Crabgrass is the most notorious weed in Pennsylvania, but yellow nutsedge and many broadleaf weeds like black medic and broadleaf plantain also call the Keystone State home.
Weeds can wreak havoc on your lawn, so it’s key to identify and handle them promptly. Here are the most common weeds in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s broadleaf weeds
Black medic (Medicago lupulina L.)
Black medic has heart-shaped leaves and produces dainty yellow flowers blooming from March to December. As the weed matures, its flowers become its characteristic black seed pods. The plant looks like the yellow woodsorrel and clover, but its center leaf has a slightly longer stem.
You’re likely to find a black medic in full sun. It likes compacted, fine textures and poorly-drained soils low in organic matter. Although black medic is usually considered a weed, it’s sometimes planted as a fodder plant and is beneficial to honeybees.
Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major)
Broadleaf plantain grows large, oval, dark-green leaves with wavy edges and tall, seed-producing spikes. It may produce as many as 14,000 seeds per year and is most common in the US, right after dandelions.
You’re likely to find broadleaf plantain in your lawn or garden, but it’s also common along roadsides. It grows under any amount of sunlight but prefers direct sun. Neglected, compacted, and soggy soil are especially at risk.
Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
The prickly bull thistle forms a rosette in the first year and spine-covered, upright stems with reddish-purple flower heads the next year. The year after, the spine-covered stems elongate in the summer and produce more leaves. The plant blooms from June to October and thrives in full sun and nitrogen-rich soil with moderate moisture. It only reproduces from seeds that germinate in the spring and can grow as tall as three feet.
Bull thistle is hard to remove because of its taproots. You might choose to manage it just by mowing. Nevertheless, when removing or handling this weed, be careful of its prickly wings that lie at the plant’s stem.
It’s noteworthy to say that the plant isn’t all bad, though; it’s beneficial to pollinators like butterflies and bees.
Dandelions (Taraxacum sp.)
Dandelions are the most common weed in the US. You’re most likely already familiar with its bright yellow flowers and long, narrow leaves. After these flowers bloom, the plant forms puffballs. These easily disperse the plant’s seeds, so it can grow again. Additionally, dandelions grow strong, long taproots. This makes the dandelion troublesome to completely remove from your lawn or garden.
On the bright side, as long as you don’t mind the aesthetics of dandelions, they’re actually beneficial to your lawn. They’re natural aerators and help reduce soil erosion. Plus, they’re also pollinators. So, if desired, you can manage them by mowing and then letting them grow again. You can also shade out dandelions with tall grass. Read more about how to treat dandelions in our guide.
Dead nettle (Lamium purpureum L.)
The dead nettle has a square stem, fuzzy leaves, purple tops, and dainty, pinkish-purple flowers that start growing in April. When the plant is young, its top leaves are a bright purple color, too. They may even be brighter than the plant’s flowers. You’ll most often find this plant growing in patches, in full sun to moderate shade, and in moist soils.
The name dead nettle is actually misleading. This weed is not truly a nettle plant, but is part of the mint family and doesn’t sting. Even though you may be annoyed to find the dead nettle on your lawn or yard, it’s beneficial to pollinators.
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Ground ivy, also called creeping Charlie, spreads up to 7 feet long and grows evergreen, heart-shaped leaves as well as clusters of purple flowers in March to July. It does well in full sun to partial shade. Its roots are so firmly attached that the weed is a real challenge to pull out.
Sometimes, ground ivy is used as a ground cover, but it’s so aggressive that it can easily overtake a whole yard. It also contains toxins. However, at least this weed looks quite nice and is also foraged by pollinators in the spring.
Here’s how to get rid of ground ivy.
Spotted spurge (Chamaesyce maculata L.)
Spotted spurge grows in clusters. It spreads out from the center, and then lays itself flat on the ground. Its leaves are small and oval-shaped, and its stems are red and fuzzy. Inside the stem is a milky substance that can irritate the skin. The plant’s seeds are sticky and likely to attach to your shoes, pets, or tires.
You’ll most likely find the spotted surge in your yard if your soil is compacted or has bald spots, in either full sun or partial shade. It’s common near ornamental beds and sidewalk cracks and is especially seen in the summer months. We’ll show you how to get rid of it in our designated article.
White clover (Trifolium repens L.)
White clover is a small flower growing close to the ground and blooming with white, dainty flowers in May. These brown with age but continue to bloom until October. The plant’s signature feature, though, is its three oval leaflets, each having white or light green, V-shaped “watermarks.” As mentioned above, sometimes clover is confused with the black medic or yellow woodsorrel. However, the stem of the black medic’s center leaf is longer, and the yellow woodsorrel has small, heart-shaped, light yellow-green leaves that are almost transparent.
This weed is hardy and easily grows through spring, summer, and fall, in full sun but also in the shade with fertilization. It thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6 to 7. Some people grow clover instead of grass as a low-maintenance lawn replacement. Here are other types of clover.
Yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)
The yellow woodsorrel produces yellow flowers in mid-spring. It grows up to 15 inches but is much shorter on mowed lawns. Yellow woodsorrel looks like clover, but the plants aren’t the same. The yellow woodsorrel has small, heart-shaped, light yellow-green leaves that are almost transparent and turn burgundy in the summer. Moreover, it also resembles the black medic. However, as mentioned above, the black medic has a longer stem at its center leaf than the yellow woodsorrel.
This pesky weed has the potential to take over your lawn, especially in full sun and moist, fertile soil. It’s an adaptable plant, however, and it can grow in the shade, too. The yellow woodsorrel’s seeds explode out of a capsule and can travel up to 12 feet.
Other weeds in Pennsylvania
Crabgrass (Digitaria)
Crabgrass is the number one weed problem in Pennsylvania, and it needs early prevention. This grassy, light-green weed has messy, sprawling stems. It usually grows in clumps, sometimes as tall as 2 feet.
There are two types of crabgrass in Pennsylvania: large and smooth. Large crabgrass has more hairs on its stem, while smooth crabgrass has almost none.
You’re likely to find this grass in full sun on thin parts of your lawn. And it can grow in almost any soil. Here’s how to get rid of crabgrass.
Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Yellow nutsedge is a persistent, aggressive sedge weed. Its signature feature is its seed heads that look like bottle brushes. It’s also known for its yellow-green leaves. Yellow nutsedge grows tall in the heat of Pennsylvania’s summer and thrives in full sun and moist, poorly-drained soils.
It’s hard to completely remove yellow nutsedge because of its extensive network of roots and rhizomes. But it’s possible if you’re willing to break a sweat. Here’s how to identify and remove the yellow nutsedge.
Other lawn care resources for Pennsylvania
Check out the following articles to help you care for your Pennsylvania lawn:
- The Best Grass Seed for Pennsylvania Lawns
- When to Fertilize Your Lawn in Pennsylvania
- When to Dethatch Your Lawn in Pennsylvania
- When to Stop Mowing Your Lawn in Pennsylvania
Let Lawn Love help
Dealing with weeds is one of the most frustrating parts of lawn care. With Lawn Love, it doesn’t have to be. Call, click or tap the Lawn Love app for an instant quote and watch your weeds disappear.
Main Image Credit: orestligetka | Adobe Stock Free | License
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