Some of the most common weeds in East Texas are grassy weeds such as Bermudagrass and crabgrass; sedges such as purple and yellow nutsedge; and broadleaf weeds such as buttonweed, burweed, and dollarweed.
In this article, we’ll focus on the most common weeds in the eastern part of the Lone Star State. If you’re looking for the most common weeds for the entire state, visit our article: “The Most Common Texas Weeds.”
Broadleaf weeds
Also known as Virginia buttonweed, this weed is a serious problem for lawns in the eastern half of Texas. Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana) loves low, wet areas. This warm-season perennial has smooth stems and forms button-like seed pods at the junctions of the stems with the leaves, hence the name “buttonweed.”
Its leaves may develop a purplish color and, during summer and fall, buttonweed produces tiny white flowers with four petals that resemble a star. Although cute, this weed can easily take over and is hard to see in thick lawns. See how to treat this weed in our article: “How to Control Virginia Buttonweed.”
Lawn burweed
A winter annual, lawn burweed (Soliva sessilis) is also known as spurweed and stickerweed. The leaves are small and divided into three, resembling parsley. In the spring, burweed produces seedheads in its leaf axils that have sharp spines that can hurt when in contact with skin, besides getting caught on shoes, clothes, and pet fur (much like sandbur).
You can control burweed by applying a post-emergent herbicide before the blooming period or using a pre-emergent herbicide in January or February. Visit our article to learn how to apply pre-emergent herbicides.
Dollarweed
A perennial broadleaf weed, dollarweed (Hydrocotyle sp.) is commonly found in wet soils and areas near water. Also known as pennywort, dollarweed forms round, bright-green leaves with wavy margins.
Unfortunately, there are no effective pre-emergent herbicides on the market to treat dollarweed. But there are other things you can do to get rid of it, like hand-pulling and applying a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide. Learn more about getting rid of this weed in our article: “How to Get Rid of Dollarweed.”
Grassy weeds
Sandbur
Sandbur (Cenchrus spinifex Cav.) is a mat-forming weed that loves sandy soils. Both annual (Cenchrus echinatus) and perennial (Cenchrus spinifex) species can be found in Texas. This grassy weed has spiny inflorescences (clusters of flowers) that can get caught in your pet’s fur, your clothes, and can even cause painful injuries when in direct contact with skin.
The control options for sandbur include pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides (with the latter being only applicable to Bermudagrass lawns). Visit our guide on how to get rid of weeds in grass to learn more about what you can do to manage grassy weeds.
Bermudagrass
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One of the most common turfgrasses in Texas, Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is used in home lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields. But because of its aggressive growth, Bermudagrass can also act as an unwanted weed, creeping in ornamental beds and lawns with other turfgrasses. It’s also listed as one of the top three most troublesome weeds in crops.
Cultural control of Bermudagrass includes increasing shade from trees and shrubs (since it thrives in full sun), manually removing it in small areas, and applying post-emergent herbicides. See how to apply these herbicides in our article: “How and When to Apply Post-Emergent Herbicides.”
Pro Tip: If you have a Bermudagrass lawn, don’t miss our Bermudagrass maintenance calendar for Texas, where you have a month-by-month guide for your yearly lawn care tasks.
Crabgrass
Two species of crabgrass are found in Texas: large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum). This annual grassy weed shows up in the spring and dies with the first frost, being one of the most problematic turfgrass weeds in the state.
Because it is one of the first weeds to germinate in spring, homeowners are advised to apply pre-emergent herbicides to treat crabgrass. Learn how you can eliminate crabgrass in our article: “How to Get Rid of Crabgrass.”
Goosegrass
A common nuisance in many lawns in east Texas, goosegrass (Eleusine indica) is a summer annual weed that grows in clumps, typically identified by its white center. Its flower clusters resemble a “zipper.” Goosegrass is often found on compacted soils in high-traffic areas.
You can get rid of goosegrass by applying pre-emergent herbicides during spring on warm-season grasses. If you have a Bermudagrass lawn, you can also apply a post-emergent herbicide to treat goosegrass.
Pro Tip: You can relieve soil compaction and prevent goosegrass by aerating your lawn. Learn the best time to do so in our article: “When to Aerate Your Lawn in Texas.”
Sedges
Nutsedge
Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) are both perennial species known to creep across Texas lawns, including the eastern range of the state. Nutsedge can be easily mistaken for grass, but you can tell them apart by their stems (nutsedge has a characteristic triangular stem).
Besides the different colors of their seedheads (reflected in the name of each species), yellow nutsedge has narrow and pointy leaf tips, while purple nutsedge has a wider leaf tip. Learn how you can deal with nutsedge in our article: “How to Identify and Get Rid of Nutsedge in Your Lawn.”
Learn more about Texas lawn care
If you’re interested in lawn maintenance and gardening tips for Texas, our other guides might be useful for you:
- The Best Grass for East Texas Lawns
- The Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Texas
- When to Fertilize Your Lawn in East Texas
- When to Dethatch Your Lawn in Texas
- Zoysiagrass Maintenance Calendar for Texas
- St. Augustinegrass Maintenance Calendar for Texas
- The Best Lawn Fertilizers for Texas
When to call a pro
If you’re struggling with pesky weeds on your lawn, know that you don’t have to battle these invaders on your own. We have qualified lawn care pros in Houston, Tyler, and throughout Texas. Contact our trusted pros today and get started on the path to a weed-free lawn.
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