Georgia homeowners are familiar with dandelions and crabgrass, but there are other weeds you should know about. Let’s show you how to correctly identify common lawn weeds in Georgia so you can control them properly.
Broadleaf weeds in Georgia
Dandelions
Dandelions are a broadleaf perennial that is common throughout the U.S., Georgia included. Their seed heads look like fluffy puffballs and their bright yellow flowers stand out against a perfect turfgrass lawn.
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Life cycle: Perennial
How to manage dandelions:
- Mechanical control: You can pull dandelions by hand, but you have to ensure no broken taproot is left since this plant can grow from taproot fragments. Preferably, pull dandelions after a rain event or after irrigating the soil, when the moist soil will make the process easier.
- Chemical control: Use a broadleaf post-emergent herbicide to deal with large amounts of dandelions. Common herbicides to treat dandelions include dicamba, 2,4-D, and triclopyr. (These herbicides are commercially available to homeowners.)
Common chickweed
Although this weed’s name may lead you to believe otherwise, common chickweed does not look like chickens. Common chickweed spreads its hairy stems horizontally, forming a “mat” on the turf with oval-shaped leaves and small clusters of white flowers.
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Life cycle: Winter annual
How to manage common chickweed:
- Mechanical control: Common chickweed has shallow roots, making it easy to pull it by hand. However, if you don’t remove the entire root system, you might not kill the weed, so make sure you get everything out.
- Chemical control: To control active chickweed, apply a post-emergent herbicide containing dicamba, 2,4-D, and MCPP. But you can also prevent chickweed from sprouting on your lawn by applying a pre-emergent herbicide in the fall.
Pro tip: See the best dates to apply pre-emergent herbicides in Georgia in our guide When to Apply Pre- and Post-Emergent Weed Control in Georgia.
Henbit
A widespread winter annual weed in Georgia, henbit has purple or green four-sided stems. Its small purple flowers are arranged in whorls. Its egg-shaped leaves are arranged in opposite directions and have toothed margins.
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Life cycle: Winter annual
How to manage henbit:
- Mechanical control: The best way to control henbit is to maintain a healthy turf. Choosing the right grass seed for your region in Georgia is a key factor in growing a strong and healthy lawn. In addition, reduce compaction by aerating at least yearly if you have compacted clay soils.
- Chemical control: Applying a pre-emergent herbicide in the fall is the primary chemical control method to deal with henbit. Post-emergent applications can also be done, and usually, the same products that work on chickweed will work on henbit.
Prostrate knotweed
Prostrate knotweed is one of the first weeds to germinate in spring. Similarly to common chickweed, this weed has a low-growing habit and forms a mat over the grass, blocking your lawn’s access to sunlight. It has a characteristic blueish-green color and elongated leaves.
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Life cycle: Summer annual
How to manage prostrate knotweed:
- Mechanical control: Prostrate knotweed is especially common in compacted soils, so aerating your lawn in Georgia is key to preventing this weed from establishing.
- Chemical control: You can control prostrate knotweed by applying a pre-emergent herbicide during spring.
Grassy weeds in Georgia
Annual bluegrass
The most problematic winter weed in Georgia, annual bluegrass is a grass-like weed that grows in clumps. The leaf blade is smooth and has one clear line on each side of the midrib. It has whitish spikelets that come out in branches from flower clusters.
- Weed type: Grassy
- Life cycle: Winter annual
How to manage annual bluegrass:
- Mechanical control: Annual bluegrass likes wet soil, so to prevent annual bluegrass, avoid overwatering your lawn and solve drainage issues.
- Chemical control: Because annual bluegrass is very hard to manage, preventing its appearance with a fall pre-emergent herbicide application is the best route.
Goosegrass
Goosegrass is often confused with crabgrass since they share a similar appearance. A good way to differentiate between the two is to look at the center of the goosegrass plant, where it shows a whitish color.
- Weed type: Grassy
- Life cycle: Summer annual
How to manage goosegrass:
- Mechanical control: For small infestations, you can hand-pull, being careful to remove the entire root system.
- Chemical control: You can use a post-emergent herbicide to treat the weeds that have already appeared on your lawn, but multiple applications might be necessary. To prevent goosegrass from sprouting, use a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring.
Crabgrass
Goosegrass: New York State IPM Program at Cornell University | Flickr | CC BY 2.0
This warm-season annual grass has a purplish center that distinguishes it from goosegrass and other grassy weeds. Different crabgrass species common to Georgia have varying characteristics. For example, large crabgrass has long and hairy leaf blades, while Indian crabgrass has short and hairless leaves.
Overall, crabgrass is usually identified by its light-green color and hairy ligules. Crabgrass stems and seed heads are also thinner when compared to goosegrass.
- Weed type: Grassy
- Life cycle: Summer annual
How to manage crabgrass:
- Mechanical control: If you’ve only spotted a few of these weeds in your lawn, you can get rid of crabgrass by hand-pulling them if their seed heads are closed. If the seed head is open, you’ll end up spreading these seeds.
- Chemical control: If you notice the seed heads are open, your best bet is to invest in a post-emergent herbicide or to let the weed die off in the fall. To prevent crabgrass the following year, apply a pre-emergent herbicide in the spring, from mid-February to March.
FAQ about weeds in Georgia
Are there invasive weeds in Georgia?
Yes, foreign species have been introduced in Georgia for either agricultural or ornamental purposes. Once in Georgia, they escaped cultivation and became established. Some invasive weeds to be aware of in Georgia are:
- Tropical spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis)
- Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)
- Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum)
- Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
One way to help control the spread of invasive species is to opt for native plants that are suited for your Georgia hardiness zone. Native plants have adapted to their region’s climate through years of evolution. They also play an important role for the local wildlife, providing shelter and food.
How do I prevent weeds from establishing?
The best way to prevent weeds from establishing in your lawn is to maintain a healthy and strong lawn by following a good maintenance routine. Luckily, we have two guides that can help you with this in addition to an article on landscaping ideas to keep weeds to a minimum in your Peach State home:
- How and When to Plant Grass Seed in Georgia
- Month-to-Month Lawn Care Calendar for Georgia
- Georgia Landscaping Ideas for Your Home
What are the life cycles of weeds?
Weeds, just like other plants, have three types of life cycles: annual, biennial, or perennial.
- Annual weeds have a life cycle shorter than a year. Summer annuals like crabgrass begin to sprout during the spring, while winter annuals like henbit appear in the fall.
- Biennial weeds have a two-year-long life cycle, but they are not as common in home lawns as annual and perennial weeds.
- Perennial weeds like dandelions have an even longer life cycle, living for three or more years.
Find a pro near you
Maintaining a lawn means that sometimes we have to get our hands dirty and pull a few weeds. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can simply contact a qualified pro to do the job for you. Get in touch today and keep your hands free from dirt and your lawn free from weeds.
Main Image Credit: 3w4v | Flickr | CC BY 2.0
