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Lawn Weed Identification

Lawn Weed Identification For A Green Yard

Lawn weeds are a problem for many of us and learning to identify them is a first step in the process of eliminating them.  We do want to eliminate them, right?  We want to do it the green way, right?

Let's take a look at some of the more popular lawn weeds and how we can eliminate them without the use of chemicals, the green way.

Lawn Weed

Lawn Weed Identification

• Crabgrass : Crabgrass has flat, sharply pointed leaves, dull green in color.  During August and September crabgrass may flower with purplish finger like spikes.  The best control for this lawn weed is to maintain the lawn, being careful not to mow to short or water to often.  This weed can be easily hand pulled.
• Goosegrass : This summer annual is known for dark green leaves, pubescent near the base.  They can grow up to twelve inches long.  Goosegrass is maintained by hand pulling and good lawn health.  Close mowing is good and frequent watering is not good.  It is also helpful to reduce soil compaction by not walking on it.
• Tall Fescue : This weed grows best in the cool seasons and is a bunch-type grass.  They develop a deep root system and have wide leaves.  Proper turf care is the best way to keep these out of your lawn.  Be sure to pull them as soon as they become visible.
• Creeping Bentgrass : Creeping bentgrass forms dense patches of fine-textured grass and grows vigorously above ground.  You may see purplish flowers in spring and early summer.  To avoid this weed mow close, don't over fertilize or over water.
• White Clover : This weed creeps and forms patches in the lawn.  The leaves have crescent shaped white markings and are dark green in color.  These can be easily pulled and not fertilizing heavily with phosphorus.
• Ground Ivy : This weed will also form patches in the lawn, growing on stems that can reach several feet.  The leaves are round to kidney shaped and medium to dark green in color.  Ground Ivy usually develops in damp shady places.  Reducing shade and moisture are ways of combating it.  Hand pulling may be difficult but worth a try.
• Common Chickweed : Chickweed is low growing and can form large dense patches.  The leaves are oval in shape and bright green in color.  You will see this weed mostly in winter.  They can be easily pulled and allowing the lawn to dry completely will help keep them away.
• Dandelion : The cool season usually brings lots of Dandelions.  They are recognized by their yellow flowers.  Mowing a little more often than normal will help to eliminate them, not letting the seeds mature.  When pulling try, to get the roots.

Lawn weed identification might prove useful if you have a particularly nasty weed problem.  When all the hand pulling and proper lawn care seems to do no good at all it's time to identify the growth and get serious about it.  Taking a sample to your local nursery will probably get the plant identified.  If you are really lucky you may also get a good green, chemical free, cure.

Green Lawn

Have you ever considered how much that lawn is costing you in terms of water, time and money?  If you have ever doubted your sanity for spending so much time and money on a perfect green lawn you may want to read on.  The rest is about losing your lawn, and the weeds that go along with it.  It's just another of the many steps to going green.

Lose your lawn is actually a movement, slowly building speed in the green community.  When you consider that grass is only minimally decorative, is non-edible and provides no shade you might agree there are better options worth looking into.  Consider also the massive amounts of water wasted yearly on lawns, it's a staggering amount, especially when some in this world have no drinking water and there are places where farmers cannot water their crops.  Consider also the amount of air pollution going into the air from lawn mowers, weed eaters and leaf blowers.  And how about the environmental damage done by pouring all of the chemicals into the ground that an average yard owner uses each year?  And lastly, how about a little peace and quite on a Sunday morning, instead of the sounds of engines coming from all corners of the neighborhood.

The green way to handle your yard is to work with, not against, the natural process.  Turn your yards into a mini-nature preserve full of organically grown food.  Joining the lose your yard movement could be one of the healthiest things you have ever done for yourself, your family and your planet.

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