker than most turf grasses and is easily identified by its height. 

It is native to:

• Europe
• Temperate Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Maintain a dense and healthy turf to outcompete quackgrass.
• Mechanical control: Dig out the quackgrass using a shovel or digging fork to remove the entire plant including the root network.
• Chemical control: Apply a selective herbicide like Certainty or non-selective herbicides like glyphosate or Glufosinate ammonium for effective control.

3. Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

• Local Name: Nutsedge andNutgrass
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Perennial

Nutsedge is a perennial grass-like weed considered one of the biggest problems in lawns and gardens. It has tall triangular stems and thin light green or yellow leaf blades that are stiffer and more upright than typical lawn grass. 

The sedge thrives in damp areas and their presence indicates poor drainage. It grows faster than the surrounding grass, often sticking out above the lawn. Since the weed reproduces through seeds and underground tubers, once established, it often requires quick action to eradicate it.

It is native to:

• North America
• South America
• Africa
• Southern Europe

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Improve drainage, increase shade, or expose the tubers to sunlight.
• Mechanical control: Hand pulling or digging up the plants using a shovel or garden trowel (up to 18 inches down) can provide effective control for small patches.
• Chemical control: Apply selective herbicides containing imazapic, bentazon, or halosulfuron. You can also consider repeated applications of glyphosate on actively growing young plants for faster eradication.

4. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

• Local Name: Silver crabgrass, Wire grass, and Indian goosegrass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual 

Goosegrass is a summer annual weed that can grow between 50-70 cm tall. The weed resembles crabgrass but has a silvery-white center at the base and tends to form flatter, more compact clumps. 

It has a more upright growth habit and spreads rapidly on thin turfs or in compacted soils mostly located in full sunlight. It is one of the most common weeds in agricultural and landscaping environments.

It is native to

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural Methods: Fertilizing and mowing the turfgrass at the recommended height helps prevent goosegrass infestations. Releasing soil compassion through aeration and traffic management can help improve turfgrass competition against goosegrass.
• Mechanical control: Hand-pulling or digging using a tool like a trowel or shovel can be effective for young plants. 
• Chemical control: Apply pre-emergent herbicides with active ingredients such as prodiamine, dithiopyr, oxadiazon, and pendimethalin. Post-emergence herbicides recommended for goosegrass include mesotrione, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, topramezone, or a 2,4-D ester + MCPP + Dicamba + carfentrazone combination.

5. Foxtail (Setaria pumila)

• Local Name: Pigeon grass, Yellow bristle-grass, and Cattail grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or Perennial: Annual

Annual foxtail is an upright annual weed that can grow up to 2m tall. It has flat, bluish-green leaves about 15-30 cm long, similar to many grass blades. The stems are mostly hairless green or a purplish hue. It is also easily identified by its yellow seed heads with bristle-like hairs. 

It is a common and aggressive weed on lawns, agricultural lands, areas near rivers, fencelines, pastures, and roadsides.

It is native to:

• Europe
• Asia

Removal Methods

• Cultural control: Maintain a healthy turfgrass through proper irrigation and fertilization. 
• Mechanical control: Pulling or digging with a hand-held tool can provide effective control for small infestations.
• Chemical control: Apply pre-emergent herbicides with active ingredients such as dithiopyr, prodiamine, or pendimethalin. For existing infestations, consider herbicides containing quinclorac, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, or topramezone. 

Sylvia Kiragu

Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.

insightweeds.com/

The post Common Weeds That Look Like Grass appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Such weeds can complete seed production immediately after flowering. As a result, they can destroy good crops like sugar beets, soybeans, and other vegetables.

Properly managing fast-growing weeds is important to prevent them from spreading and competing with desired plants. 

But what are the examples of fastest-growing weeds, and how can you remove them?

1. Bindweed

Bindweed is a genus of over 200 species of flowering plants identified by their thin thread-like vines. It is native to Europe but is now naturalized worldwide.

The perennial weed spreads from an extensive rootstock and seed. It can be noxious to other plants because the vines wrap themselves tightly to plants. However, the plant reproduces from roots, rhizomes, and stem fragments.

