23 Common Lawn Weeds and How to Manage Them

Weeds are a common issue that gardeners and anyone with a lawn deal with regularly. If you like to maintain an orderly turf grass lawn, these plants can be a real nuisance. For others, some of them serve valuable purposes in the landscape, like an attractive ground cover. 

The first key to determining whether a weed has a good use in your yard is being able to identify it. Once you know what you’re up against, it’s easier to determine how to proceed. Naturally, you will want to remove any weeds that are poisonous, or considered invasive. 

Most weeds are fast growers. Some spread by seeding and others by underground rhizomes or runners. It’s important to know how the weeds you find spread so that you can remove them effectively. These plants are typically adaptable and grow in a variety of environments and conditions. 

Field Bindweed

	common name Field Bindweed
	botanical name Convolvulus arvensis
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 3”-6”
	hardiness zones 2-10

It’s easy to mistake this weed for a more desirable member of the garden, the morning glory. The flowers, though smaller, are very similar in shape, and usually white to pale pink. This spreading, climbing vine forms an extensive root system, and also self-seeds and spreads by animals. It can be very difficult to get rid of. 

Field bindweed is drought tolerant and grows in basically any sun condition. Pulling this plant is not a very effective way to eradicate it. Planting dense sod on top of it can smother the plant, and keeping it in the shade makes it less aggressive. The best way to remove it is to plant taller native perennials around it to shade it out. Then, manage the plant at the soil surface. It takes time, but it’s worth it. 

Dollarweed

	common name Dollarweed
	botanical name Hydrocotyle umbellata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4”-8”
	hardiness zones 4-10

Dollarweed is undesirable if you’re trying to maintain a turf grass lawn in a moist climate. It prefers open, sunny areas and wet soil, and can even grow in the water. While it’s not great if you want a weed-free lawn, this common weed makes an attractive ground cover in areas with drainage issues. 

Dollarweed has rounded leaves that are about the size of a silver dollar to slightly smaller. It blooms in spring and fall, producing small, lacy, white flowers. It spreads by rhizomes, seeds, and tubers. 

To remove by hand, you must remove the tuber, or it will grow back. Herbicides are effective for weeds that pop up in your lawn, but over-irrigation is usually the culprit. Scale back on watering if these start to pop up where you don’t want them. 

Broadleaf Plantain

	common name Broadleaf Plantain
	botanical name Plantago major
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4”-16”
	hardiness zones 3-12

This weed has a habit of popping up in areas with compacted soil where other plants may struggle. It doesn’t mind soggy soil either. It grows best in temperate climates, and while considered a weed by most, it is also a cultivated plant with edible and medicinal uses. 

You can do away with this plant using mechanical methods as long as you remove the entire root. Mulches and weed barriers are effective in its control, as well. Once established in the landscape, repeated removal of crowns and roots over a span of months is most effective. This is one that you can grow as a vegetable, the leaves are edible and tasty when young, similar to spinach. 

Crabgrass

	common name Crabgrass
	botanical name Digitaria sanguinalis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 5”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Crabgrass is a common annual weed that most people are familiar with in their lawns. It pops up often in turf grass yards, appearing as lighter green shoots that deepen as they mature. This clump-forming weed prefers sunny areas and spreads by seeds and root nodes. It can go to seed even if you keep it mowed, but there are other effective methods of controlling this plant. 

Cultural controls are any that maintain the vigor of your turf grass. Choose a type that thrives in your climate and landscape conditions to out-compete crabgrass. Keep your lawn mowed to reduce seed production, keeping it to a minimum. Be careful not to overwater, as this weakens your turf grass and allows weeds to creep in. Remove any small clumps as they come up.

Dandelion

	common name Dandelion
	botanical name Taraxacum officinale
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3”-12”
	hardiness zones 2-11

This childhood favorite is the weed we all love to hate, or love to love. Depending on your objective, dandelions can be a nuisance or a charming addition to the garden. Dandelion flowers are valuable food for pollinators, and their greens are a tasty addition to many dishes. They grow best in full sun and moist soil and colonize easily due to their prolific self-seeding habit. One plant can produce up to 2,000 seeds!

All parts of this plant are edible, though the sap contains latex, and allergy sufferers should avoid it. If you want to keep them to a minimum, a healthy, vigorous lawn helps. If there are relatively few of them, manual removal is effective as long as you pull up the entire long tap root. Herbicides are effective for mass removal, but consistent mechanical removal over a long period of time can work. 

