You work hard to keep your lawn looking its best, then dandelions, clover, and chickweed appear overnight like they own the place. It’s frustrating. These flowering weeds spread fast and crowd out your grass.
They’re not all bad, however. Some support pollinators, improve soil health, and add charm. The key is to know the difference between them. Once you can tell your wild violets from your creeping Charlie, you’ll know whether to pull, control them, or even leave them alone.
This guide covers 12 common flowering weeds. You’ll learn to recognize them, where they thrive, and what steps to take depending on your lawn goals.
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- White clover (Trifolium repens)
- Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major)
- Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)
- Chickweed (Stellaria media)
- Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
- Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
- Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
- Wild violet (Viola sororia)
- Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
- Yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
- Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelions are perennial weeds with bright yellow flowers and a fluffy white seed head. They grow in a low rosette of jagged leaves and have a long taproot that can reach up to 2 feet deep. They grow on disturbed soils rich in nitrogen and potassium.
Dandelions‘ early spring blooms provide nectar for bees when little else is flowering, says Noah Burley, a horticulture graduate student from the University of Minnesota Extension. Their deep roots improve soil aeration, and they’re even edible.
To control dandelions, keep a healthy lawn that crowds out weeds. When I spot just a few, I pull them by hand. Thomas Nikolai, senior turfgrass academic specialist at Michigan State University, says hand-pulling is the simplest and most effective method when weeds are few. For larger infestations, a selective broadleaf herbicide works best when applied in late summer or fall.
White clover (Trifolium repens)
White clover is a low-growing perennial found across lawns, roadsides, and pastures. Its creeping stems root at the nodes, forming mats of green leaves with three round leaflets and tiny white flowers in late spring. It thrives in cool, moist conditions. White Dutch clover is often included in lawn seed mixes to enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen and providing nectar for bees. Some homeowners even choose clover as an eco-friendly lawn alternative.
I don’t mind a little clover; it gives my lawn character and keeps the bees happy. But I’ve learned that too much can quickly take over if not managed. Experts at Iowa State University Extension say clover can be controlled with proper fertilization and broadleaf herbicides. They recommend products with 2, 4-D, MCPP, dicamba, or triclopyr.
Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major)
This low-growing perennial weed with wide, oval leaves that lie flat and resist mowing. In summer, it produces upright spikes with tiny, pale flowers that later turn into seed heads. It is found in disturbed, compacted, high-traffic soils, earning the nickname “white man’s footprint”.
While unwelcome on the lawn, broadleaf plantain has an herbal history, and it’s even edible, says Rakesh Chandran, extension weed science specialist at West Virginia University Extension.
To control it, aerate compacted soil, and correct nutrient deficiencies. I’ve found that aerating does more than just control weeds. It improves my lawn performance and leads to a more vigorous turf over time. Small plantain can be pulled by hand or pulled out with a weeder. For heavy infestations, broadleaf herbicides are the most effective.
Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)
Crabgrass is a summer annual grassy weed that germinates in spring and grows in the heat. Its light-green blades are wider than most turfgrasses. Crabgrass loves full sun and disturbed, poor soil and will pop up anywhere turf is thin or soil is bare and dies after the first fall frost. Although it prevents erosion and can be grazed, it’s mostly a nuisance that crowds out turfgrass.
The best approach is prevention. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in late winter or early spring, recommends experts at North Carolina State Extension. If only a few clumps appear, pull them out early before they seed. Once mature in summer, it is harder to kill; post-emergent herbicides can eliminate young plants, but by late summer, just mow the seed heads.
Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Chickweed is a cool-season annual weed that grows in dense mats of light green stems and small oval leaves, often appearing in gardens and lawns during fall and early spring. It prefers moist, shady areas but can grow almost anywhere. It has tiny white star-like flowers that bloom quickly, and it can set seed in just a few weeks.
While edible and useful to pollinators, chickweed can smother seedlings and thin lawns. The best way to prevent it is by keeping your lawn healthy. Professor Nikolai of Michigan State University notes that consistent fertilization and proper watering encourage dense turf growth, leaving less room for weeds like chickweed to germinate. For stubborn patches, spot-treat with broadleaf herbicide in early spring.
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Purslane is a sprawling summer annual that forms flat mats of fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves on reddish creeping stems. In warm weather produces tiny yellow flowers. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and poor soil.
Purslane walks a fine line between weed and wonder. In many cultures, it’s a valued edible, rich in nutrients, explains Sandra Mason from the University of Illinois Extension. However, in most lawns, it’s just an aggressive invader. To control it, regularly weed before seed-set and if necessary, use a broadleaf herbicide to help you.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
Red clover is a short-lived perennial, taller and more upright than white clover, with pinkish-purple flower heads and larger leaflets. It prefers sunny, well-drained areas and shows up in lawns with low soil fertility, especially in cooler or northern regions.