Bindweed can grow fast because the seeds can lie dormant in the soil for many years. Therefore, the best way of removing it is through repeated applications of a pre-emergent herbicide or hoeing.

2. Crabgrass

Crabgrass is an invasive warm-season grass that reproduces by seeds. It also has a prolific branching habit, with a single plant producing hundreds of tillers and seeds.

Crabgrass is an annual weed found in almost every landscape or turf. It is native to Europe or Eurasia and is distributed worldwide.

Crabgrass can be annoying because it thrives well in lawns. You can identify it by its coarse-textured, yellowish-green colour.

You can eliminate crabgrass by applying a granular, selective, pre-emergent herbicide. Alternatively, prune or pull the plant whenever it appears using specialized tools.

3. Dandelion

The Dandelion is one of the worst invasive weeds. The perennial plant is native to Eurasia but widespread throughout North America.

You can identify the weed by its deeply lobed leaves and composite flower heads with bright yellow flowers. Dandelions grow fast because one plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds.

Once dandelions invade your garden or lawn, kill them by digging the weeds by the roots because of their taproot system. Alternatively, you can spray them with a herbicide.

However, if you’ve only spotted a few, simply remove them using dandelion removal tools.

4. Chickweed

Chickweed is a cold-season annual plant recognisable by the line of hairs down its stem. The plant is native to Europe and naturalized worldwide.

Chickweed is one of the weeds that grow tall. The weed can grow up to 18 inches. However, its stem usually sprawls across the ground.

Chickweed thrives in cool, moist, and shaded areas. You will often find it in cultivated fields, pastures, gardens, shady lawns, roadsides, and plantation crops.

You can manage chickweed by hand-pulling or hoeing the plant before it sets seed. Mulching can also prevent its seeds from germinating.

5. Clover

Clover is a genus of over 200 plants native to Europe. The perennial weed has rhizomatous stems that grow up to 30 cm long and have a three-leaf structure.

Clover grows easily in moist fields. Since it is a plant in the legume family, clover naturally fixes nitrogen in the soil. That gives it the property of growing faster in the right conditions.

You can get rid of clover by treating it with a herbicide. Alternatively, consider hand-pulling, hoeing, or mulching to prevent seed germination.

6. Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie is an aromatic, perennial, evergreen weed of the mint family native to Europe. It is also among the worst weeds in the world because it spreads by seeds that can disperse to many areas.

Creeping Charlie gets its name because it has creeping stems or stolons. The plant grows well in moist, shady spots, including under shrubs and trees.

The best way of controlling Creeping Charlie is by mowing the affected area regularly at a height of about three inches. 

Fertilising, overseeding in the fall, and watering the lawn well are other methods of eliminating the plant.

7. Fat hen

Fat hen is among the annoying weeds that grow fast from seeds. The annual plant, native to Europe, grows between 0.2 and 2 metres tall and has matt green, diamond-shaped leaves and white flowers.

Fat hen grows quickly around the open ground, competing with other weeds and plants for nutrients. Also, the weed can out-compete re-seeded areas of grass.

Tackle Fat hen early or immediately once you notice it growing in your garden or lawn. However, other techniques you can use include hoeing to remove young seedlings and pulling by hand before it sets seed.

8. Ground Ivy

Ground Ivy is a perennial scrambling herbaceous plant native to Eurasia. It is also a low-growing, creeping weed that spreads by seed and stolons that root at the nodes.

You can identify Ground Ivy with its opposite, heart-shaped, scalloped leaves and square stems. It mostly grows in moist areas like floodplains, low woods, and disturbed sites.

Ground Ivy is a vigorous grower that spreads across the ground, forming dense patches that push out native plants. Therefore, the best removal methods include herbicide application, hand-pulling, or raking.

9. Henbit

Henbit is an annual or biennial weed native to Europe and Asia and is a member of the mint family. The plant commonly grows in waste areas, landscapes, and no-till fields.

You can identify Henbit by its greenish to purplish, tender stems. Although its stems grow upright, they can also root at the lower nodes.

Henbit has a shallow taproot that becomes branched. Because of the taproot system, removal methods include hand-pulling or hoeing the plant to remove all root fragments. 