Hairy Bittercress

	common name Hairy Bittercress
	botanical name Cardamine hirsuta
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3”-10”
	hardiness zones 4-8

To some, this is a weed. But to foragers, hairy bittercress is a tasty and nutritious vegetable in the brassica family. The flavor is peppery, rather than bitter, and the leaves are tender, though the flowers can be tough to chew. This plant reproduces by forming seed pods that burst, sending seeds flying up to three feet from the parent!

You will find this weed popping up in moist, disturbed soil and in your raised beds and nursery plants. Remove these by hand before they go to seed. They have shallow roots and pull up easily. Keeping your lawn thick and healthy will help to control the spread. If you mow regularly, you will avoid re-seeding and keep this weed to a minimum in the coming years. 

Chamber Bitter

	common name Chamber Bitter
	botanical name Phyllanthus urinaria
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height Up to 2’
	hardiness zones 5-11

Chamber bitter has been a real headache in my yard in recent years. The tall, feathery stalks may not be terrible to look at, but they spread like wildfire from small seeds that lie beneath every tiny leaf. Because of its prolific seed production, this weed is quite competitive and can take over the yard in a few short years. It can grow in full sun and mostly shade but does require light for germination. 

To control chamber bitter, hand removal is somewhat effective if you remove the plants before they go to seed. Keeping them mowed close to the ground will prevent seeding as well. In areas where you can reduce irrigation, like lawns and wild gardens, do so. Herbicides are most effective when applied in late spring or early summer. 

Black Medic

	common name Black Medic
	botanical name Medicago lupulina
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Black medic is a member of the legume family and can be nitrogen-fixing, which isn’t a terrible characteristic. However, it also self-seeds and can spread aggressively. You’re likely to find this plant in areas of low nitrogen. It grows low to the ground and can out-compete other garden plants, making it a nuisance. 

Hand weeding is effective for removing black medic. It’s best done when the soil is moist, so the roots will pull up more easily. Weed suppressants are effective but will also affect nearby plants. Keeping your lawn strong, healthy, and dense will prevent black medic, as will mulching in your garden beds.

Creeping Charlie

	common name Creeping Charlie
	botanical name Glechoma hederacea
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 4”-16”
	hardiness zones 3-10

This member of the mint family is also known by the name ground ivy, and it can be a real pain in the garden. It can be attractive, but it is very aggressive and will out-compete other plants for nutrients. It is highly adaptable, though it prefers moist soil and partial shade. 

Creeping Charlie sets down roots wherever it touches the ground. The roots are shallow, but if you leave any small piece of the plant behind, it will take root and continue to spread. Mechanical removal works, but you have to be fastidious. Make sure you remove every bit of this plant. Use dethatching tools or rakes to remove the weed where it has proliferated.

Keep it away by maintaining a dense lawn, and don’t overwater. You can get rid of larger patches of creeping Charlie by smothering it with a tarp or cardboard. Postemergent broadleaf herbicides are also effective in eradicating the weed.

Bull Thistle

	common name Bull Thistle
	botanical name Cirsium vulgare
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’-7’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Although it is not native, bull thistle appears in all 50 states. It is a highly tolerant and adaptable plant, which makes it a problem in a wide range of ecosystems. It likes open, sunny areas, but will grow in most disturbed areas. It’s not particular about moisture and will grow in most soil types. 

Bull thistle can create dense thickets, out-competing native plants. The plant has sharp spines on its leaves and flowers, so it’s not commonly eaten by wildlife. For a small infestation, hand-pull these weeds down to an inch or two below the soil surface. 

Make sure you wear gloves. For a larger issue, mow them before they can flower. Note that this plant will flower multiple times in a season, and you may need to mow again. 

Common Chickweed

	common name Common Chickweed
	botanical name Stellaria media
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 18”
	hardiness zones 4-11

Common chickweed is an invasive species and reproduces by aggressive self-seeding. It also can have a creeping habit and grows roots wherever it touches the ground. It can be quite a problem, particularly in shadier areas where it thrives. It likes cool, moist, fertile environments. The seeds remain viable for more than ten years in the soil, making it difficult to get rid of.

