- Broadleaf weeds<\/a>
- Dandelion<\/a><\/li>
- White clover<\/a><\/li>
- Purslane<\/a><\/li>
- Broadleaf plantain<\/a><\/li>
- Shepherd’s purse<\/a><\/li>
- Common chickweed<\/a><\/li>
- Common vetch<\/a><\/li>
- Yellow woodsorrel<\/a><\/li>
- Henbit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Grassy weeds<\/a>
- Crabgrass<\/a><\/li>
- Dallisgrass<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- More lawn care and landscaping resources for South Carolina<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ about weeds<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Broadleaf weeds<\/span><\/h2>
In South Carolina, white clover, purslane, and henbit are common broadleaf weeds you need to know about. Broadleaf weeds are often more showy than grassy weeds, sometimes displaying flowers, and the seedlings emerge with two leaves.<\/p>
Dandelion<\/span><\/h3>
![\"person](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/yellow-dandellion.jpg\")
Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Homeowners cringe as spring is ushered in, with dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) <\/em>appearing en masse. Those bright yellow flowers appear across your lawns and later become fluffy globes of seed parachutes that spread through the air. The deep green leaves have serrated edges and form a leaf rosette. <\/p>
Note:<\/strong> When dandelions appear, they indicate that your soil is acidic, with high levels of potassium and low levels of calcium. Learn how to treat dandelions<\/a> in your yard with our helpful guide.<\/p>
White clover<\/span><\/h3>
![\"a](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/white-clover2.jpg\")
Kathrine Birch<\/a> | Pexels | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> White clover (Trifolium repens)<\/em> is a prevalent weed in South Carolina and throughout the United States. It is distinguished by its dark green shamrock-shaped leaves (which may or may not have a water-mark or crescent on the upper leaf), arranged in clusters of three. <\/p>
In the summer, pinkish-white flower heads emerge with approximately 40 to 100 florets that sit about 1 to 2 inches above the leaves. If clover is making you crazy, educate yourself on how to get rid of clover<\/a> in your lawn.<\/p>
Fun Fact: <\/strong>Did you know that the four-leaf clover (a symbol of good luck) can be found in just 1 out of 10,000 three-leaf white clovers? <\/p>
Purslane<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Yellow](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/28842193977_227d7ee169_c-1.jpg\")
Andreas Rockstein<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)<\/em> has a low-growing habit that forms a dense mat. This fast-growing summer annual has succulent reddish stems and dark green oval-shaped leaves. Purslane is drought tolerant because it stores water in its succulent leaves. Small yellow flowers are insignificant.<\/p>
Fun Fact:<\/strong> Purslane has many uses and benefits, including being a superfood. If you decide to eat it, beware of its toxic look-alike prostrate spurge (Euphorbia maculata)<\/em>. The tip to distinguish the two is simply to break a stem. Prostrate spurge has milky sap inside its stem, while common purslane does not.<\/p>
Note: <\/strong>Would you like to know how to get rid of purslane<\/a> in your yard? You aren\u2019t alone. Check out our guide.<\/p>
Broadleaf plantain<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/AdobeStock_486152607.jpg\")
orestligetka<\/a> | Adobe Stock Free | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major)<\/em> is a tough weed that is common in South Carolina lawns. Plantain shows up in compacted soil and areas of your lawn with heavy foot traffic. <\/p>
To spot broadleaf plantain in your lawn, look for the 4 to 6-inch long, dark green, oval leaves arranged in a circular rosette. Slender spikes of green flowers also emerge above the leaves and bear seeds. <\/p>
Note:<\/strong> By learning how to identify and control plantain<\/a>, you\u2019ll finally be able to tackle those pesky intruders.<\/p>
Shepherd’s purse<\/span><\/h3>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1024px-Capsella_bursa-pastoris_130100160.jpg\")
Tatiana<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)<\/em> is a broadleaf winter annual weed. This prevalent weed features a rosette arrangement of toothed, lobed leaves at its base. Stem color ranges from green to purple, reaching approximately 1 foot in height. The stems bear clusters of small white flowers. <\/p>