Also, a pre-emergent herbicide applied in the fall can prevent henbit from germinating.

10. Japanese knotweed

Japanese knotweed is one of the many invasive garden weeds. It is a herbaceous perennial plant native to Japan, North China, Taiwan, and Korea.

Japanese knotweed can grow up to ten feet tall. It has hollow, bamboo-like stems with purple speckles, and its leaves are large, heart-shaped, and pointed at the tip.

Japanese knotweed can grow up to ten centimetres a day during the summer and overwhelm other plants. 

Therefore, remove it by digging up the entire plant and its extensive root system or applying a selective herbicide to kill it.

There are several other organic ways of removing Japanese Knotweed.

11. Johnson grass

Johnson grass is an annoying perennial grass weed. It is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Africa.

Johnson grass grows to a height of eight feet. It has wide leaves with thickened whitish midribs.

The weed mainly grows in fertile soils. It is invasive and can reduce corn, grain, soybean, cotton, and leguminous forage yields.

You can control Johnson grass by digging up its roots. Alternatively, use a glyphosate-based herbicide to prevent the plant from germinating.

12. Kudzu

Kudzu is a semi-woody, trailing or climbing perennial vine. It is one of the worst and fastest-growing invasive vine weeds native to Asia.

Kudzu has large, trifoliate leaves, each with three leaflets. The weed can grow up to 0.3 meters per day in early summer and up to 18 meters during the growing season.

Also, Kudzu can grow in nearly any type of soil. Therefore, the best removal methods include chemical control, where you repeatedly apply a herbicide. Hoeing can also help remove the entire root system.

 13. Morning glory

Morning glory is a fast-growing flowering vine native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. It thrives well in warm, sunny spots.

Morning glory produces large, heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in various colours, including blue, red, purple, or pink.

Because of its fast-growing properties, Morning glory requires a combination of physical and chemical management to eliminate it. 

In other words, use a hoe to remove its roots or pull the weed by hand. Alternatively, apply a pre-emergent herbicide to kill the plant.

14. Nutsedge

Nutsedge is a perennial weed native to many parts of the world. It grows actively during the frost-free season with stiffer and thicker leaves.

The plant also has a triangular stem in cross-section. During its growth cycle, Nutsedge reproduces by seed and underground tubers. These can remain dormant in the ground for several years.

Thus, chemical application is the best way of removing Nutsedge. Alternatively, you can dig out the plant to remove all its root fragments. 

Reducing soil moisture and fertility can also help reduce the weed populations in your garden.

15. Oxalis

Oxalis is a cool-season perennial weed native to North America but naturalized in the central United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Japan, and New Zealand. 

It is an erect and readily branching weed that often forms dense mats from rhizomes.

Oxalis has leaves divided into three to ten leaflets. All the leaflets arise from a single point on the plant. It also has solitary flowers with five petals.

Oxalis forms adventitious roots when growing. Therefore, you can get rid of the weed by hand-pulling or hoeing. 

But to prevent its seeds from spreading, remove the plant while young and developing before the flowers and seed capsules form.

16. Pigweed

Pigweed is also known as amaranth. It is an edible weed in most parts of the world, especially in Africa. However, the plant is native to North and South America.

Pigweed is a summer annual weed that also acts as a perennial weed. It has oval to diamond-shaped leaves, which alternate on the stem. The plant also produces green, red, or purple flower clusters.

Pigweed is easy to hand pull. You can also use a hoe to remove the weeds from your garden. But as one of the annual weeds, a pre-emergent herbicide will kill it and prevent its future regrowth.

17. Poison ivy

Poison ivy is a woody perennial plant native to North America. It usually grows as a low, spreading shrub with fine stems. In other cases, it grows as an upright, three-foot-tall shrub or a woody vine.

Poison ivy has compound leaves with three glossy and smooth-edged leaflets. The plant also produces small, greenish-white flowers in the spring and white berries in the fall.

You can remove Poison ivy from your garden through hoeing to remove the entire root system. However, the permanent method involves the application of a herbicide.

18. Purslane

Purslane is a summer annual broadleaf weed native to North Africa, the Middle East, and India. It grows rapidly in spring and summer and is an important agricultural weed in some parts of the world.

