Kentucky may be home to thoroughbred horse racing and bourbon, but it’s also the ideal environment for several obnoxious and invasive weeds. From chickweed to yellow nutsedge, we’ll explain how to identify some of the most common weeds in Kentucky lawns.
The most common weeds in Kentucky
Kentucky falls within planting zones 6 and 7, offering a subtropical and humid climate that creates an ideal environment for a variety of plants to thrive, including weeds. Kentucky homeowners will often find themselves battling against all kinds of invasive and stubborn weeds that can negatively affect not only curb appeal but also lawn health.
But just what is an invasive weed? Also known as “noxious” weeds, invasive weeds are plants that grow so aggressively that they harm and disrupt the local ecosystem, and Kentucky is one of the “States Most At Risk for Invasive Plant Species.”
Even non-invasive weeds are tough to get rid of, though, often needing diligent upkeep to keep them at bay. Here are the most common weeds in Kentucky:
Common chickweed (Stellaria media)
Common chickweed is a winter annual that appears in mid-to-late summer and produces thousands of seeds until it completes its life cycle in the spring. This invasive weed can adapt to almost all kinds of environments and conditions.
It grows 2 to 6 inches high, forming a dense 3-8 inch wide mat of spreading stems with light green, hairless, rounded leaves with pointed tips. Common chickweed produces white flowers with five white petals that are indented to the point they appear to have ten petals.
Kentucky homeowners find chickweed a nuisance because it takes over lawns and gardens and provides a home for insects and plant viruses. For more information on how to eliminate this weed, visit our article: “How to Get Rid of Chickweed.”
Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.)
Crabgrass is an opportunistic weed that crowds out Kentucky lawn grasses weakened by summer heat. Named for its crab leg-shaped branches, this flat, annual weed germinates in spring, matures during the summer, and dies at the first frost.
Crabgrass thrives in hot weather and prefers thinning grass or areas of your lawn with bare soil and is often seen along sidewalks and curbs, where the soil is shallow or poor.
A single crabgrass plant can produce around 150,000 seeds in the growing season. These seeds will remain dormant until spring. To learn how to keep crabgrass from taking over your lawn, read our article: “How to Get Rid of Crabgrass.”
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelions are a rapidly spreading nuisance. They spread by seed and by taproot. The seeds are tufted, which means they can spread far and wide, drifting across the wind like lazy little parachutes. They also resprout from the taproot, even if the foliage above-ground has been removed.
The word dandelion comes from the French phrase “dent de lion” (translation: lion’s tooth). Although this name refers to the toothed leaves, dandelion flowers are also yellow and fluffy like a lion’s mane. For guidance on how to remove these little lions’ teeth (or manes) from your yard, check out our article: “How to Treat Dandelions in Your Yard.”
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Garlic mustard grows in clumps with round to heart-shaped, toothed leaves and small cross-shaped white flowers that bloom in spring. Garlic mustard is a member of the mustard family, and all parts of the plant are actually edible, with the leaves smelling like garlic. This plant can be used in soups, salads, and sauces.
However, despite its culinary qualities, garlic mustard has become an invasive weed in many U.S. states, including Kentucky. It grows in damp, shady places and crowds out other plants. A single garlic mustard plant can produce hundreds of seeds from its seed pods.
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Also known as cat’s foot due to the shape of the leaves, ground ivy is a creeping, evergreen member of the mint family. It spreads in a low-forming mat of hairy, kidney-shaped leaves and light purple two-lipped flowers.
This invasive weed spreads with nodes produced from its stems. When these stems finish blooming, they droop and form new roots at the nodes.
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
A cool-seasoned annual member of the mint family, henbit gets its name from the simple fact that chickens seem to like it. Henbit grows stems with clusters of hairy, scalloped leaves and pink or purple tubular flowers. It is often mistaken for deadnettle.
Henbit is invasive, especially in thinning lawns with moist soil and shade. This plant spreads by seed, although pieces of the stem can take root in moist soil.
Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Johnsongrass is a tall, coarse, invasive perennial grass with lance-shaped leaves with a white midrib. It has large, loose, open clusters of flowers with purple to red seeds at the tip.