Shepherd’s purse is called that because its seeds look like tiny heart-shaped pouches that shepherds used to carry in the Middle Ages. The seed pods have around 20 shiny, egg-shaped seeds that can be yellow or reddish-brown. The name comes from the shape of the seeds, not the flower itself. <\/p>
F<\/strong>un Fact:<\/strong> Did you know Shepherd’s purse can kill mosquitoes naturally? When you put the seeds in water, mosquitoes are drawn to eat the seeds. The seeds emit a toxic sticky substance that attaches to the mouth of the mosquito. After that, no more mosquitoes\u2026<\/p>
Note:<\/strong> Learn how to eradicate Shepherd\u2019s purse<\/a> in your yard by reading our guide. <\/p>
Common chickweed<\/span><\/h3>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1024px-Stellaria_media_3_RF.jpg\")
Robert Flogaus-Faust<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Common chickweed (Stellaria media)<\/em> is a winter annual weed that germinates in the fall and sets seeds in spring to early summer. You can spot it by its mat-forming, flat growth habit. Leaves are arranged in pairs and resemble small eggs or footballs. In the spring, small five-petaled white flowers emerge in clusters. <\/p>
F<\/strong>un Fact:<\/strong> Chickweed got its name because it is a popular food for chickens and other birds (because one chickweed plant makes 30,000 seeds stored in capsules). If you\u2019d like a chickweed-free lawn, check out our guide: \u201cWhat is Chickweed and How to Get Rid of It<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>
Common vetch<\/span><\/h3>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1024px-Vicia_sativa_LC0223-1.jpg\")
J\u00f6rg Hempel<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 DE<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Common vetch (Vicia sativa)<\/em> is a broadleaf winter annual weed that flourishes in sparse turfgrass under full sun or partial shade with adequate soil moisture. It is a climbing weed with coiling tendrils at the tips of lengthy, twisting stems. Its flowers are violet-purple and are succeeded by seed pods.<\/p>
Fun Fact:<\/strong> Common vetch is a nitrogen-fixing plant that is beneficial to bees and other pollinators. However, if you\u2019d rather see it gone, learn how to kill common vetch<\/a>.<\/p>
Yellow woodsorrel<\/span><\/h3>
![\"yellow](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1024px-Oxalis_stricta_2020-09-08_Beechview_01.jpg\")
Cbaile19<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta)<\/em>, also called oxalis, is a perennial weed often confused with clover because both have three leaves. So, how do you tell them apart? Oxalis flower is yellow, whereas clover\u2019s flower is white, tinged with pink. <\/p>
Note: <\/strong> If yellow woodsorrel shows up in your lawn, it probably means that your soil is poorly drained, low in calcium, and high in magnesium. To learn more about this weed and how to rid your yard of oxalis<\/a>, check out our guide.<\/p>
Henbit<\/span><\/h3>
![\"pink](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/henbit-2.jpg\")
David~O<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)<\/em> is located across most of South Carolina. This winter annual has green to purplish square stems that are hairy. Reddish-purple flowers that bloom in the spring have darker spots on the lower petals, and the upper leaves are arranged in whorls. <\/p>
To learn more, including how to get rid of henbit<\/a>, refer to our article.<\/p>
Not<\/strong>e:<\/strong> Henbit is often confused with purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)<\/em>. However, there are distinct differences between the two: Henbit leaves are circular and scalloped, and the upper leaves tightly clasp the stem. On the other hand, purple deadnettle leaves are more triangular, and the upper leaves have a purplish tint and dangle loosely.<\/p>
Grassy weeds<\/span><\/h2>
Common grassy weeds in South Carolina include crabgrass and dallisgrass. Grassy weeds are, in fact, true grasses and begin life with only one leaf (as opposed to broadleaf weeds, which emerge with two leaves). <\/p>
Crabgrass<\/span><\/h3>
![\"crabgrass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/1024px-Crabgrass.jpeg\")
Richard Arthur Norton<\/a> (1958- ) | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 2.5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Crabgrass (Digitaria<\/em> spp.) is a summer annual weed common in South Carolina. It has yellow-green leaves measuring 2 to 7 inches long and less than an inch wide that resemble crab legs. Crabgrass loves full sun, hot temperatures, and dry weather. <\/p>