Purslane has succulent leaves and stems. However, its stems are smooth and reddish and originate from a single taproot.

Although Purslane is an edible plant, it is a weed in many areas. And since it has a taproot system, you can remove it through hand pulling or hoeing.

19. Ragweed

Ragweed is an annual and sometimes perennial weed native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It usually grows a few centimetres tall but can exceed four metres.  

Ragweed has erect, decumbent, or prostrate stems that grow from rhizomes. It has alternately arranged leaves and leaf blades that come in various shapes.

Weed and feed fertilisers are best to control Ragweed in established and actively growing lawns. However, proper management requires the removal of Ragweed before the plant reaches its seed-producing stages.

20. Thistle

Thistle is a name given to a group of plants in the Asteraceae family. These plants are characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins.

Thistles can be annual or perennial plants. These weeds are native to North America, Europe, and Asia.

Thistles grow to a few centimetres tall or exceed five feet tall with dark to light purple flower heads. You can remove them using a stand-up weeding tool to uproot the individual plants.

Have your say?

What challenges have you faced with invasive garden weeds?

Carla Etheridge

Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.

The post 20 fastest-growing weeds and their removal methods appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Here, we will cover the most common tropical weeds that thrive in areas with abundant rainfall and warm temperatures throughout the year.

You’ll be surprised to know that some of the plants considered to be weeds in these areas are highly valued as vegetables, herbs or used for ornamental purposes in other areas.

Here are the 10 common tropical weeds, including their botanical names, characteristics, and ways to eliminate them

1. Creeping foxglove – Asystasia gangetica

• Local names: Chinese violet
• Family: Acanthaceae
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Broadleaf

Creeping foxglove, also known as Chinese violet, is a perennial herb that is native to Asia and Southern Africa.

When mature, the weed can grow up to one meter tall, with dark green leaves and a weak slender stem.

The best way to get rid of creeping foxglove is to use preventative measures to prevent it from spreading.

These methods may include physically hand-pulling the entire plant, especially by its roots, plucking seedpods and uprooting seedlings.

2. Witchweed – Striga Lour

• Local name: Witchweed
• Family: Orobanchaceae
• Annual or perennial: Annual
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Sedge

Witchweed is a parasitic weed that attaches to a host plant to germinate and for early development. The weed originated from North Africa and Asia but has also recently spread to North America.

This perennial weed can grow up to 75cm, with rough green leaves and a thin stem. Witchweed is one of the tropical weeds with colorful blooms characterized by flowers which may be purple, white, yellow, bluish or a mixture of two colors.

Apart from hand pulling, you can also eliminate witchweed by growing trap crops, improving soil fertility, crop rotation and planting resistant crop varieties.

3. Milkweed – Asclepias syriaca

• Local name: Silkweed
• Family: Apocynaceae
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Broadleaf

Named due to its milk-like latex when cut, Milkweed is a perennial flowering herb commonly found in Africa and parts of North and South America.

Milkweed originated from North America and Canada before spreading to other parts of the world. This poisonous weed can grow to about 1.8 meters tall, with simple green leaves and a cluster of pinkish-purple flowers. 

The most effective way to kill milkweed is by spraying herbicides, but you can also uproot the weed when still small.

4. Tridax daisy – Tridax Procumbens

• Local name: Coatbuttons
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or perennial: Annual
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Broadleaf

Tridax daisy is a noxious weed native to tropical America, especially Mexico. This invasive weed can grow to reach 50 cm tall.

Tridax daisy has a hairy stem, oval-shaped green leaves, and daisy-like flowers on branching stalks.

A single daisy plant can produce up to 1,500 achenes, easily spread by wind.

Professional application of herbicides effectively eliminates tridax daisy, although other methods, such as hand-pulling and mowing, can also work.

5. African club moss – Selaginella kraussiana

• Local name: Krauss clubmoss
• Family: Selaginellaceae
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Broadleaf

Characterized by fern-like evergreen leaves, African club moss is a perennial weed naturally found in Sub-Sahara Africa. It is a low-growing plant, which barely exceeds 5 cm tall.

African club moss weed spreads quickly through rooting stems and can be challenging to eliminate.

