The most common weeds in Utah consist of both grassy and broadleaf varieties. Grassy weeds include crabgrass and foxtail, and broadleaf weeds include ground ivy and field bindweed. This article will help you identify these weeds and the conditions that promote their development.
Common grass weeds
Foxtail
Foxtail can be found in lawns, gardens, fence lines, roadsides, and flower beds with newly planted native vegetation. The three types of foxtail found in Utah are green, red, and yellow which look similar. Green foxtail, in particular, tends to thrive in lawns already consumed by weeds.
Foxtail loves hot, arid conditions and thrives in environments similar to crabgrass.
- Scientific name: Setaria spp.
- Life cycle: Annual
- Weed type: Grass
- Habitat: Full sun, dry and hot areas; commonly found along lawn edges where soil meets pavement.
- How to identify foxtail: Seed heads are cylindrical and soft, with a hairy texture. The inflorescences have several spikelets, resembling a fox’s tail. Yellow foxtail is smaller, about 1 to 3 feet, and has an upright growth pattern and an erect seed stalk.
Our guide, How to Get Rid of Weeds in Flower Beds, explains how to remove foxtail.
Annual bluegrass
Annual bluegrass is a cool-season winter grass that thrives in shady, moist Utah yards and is commonly found in garden beds and lawns. This weed can be hard to distinguish from desirable grass varieties like Kentucky bluegrass, but poa annua is a lighter green color with canoe-shaped leaf blade tips and hairy white seed heads.
- Scientific name: Poa annua
- Life cycle: Winter annual
- Weed type: Grass
- Habitat: Humid areas, full sun to light shade.
- How to identify annual bluegrass: Silver to white seed heads that are usually always visible. It matures 6 to 8 inches tall, with stems typically bent at the base. Leaves are 1 to 4 inches long and crinkled near the base. Flower heads are short, about 1 to 4 inches tall, and sprout between December and July, usually pale with occasional purple or green hues.
For help controlling winter annual weeds, see our article, How to Control Annual Weeds vs. Perennial Weeds.
Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass is commonly found in gardens and lawns throughout the southwestern United States. Although it’s a common warm-season grass, it is also considered a noxious weed that can invade plant beds vigorously growing through stolons and runners, making it hard to handle.
In Utah, Bermuda grass is considered a nuisance weed, except in Washington County, and it’s typically found along waterways at elevations below 465 feet. Bermudagrass is quite challenging to remove from a lawn due to its ability to spread by seeds and stolons.
- Scientific name: Cynodon dactylon
- Life cycle: Warm-season perennial
- Weed type: Grass
- Habitat: Warm temperatures and soils with high moisture levels
- How to identify Bermudagrass: It has erect stems that grow up to 1.6 feet tall. Its linear leaves are 2 to 6.3 inches long and 0.08 to 0.2 inches wide. The lower leaf surface is hairy, while the upper side has minimal hair. The inflorescences at the stem tips have 3 to 9 spikes, each 1.2 to 4 inches long.
For tips on managing grassy and perennial weeds, read Lawn Love’s guide, How to Control Weeds by Type.
Crabgrass
Crabgrass, especially large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) is a common weed in Utah’s garden beds and lawns, where it primarily attacks and destroys roots. This summer annual germinates in cooler temperatures, at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and continues to grow through the warm season.
A singular crabgrass plant can produce up to 150,000 seeds. Although crabgrass is an annual and dies each year, the seeds overwinter and sprout the following summer. Once it establishes and invades your lawn, it is difficult to manage.
- Scientific name: Digitaria
- Life cycle: Summer, warm-season annual
- Weed type: Grass
- Habitat: Dry, hot areas at high elevations, often found along lawn edges where the soil meets the pavement, like patios and sidewalks.
- How to identify crabgrass: Crabgrass matures up to 6 inches when unmowed but can grow up to 2 feet tall. The dark green leaf blades are smooth and pointed and whorled spikes of 2 to 6 inches bear flowers and seeds. Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) has hairy, coarse, and pointed leaf blades that may have a purple color. Seeds and flowers emerge in mid-summer and last until the first frost.
Find out how to control this aggressive weed in our guide, How to Get Rid of Crabgrass.
Common broadleaf weeds
Henbit
You might notice Henbit is a common Utah weed in your lawn or garden. Its seeds germinate in the fall, with a few sprouting in the early spring. Henbit is easy to spot when its lavender to blue flowers bloom, typically from late March through April. The leaves die back in the hot Utah summers.