Johnsongrass can pop up in landscapes and gardens, growing and spreading aggressively, robbing Kentucky grass seed of nutrients and resources. If left alone, it can grow up to 10 feet tall.
Pro Tip: One of the best ways to eliminate unwanted grasses is to cultivate a full, thick lawn. To learn more about what types of grass will thrive in Kentucky, read our article: “The Best Grass Seed for Kentucky Lawns.”
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)
Kudzu is a dense and invasive vine that rapidly covers nearby vegetation. It has three-leaflet leaves with hairy undersides; woody, hairy stems; and small, purple flowers that bloom in late summer and later produce hairy, flat seed pods.
Kudzu often grows unchecked along woodland edges, vacant lots, and property lines in residential areas. Its aggressive and rapid growth makes it seem uncontrollable. It also serves as the primary host for the troublesome kudzu bug, making this weed even less welcome to Kentucky homeowners.
Don’t let kudzu get your goat: Instead, read our article on how to “Rent a Goat to Remove Invasive Weeds Naturally.”
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
Rosa multiflora is a deciduous shrub with green to reddish stems and recurved thorns. Clusters of attractive and fragrant white to pink flowers bloom in the spring.
Originally promoted as a living fence, multiflora rose is now considered an invasive bush, posing significant problems along fence rows. It often forms dense thickets that out-compete and disrupt Kentucky’s native ecosystem. Its aggressive growth and seed production also make it a difficult weed to manage.
Plantain (Plantago spp.)
With over 250 species of Plantago worldwide, plantain is a diverse lawn weed. It grows in compact and disturbed soil that receives plenty of foot traffic. Plantains have broad, oval-shaped leaves with a narrow base and long-stemmed seed heads that can produce up to 20,000 seeds.
Though it can control erosion, plantain also crowds out other plants and steals their nutrients, making it an aggressive Kentucky weed.
White clover (Trifolium repens)
White clover creates a spreading mat with a three-leaflet pattern and small white, sweet-smelling flowers. It grows in moist soil with partial shade.
White clover provides many benefits. It is often grown as a groundcover since it improves nitrogen in the soil and provides erosion control. It is also good forage for livestock and a favorite among pollinators like honeybees. However, white clover spreads aggressively and can take over your lawn, as it responds to mowing with more growth.
To learn more about how to keep white clover at bay without damaging your lawn, read our article: “How to Get Rid of Clover on Your Lawn.”
Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Yellow nutsedge, also known as watergrass, is a nuisance weed that spreads aggressively underground by tubers and rhizomes. It prefers wet, warm areas with full sun but will grow in many different environments, including both lawns and agricultural fields, robbing other plants of nutrients. Its yellow, antennae-like seed pods are how yellow nutsedge gets its name.
The best method of getting rid of this glossy green, narrow-leafed perennial is to pull it by hand, but unfortunately, doing so can leave broken roots that create more roots in their place, like a hydra.
To rid your lawn of this nuisance weed, check out: “How to Get Rid of Nutsedge.”
FAQ about weeds in Kentucky
What are the tallest weeds in Kentucky?
There are a number of weeds in Kentucky that can reach heights of 15 feet if left to grow, and these towering nuisance plants are difficult to manage if left unchecked:
- Johnsongrass
- Kudzu
- Giant ragweed
- Pokeweed
- Giant foxtail
- Wild hemp
Which Kentucky weeds are edible?
Several common Kentucky weeds are edible and can be used in various ways that are both nutritional and tasty, such as salads and herbal teas:
- Dandelion
- Lambsquarters
- Chickweed
- Plantain
- Garlic mustard
- Wood sorrel
- Purslane
- Wild mustard
What are the most toxic weeds in Kentucky?
Some Kentucky weeds pose a significant health risk, causing anything from digestive issues to serious medical conditions. It’s important to identify these weeds to avoid any dangers to you, your family, or your pets:
- Poison hemlock
- Pokeweed
- Giant hogweed
- White snakeroot
- Black nightshade
- Foxglove
- Water hemlock
- Deadly nightshade
- Wild parsnip
- Jimsonweed
Hire a pro
If your Kentucky weeds have taken over your landscape, let Lawn Love connect you with lawn care professionals in your area for all of your lawn care needs. Efficient and affordable service is right at your fingertips.
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