Therefore, applying herbicides properly and early is advisable, but uprooting the young plant can also help.

6. Bermuda grass – Cynodon dactylon

• Local name: Bahama grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Grass

Bermuda grass is considered a valuable fodder crop. It is a hardy perennial grass that can withstand prolonged drought seasons.

The grass originated from the Indian Ocean basin stretching from East Africa to India.

Bermuda grass spreads fast via its stolons and can be stubborn to eliminate. However, using approved herbicides or pouring boiling water on the grass can aid in killing the grass’s roots.

We’ve previously covered ways to eliminate weeds from Bermuda grass should you wish to use the grass in your lawn.

7. Siam weed – Eupatorium odoratum

• Local name: Devil weed
• Family: Asteraceae
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Broadleaf

Siam weed is another common tropical weed that is native to Central America. This perennial weed can grow up to 10 meters tall in shady areas.

The weed has green leaves that produce an aromatic odor and white-pinkish flowers.

A single Siam weed can produce over 80,000 achenes containing seeds that spread via wind.

You can get rid of the weed through the application of licensed herbicides and pulling it at the roots.

8. Carpet grass – Axonopus compressus

• Local name: Carpet grass
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Grass

Native to the Americas’ tropical and subtropical regions, carpet grass is one of the tropical weed species distinguished by its two-edged seed head.

This perennial grass thrives in warm climates and can easily suppress other crops.

Hand-pulling can be effective in cases where the grass is not widely spread. In other cases, you may need to use herbicides or burning with boiling water to get rid of this weed.

9. Nutgrass – Cyperus esculentus

• Local name: Tiger nut
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Annual or perennial: Annual and Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Sedge

Nutgrass, also called tiger nut, is one of the weeds in tropical regions that are both perennial and annual plants.

The invasive weed can grow up to 90 cm tall with triangular stems and fibrous roots with nut-like tubers.

Tiger nut can produce as many as 2400 seeds in a single plant, spreading quickly. A common natural method for eliminating nutgrass is to pull it from the roots.

But for a more effective solution, consider applying herbicides.

10. Couchgrass – Elymus repens

• Local name: Common couch
• Family: Poaceae
• Annual or perennial: Perennial
• Grass, sedge or broadleaf: Grass

Lastly, we have couchgrass, a perennial grass native to Africa, Europe and Asia. This grass can grow up to 50 cm tall and has root stalks that aid in rapid spreading and thin hairy leaves.

Couchgrass is a very invasive weed as its root stalks can entangle around the roots of crops. It is, therefore, good to lightly pull the weed from the loose ground or dig deep to remove the grass.

Carla Etheridge

Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.

The post 10 common tropical weeds and their botanical names appeared first on InsightWeeds.

Fortunately, there are several solutions that you can use to get rid of the nutsedge from your property.

The best way to get rid of nutsedge is by using nutsedge grass killer herbicides. chemical herbicides that are designed for nutsedge offer the best results and will take the least effort.

However, if you don’t mind a little bit of work, you can try eradicating the weed mechanically – by hands or using garden tools. The other alternative is to use various natural weed control solutions.

Description and identification of nutsedge grass

Before looking at possible elimination solutions, it’s important to first understand what you are dealing with.

Nutsedge grass (also known as nutgrass) is a perennial plant that comes from the sedge (Cyperaceae) family. It looks like grass, but in reality, it is not.

Nutgrass can be identified by its fast growth rate and hardy nature – it will be standing tall even in summer. It has v-shaped stems, with leaves that branch out in three directions.

The leaves are waxy, blade-like, appear creased, and sport prominent mid-veins. They are also light green or yellow in color and stick up from the plant.

Another characteristic of the nutsedge grass is their root system – they develop tubers (nutlets) and rhizomes. These are what make them a nightmare, as they can survive in the soil for a long time.

They are responsible for sprouting new plants when the conditions are conducive. On top of that, the plant can thrive in nearly all soils and is perennial in nature.

How to control nutsedge grass?

Nutgrass might be hard to kill, but it is possible with the following solutions:

1. Mechanical or manual control

If you are dealing with small patches of nutsedge grass – at the young growth stage – mechanical control is a good solution.