Look for crabgrass to germinate in late February or March when the forsythia\u2019s yellow flowers bloom. Crabgrass starts growing then, in spring, from the seeds of the previous year, produces new seeds during the summer, and dies off by September.<\/p>
Don\u2019t let crabgrass make you crabby. Take action by learning how to get rid of crabgrass<\/a> today.<\/p>
Dallisgrass<\/span><\/h3>
![\"closuep](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Dallisgrass.jpg\")
Harry Rose<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum)<\/em> is a perennial grass-like weed that loves to grow on thinning turf and bare soil. It has a clumping habit and spreads through seeds carried by the wind and animals. Dallisgrass can often be mistaken for crabgrass because they look similar. Here are some ways to distinguish between them:<\/p>
- Dallisgrass leaves are less hairy than crabgrass leaves. <\/li>
- Dallisgrass is a perennial, and crabgrass is an annual. <\/li>
- Dallisgrass regrows from crowns, so a pre-emergent won\u2019t affect it. <\/li> <\/ul>
Note:<\/strong> To learn how to prevent or eliminate weeds like dallisgrass in your yard, check out our article: \u201cHow to Identify and Control Grassy Weeds<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>
More lawn care and landscaping resources for South Carolina<\/span><\/h2>
- The Best Grass for South Carolina Lawns<\/a><\/li>
- When to Plant Grass Seed in South Carolina<\/a><\/li>
- Native Ornamental Grasses for South Carolina Landscapes<\/a><\/li>
- South Carolina Native Plants for Landscaping<\/a><\/li>
- When to Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Control in South Carolina<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
FAQ about weeds<\/span><\/h2>
What is an annual weed?<\/span><\/h3>
An annual weed is a weed that completes its life cycle in a year. They can be summer or winter annuals. For example, crabgrass is a summer annual, whereas chickweed and henbit are winter annuals. <\/p>
To summarize, summer annual weeds sprout in spring, grow during summer, produce seeds, and then perish when cold weather arrives. Whereas, winter annual weeds sprout in autumn, grow through winter, reproduce, and then die off when temperatures increase in early summer.<\/p>
What is a perennial weed?<\/span><\/h3>
A perennial weed\u2019s life cycle doesn\u2019t end after one year like an annual weed. Perennial weeds grow for two or more years. They are known to reproduce from bulbs, tubers, stolons, or rhizomes, although some also spread through seeds. Perennials are usually the toughest to control. Perennial weeds include dallisgrass, plantain, and white clover.<\/p>
Can weeds indicate the condition of your turfgrass and soil?<\/span><\/h3>
Yes, absolutely. Weeds can tell you what is going on with your soil and lawn. They are a barometer as far as what is needed or lacking. A couple of examples are:<\/p>
- Dandelion:<\/strong> Acidic soil<\/li>
- White clover:<\/strong> Compacted soil, low nitrogen levels, and acidic soil<\/li> <\/ul>
- Purslane:<\/strong> Abundance of phosphorus<\/li>
- Common chickweed:<\/strong> Poorly drained soil<\/li>
- Crabgrass:<\/strong> Poor fertility and compacted soil<\/li> <\/ul>
Call in the pros<\/span><\/h2>
If you are tired of the never-ending battle with these pesky lawn intruders, why not let Lawn Love weed control pros<\/a> take on the challenge? With all that free time, you can head out for some shrimp and grits and Frogmore Stew.<\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tResources:<\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- Clemson HGIC<\/a><\/li>
- Clemson College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences<\/a><\/li>
- Colorado State University Extension<\/a><\/li>
- Mississippi State University Extension: Common Vetch<\/a><\/li>
- NC State Extension<\/a><\/li>
- Purdue University: Henbit and Purple Deadnettle<\/a><\/li>
- USDA PLANTS Database<\/a><\/li>
- West Virginia University Extension: Common Chickweed<\/a><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
Main Image Credit: Matt Lavin<\/a>| Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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- Clemson College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences<\/a><\/li>
- Common chickweed:<\/strong> Poorly drained soil<\/li>
- White clover:<\/strong> Compacted soil, low nitrogen levels, and acidic soil<\/li> <\/ul>
- When to Plant Grass Seed in South Carolina<\/a><\/li>
- The Best Grass for South Carolina Lawns<\/a><\/li>
- Dallisgrass<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- White clover<\/a><\/li>
- Dandelion<\/a><\/li>