Red clover is usually used as a forage and cover crop, valued for fixing nitrogen, feeding pollinators, and improving soil. While some enjoy its wildflower look, its taller growth and bee-friendly blooms may not suit all lawns. To reduce red clover, improve your lawn’s nitrogen levels, mow regularly to prevent flowering, or hand-pull small patches. For larger areas, use herbicides labeled for clover in fall.
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
Henbit is a cool-season annual from the mint family that forms low patches with scalloped leaves on square stems. It blooms in early spring with small, purple flowers and usually grows 4 to 10 inches tall. It’s common in cooler, moist weather, and it dies by summer.
Henbit helps early pollinators and is edible, says experts at the North Carolina State Extension. But in lawns and gardens, it can crowd out young plants and look messy. To control it, keep lawns dense in fall to block seedlings. Hand-pull young plants before they flower. Pre-emergent herbicides can help in early fall, and broadleaf herbicides work best when henbit is still small.
Wild violet (Viola sororia)
Wild violets are low-growing perennials with heart-shaped leaves and small purple or white spring flowers. They spread by underground rhizomes and seeds. They thrive in shady, moist areas and appear in lawns under trees or in damp soil.
Wild violets are edible native wildflowers and host plants for beneficial insects, says Burley. I’ve actually come to appreciate them in my yard. I’ve even used a few of their blooms to decorate desserts or salads, and they look beautiful.
Still, they can be invasive in lawns, forming dense mats that resist mowing and herbicides. Hand-dig small patches. For larger areas, use a selective herbicide with triclopyr in fall or early spring. To prevent regrowth, overseed shady spots with shade-tolerant grass and improve drainage.
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Ground ivy, also known as Creeping Charlie, is a low-growing perennial that spreads by runners to form dense mats. It has scalloped, round leaves on square stems and small purple flowers in spring. It thrives in shady, moist areas and often takes over under trees or along damp lawn edges.
Ground ivy has a minty aroma and offers nectar for bees, but in lawns, it’s unwelcome. It spreads aggressively, re-root easily, and smoother turf. Control ground ivy by improving sunlight and drainage. Pull small patches after rain. For a bigger area, use a triclopyr-based herbicide in fall.
Yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
This clover lookalike weed has heart-shaped leaves and tiny yellow flowers. It’s low-growing
and spreads via seeds and rhizomes. It thrives in disturbed soil and survives mowing thanks to its low growth. Its presence can signal low nitrogen or acidic soil.
Though native and edible in small amounts, yellow wood sorrel is a lawn invader. To eliminate it from your lawn, you can hand-pull it before the seed pods explode. For larger patches, use herbicides. Dr. Nikolai notes that while herbicides may not eliminate every weed, they’re still highly effective when applied correctly. “In most cases, you’ll see wilting within a day or two, and the weeds will be gone in about two weeks,” he says.
Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
This cool-season weed is named for its tiny, heart-shaped seed pods that resemble little purses. It starts as a low rosette of toothed leaves, then shoots up a slender stalk with small white flowers. Found in disturbed soil, it often pops up in early spring.
Edible when young and used in traditional medicine, shepherd’s purse isn’t aggressive like weed, but it produces tons of seeds. To control it, pull or hoe young plants before seed pods. In larger infestations, tilling in fall or using pre-emergent herbicides in late summer can reduce its spread.
When in doubt, call a pro
If you’re still unsure about what’s growing in your yard or how to handle it, LawnLove can connect you with a local weed control professional. They’ll know which weeds are common in your area, what conditions they thrive in, and the most effective and safe way to manage them.
Sources:
Thomas Nikolai, Senior Turfgrass Academic Specialist. Michigan State University. Personal Interview.
“Dandelions.” By Noah Burley, Horticulture graduate student. University of Minnesota Extension.
“Wild violet.” By Noah Burley, Horticulture graduate student. University of Minnesota Extension.
“How do I control white clover in my lawn?” Iowa State University Extension.
“Broadleaf Plantain – Weed of the Week.” By Rakesh Chandran, Weed Management Specialist. West Virginia University Extension.
“Digitaria sanguinalis.” North Carolina State Extension.
“Purslane – Weed It Or Eat It?” By Sandra Mason. Illinois State University Extension.
“Lamium amplexicaule.” North Carolina State Extension
Main Photo Credit: Ground Ivy : Marco Hebing | Flickr | CC BY 2.0 , Henbit : sonnia hill | Flickr | CC BY 2.0 , Red Clover : Øyvind Holmstad | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 , Chickweed : Simon | Flickr | CC BY 2.0 , Collage using Canva Pro.
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