This weed is more prevalent in recently seeded or thinning lawns and is sometimes also used for medicinal purposes for its anti-inflammatory effects.
- Scientific name: Lamium amplexicaule
- Life cycle: Winter Annual
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Habitat: Damp, cool environments, such as lawns disturbed by weather, heavy foot traffic, or improper care. Appears in winter in thinning lawns.
- How to identify henbit: Henbit grows up to 4 to 12 inches high and has hairy, fuzzy, and square-shaped stems that are purplish at the base. The foliage is heart-shaped or rounded paired with small, dark pink flowers atop the stems.
For several ways to manage henbit, check out our article, How to Get Rid of Weeds in Flower Beds.
Ground ivy
Ground ivy thrives in shady landscapes and is a tough weed to handle. In Utah, this cool-season perennial weed grows at elevations of approximately 4,600 to 5,200 feet. The stems easily take root wherever the joints come in contact with the ground. This weed can kill your grass and is one of the hardest weeds to manage.
- Scientific name: Glechoma hederacea
- Life cycle: Cool-season perennial
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Habitat: Moist, shady areas with damp soil but can also grow in full sun.
- How to identify crabgrass: It has square stems with lavender to blue flowers and a minty aroma.
Lawn Love provides weed control tips for broadleaf weeds in our guide, How to Control Weeds by Type.
Field bindweed
Field bindweed, also known as morning glory, is one of the most prevalent weeds in the western US, especially in Utah. This creeping perennial spreads through seeds and underground roots.
Each field bindweed plant can produce up to 500 seeds, which stay for 50 years or more. Morning glory can grow in all types of environments and proliferates rapidly, taking over edible gardens, and is hard to eradicate.
- Scientific name: Convolvulus arvensis
- Life cycle: Cool-season perennial
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Habitat: Fertile soil, full sun.
- How to identify field bindweed: It features long, vine-like stems that twist and climb up adjacent structures and plants or form mats on the ground. The trumpet-shaped flowers appear singularly or in groups of two or three and are usually white but may have a pink hue. Leaf blades are rounded at tips.
Our article on how to control weeds by type can give you tips for managing field bindweed.
Common chickweed
In Utah, chickweed is a fast-growing winter or summer annual that thrives between 53 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It primarily germinates in the fall and early spring. Although this weed dies annually but quickly comes back from its seed.
Chickweed’s rapid growth means it needs to be treated immediately before it takes over your lawn or garden bed. While often used for its medicinal properties and eaten, homeowners are advised to be cautious as chickweed may contain toxins.
- Scientific name: Stellaria media
- Life cycle: Warm-season annual
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Habitat: Cool, damp, and shaded areas, and is found under shrubs and trees.
- How to identify chickweed: It grows close to the ground, reaching up to 20 inches high. The egg-shaped foliage grows as long as 1.5 inches, and the green stems support small, star-shaped white flowers. The petals are 0.25 inches wide and separated like rabbit ears.
Find out more information about chickweed in our guide, What is Chickweed and How to Get Rid of It.
Dandelion
Dandelions are a common sight throughout Utah, often found in disturbed areas like burned forests and avalanche sites, along highways, in old fields, and in lawns and gardens. This cool-season perennial grows at elevations between 500 and 11,000 feet, surviving freezing temperatures, and re-emerging each spring through fall.
Despite being considered a weed, dandelions have notable uses. The leaves and flowers are edible; leaves are often used as salad greens and flowers are used to make wine and tea. The roots have been used medicinally and to make tea.
I buy mine from the farmer’s market and local health food store and enjoy a good dandelion salad (though the leaves are bitter) and a nutritional dandelion root tea in the morning.
- Scientific name: Taraxacum
- Life cycle: Cool-season perennial
- Weed type: Broadleaf
- Habitat: Prefers sandy loam and heavy loam soil, with a preference for direct sunlight and moisture can tolerate some shady and dry environments.
- How to identify dandelions: Dandelions have spear-shaped leaves ranging from 2 to 12 inches long, which may be slightly hairy. Bright yellow flowers grow atop individual leafless stems, later transforming into white, fluffy seed heads that disburse by wind. The plant exudes a milky sap when broken.
Whether you want to eat them or treat them, we have guides about dandelions to help you:
Get help from a pro
Identifying weeds and finding the best way to eliminate them is challenging. Our professionals know the pros and cons of the different treatment methods and have the expertise to apply the best solutions. Get in contact with a professional today for a weed-free lawn.
Main Photo Credit: Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) wht_wolf9653 | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0
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