It involves pulling the plant by hand and/or digging it up using gardening tools. This method is also the best solution to get rid of nutsedge in flower beds and gardens.

When pulling the grass, make sure you get the entire plant – including the nutlets, rhizomes, and roots. Failure to do so will leave stressed tubers in the soil, which will only stimulate them to sprout.

Therefore, it is a good idea to use some gardening tools such as a shovel, garden fork, or garden trowel. Dig down a distance of about 18 inches – which is how deep the nutsedge grass-root develops.

2. Using herbicides

Chemical control using post-emergent herbicides is the other solution available for controlling nutgrass. Glysophate products (such as Round-Up) are a popular solution for nutsedge control.

Unfortunately, it is a non-selective nutgrass killer herbicide – which might also kill lawn grass and other plants.

Therefore, you might want to consider looking for a selective nutsedge grass killer if it has invaded your lawn.

Such herbicides include those containing bentazon, imazaquin, and halosulfuron as active ingredients. For example, SedgeHammer herbicide (containing halosulfuron) offers excellent results against nutgrass.

How to get the best results when using herbicides

While herbicides are a great solution, the outcome will largely depend on how you apply the chemical. Below is a look at some tips that can help guarantee maximum effectiveness:

• Mix the herbicide with a surfactant product to allow it to stick on the waxy leaves.
• Apply the herbicide when the nutgrass is growing optimally (warm weather and moist soil). This will allow for a deeper absorption than say, for example, when applied in droughty conditions. If possible, water the grass the day before application.
• Avoid applying the chemical during hot and dry weather. Doing so will lead to faster evaporation of the herbicide, not to mention increase the chances of damaging the lawn grass.
• Avoid mowing two days before application to ensure there are enough leaves to absorb the chemical. You should also not mow for two or more days after applying the chemical, to allow for ample absorption time.
• Try applying the herbicide when the weed plants are at a young growth stage. This will minimize plant stress, thus reducing the chance of re-sprouting.

More often than not, you will need two or more applications to completely kill the nutsedge grass. Therefore, after the first application, monitor the grass for a few days or weeks, then apply again if you notice new sprouts.

3. Using natural weed control measures

Aside from chemical options, it is possible to kill nutgrass naturally using homemade remedies. They are ideal if you don’t like the idea of adding chemicals to your lawn or garden.

However, you should note that they are not selective. You should, therefore, use them with caution:

The following are some of the top natural remedies for killing nutgrass:

1. Vinegar

Vinegar contains acetic acid that can burn the leaves of the nutgrass, killing the plant. For the best result, use vinegar with 10% or higher concentration and spray it directly to the nutgrass.

You might need several applications to completely kill the weed.

2. Molasses or sugar

Sugar might seem like an absurd idea, but it is an excellent natural weed solution. It encourages lawn grass and other plants to seek out nitrogen, making them more competitive.

As a result, the weeds lack nitrogen and they’ll die off. You can use granulated sugar (dissolved in water) on your nutgrass, or spray horticultural molasses.

3. Liquid dish soap

Liquid dish soap is another powerful natural nutgrass killer. It coats the leaves of the plant, interfering with their physiological processes.

It is also a great surfactant, which you can mix with other natural or chemical agents for increased effectiveness.

4. Burning

If your nutgrass is driving you nuts, you can grab a blowtorch and go to work on it. However, the flame will only kill the top growth – not the tubers growing underground.

Therefore, you might want to further dig up the area to remove any root systems left behind.

Say goodbye to nutsedge grass

Nutsedge grass might appear like natural grass, but it is an invasive weed plant.

It is fast-growing, spreading easily through the use of underground tubers. It is also very resilient and can withstand harsh climates, as well as some weed control techniques.

However, with the above solutions, you can be able to get rid of nutgrass from your lawn, yard, or garden. It might take time and several tries, but you can finally say goodbye to the annoying weed plant.

Related Guides

• Ways to get rid of broadleaf weeds without killing grass
• How to get rid of small purple flowers in your lawn
• Will vinegar kill pampas grass?

Carter

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.

The post How to get rid of nutsedge grass from your lawn appeared first on InsightWeeds.