14 Common Weeds That Could Be Growing In Your Lawn

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14 Common Weeds That Could Be Growing In Your Lawn

14 Common Weeds That Could Be Growing In Your Lawn

It’s true, NO ONE wants to have any sort of weeds growing in their lawn. 

They are a nuisance, and they are typically quite unsightly. 

However, there are actually different types of weeds. Additionally, there are different types of weeds that grow in different areas of the country. These weeds all have very different characteristics. 

Some are very unsightly, but others actually have flowers or other uses!

Close-up of white yarrow flowers (Achillea millefolium) with green leaves in the background.1. White Clover

A very common weed in most of the United States, except the deep south, is White Clover. White Clover has white flower-like tops. However, the "flowers" do not have traditional petals. 

Their petals are actually quite pointy looking and numerous, and they form a round formation at the top of the plant. These also have distinctive clover leaves. Most of these have three leaves. However, a very small number of them have four leaves. 

Traditionally, finding a four leafed clover is seen as an omen of good luck!

Overhead view of white clover (Trifolium repens) amidst green foliage.2. Yarrow

In all of the United States except Florida, a weed called Yarrow grows. Yarrow has small white flowers attached to stalks. 

It can also have other colored flowers, such as pink and red. It is actually used in herbal medicine. Additionally, yarrow is an additive to some liquors.

Close-up of a cluster of witchgrass (Panicum capillare) with a clear blue sky in the background.3. Witchgrass

Another common weed is witchgrass. This weed is rather unsightly, and it has many small buds on thin projections coming out of a stalk. When conditions are right, this plant can become a "tumbleweed"

When conditions become dry, the small buds and the thin projections attached to them break off from the main part of the plant. These projections then blow around.

Close-up of a grassy plant with seed heads in a circular frame.4. Speedwell

Speedwell is another weed that grows in many areas. However, this is restricted to the east coast to the north of Virginia. This plant has flowers that grow off of it, and it is typically not too unsightly. 

In fact, speedwell is sometimes planted as an ornamental plant. However, it obviously appears distinctly different from the lawn itself.

5. Quackgrass

Quackgrass is also extremely common. This grass looks just as the name suggests. It is a form of grass, but it is very different from what you want in your lawn. It tends to be quite tall, with chutes coming out of the top. 

This grass is all over in the United States, except for Arizona and Florida. 

In fact, it even grows as far north as the arctic!

6. Moneywort

Moneywort is a common weed in all areas except the northern plains. This weed is quite common, but it stays low to the ground. 

For this reason, it is sometimes not as easily noticed. It has dark, rounded leaves. Sometimes, it can flower yellow flowers.

7. Mallow

Mallow grows everywhere except Florida. Like moneywort, it can grow pretty low to the ground. However, the leaves have a different shape.

Instead of having small rounded leaves, the leaves are a bit larger. They also have somewhat jagged edges and are not round.

8. German Knotweed

German Knotweed is common in coastal areas of the Atlantic and the Pacific northwest. 

Like the name suggests, this weed has knotty looking leaves. It also has a rather stalky structure. The appearance of these weed is rather unsightly.

Close-up of tall grass-like plant with a note on photo credit in a circular frame.9. Goosegrass

Goosegrass is a grass. Like Quackgrass, it is different from the grass in your lawn. 

It has thin stalks and long leaves. It can grow quite tall, and it definitely stands out against the background of your lawn. It grows in all areas but the Pacific northwest.

Close-up of a dandelion seed head ready to disperse seeds in a circular frame.10. Japanese Clover

Japanese Clover grows only in the south.

This is a clover, but it is different from the traditional white clover. It grows rather tall, and it is quite stalky.

Infographic section titled '8. GAS OR EXHAUST OF VEHICLES' advising on using vehicle exhaust to control gophers, with a cautionary note.11. Horsetails

Horsetails grow everywhere but the southeast. They are quite stalky. 

Their stalks are also different from a lot of stalks. The stalks have small black markings on them.

Close-up of a small blue flower with white center on green foliage in a circular frame.12. Dallisgrass

Dallisgrass is common in the southern United States.

 It is a tall grass, and it has long chutes. Unlike Quackgrass, it is fairly thin stalked with thin leaves.

Close-up of a green plant with small leaves in a circular frame.13. Dandelions

Dandelions grow everywhere in the United States. 

They are very distinctive with the white "puffballs" that grow on the tops of them. In addition to growing the puffballs, dandelion flowers can also be eaten.

Close-up of a green reed-like plant with nodes in a circular frame.14. Virginia Buttonweed

In the southeastern part of the United States, a plant called Virginia Buttonweed grows as a weed. This plant flowers. However, it is more unsightly than Speedwell

It tends to be rather stalky, and it has long and dark colored leaves.

Identifying Weeds in a Nutshell

Weeds in your lawn vary across the US. Some, like White Clover and Yarrow, have distinct features and uses. Others, like Quackgrass and Dandelions, are widespread nuisances. They differ in appearance and regions they grow in.

At the end of the day, identifying weeds is not all that difficult, considering most of them are common.

Much like the type of grass in your lawn, identifying weeds is all about learning how to ID them. 

For more great articiles on lawn care, check out our lawn care blog.


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