Consistently remove the plant from your yard or garden via hand-pulling. Try to get all of the root systems when you do this. Tilling in the fall is also an effective way to cut back on the spread. Mechanical control is best in the spring when plants are small and before they go to seed. However, this will take time as the plant has a very short period between germination and flowering. 

Annual Bluegrass

	common name Annual Bluegrass
	botanical name Poa annua
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 6”-8”
	hardiness zones 4-8

This cool season annual is related to the popular Kentucky bluegrass, but is non-native in the United States. It can be difficult to remove completely, but management is possible, and it’s not an unattractive plant. The best way to minimize annual bluegrass in your lawn is to keep it thick and healthy, and always clean your lawn tools that have come into contact with the plant.

You can easily remove small patches of annual bluegrass by frequently digging them up. Larger patches may require herbicide use. Keep your lawn mowed to 2″ or less to prevent this weed from going to seed and spreading. It tends to be resistant to pre-emergence herbicides. Do not overwater a lawn where bluegrass has been an issue. 

Spotted Spurge

	common name Spotted Spurge
	botanical name Euphorbia maculata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 4”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Spotted spurge is a very common weed known for its ability to grow in unlikely places. It’s not unusual to see this plant popping up in sidewalk cracks. It doesn’t mind being dry, and poor soil doesn’t seem to discourage it either. Spurges contain a white, milky sap that is slightly toxic and irritating to the skin, so wear gloves when dealing with this one.

Spotted spurge is not difficult to remove, but it does tend to pop up everywhere if allowed. It will cover other plants and deprive them of sunlight. It has a long tap root which can be difficult to remove, so keep that in mind for mechanical removal. A hori hori knife works well in the removal of this weed. 

Organic mulches will smother the plant. Solarization in areas where the plant is prolific is another option. Weed barriers keep the weed at bay in row cultivation and ornamental gardens,

Indian Goosegrass

	common name Indian Goosegrass
	botanical name Eleusine indica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 3’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Another common weed in cultivated areas, Indian goosegrass can be a problem for lawns. It competes well with them and is quite aggressive and invasive. It is a vigorous grower and self-seeds heavily. Because of its growth habit, close mowing often fails to halt seed production. 

The best way to deal with Indian goosegrass is hand removal, although it is an arduous process that takes time. As soon as you see this plant pop up, dig it out with a hori hori knife or a specialized weeding tool. The larger it gets, the more difficult it will be. Pre and post-emergence herbicides are effective for Indian goosegrass. 

Yellow Wood Sorrel

	common name Yellow Wood Sorrel
	botanical name Oxalis stricta
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-12”
	hardiness zones 3-7

You might mistake this weed for clover, as the leaf formation is similar. It’s related to false shamrocks in the Oxalis genus. For some gardeners, this is a desirable plant that makes an attractive groundcover and feeds pollinators. It produces oxalic acid, which is beneficial for honey bee populations in their defense against varroa mites. 

Yellow wood sorrel is an edible plant in small amounts and an aggressive self-seeder. It produces attractive yellow flowers in spring and summer. It prefers moist soil and partial shade. Hand removal is effective for small patches as long as you ensure you remove the entire plant.

For larger issues, herbicides are more effective. The best defense against this common weed is a thick, healthy turf grass lawn. Mulching flower beds will prevent an invasion of yellow wood sorrel. 

Common Ragweed

	common name Common Ragweed
	botanical name Ambrosia artemisiifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, there is a good chance this is the culprit. Common ragweed is one of the most common allergens, so it’s a nuisance weed anywhere it pops up, especially in your lawn. It tends to grow in disturbed areas and competes with crops, resulting in reduced yields. One plant can produce more than 60,000 seeds in a single year. 

Mowing plants that don’t have mature seeds is an effective control for common ragweed. This species is resistant to glyphosate in many places. 2,4-D is a more effective chemical control. Herbicides are an effective treatment, but it’s best to rotate them to avoid herbicide resistance.

Keep infested areas mowed as low as possible and as soon as the plant emerges. Do this regularly, and you’ll eventually exhaust ragweed’s reserves.  

Stinging Nettle

	common name Stinging Nettle
	botanical name Urtica dioica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-9’
	hardiness zones 4-10

This is one of those weeds that has plenty of beneficial applications, so there is a place for it. However, it also causes an itchy, stinging reaction when it touches your bare skin. If you have pets or kids in the yard, stinging nettle can be a disaster. 

Wear gloves when you are managing these. To eradicate stinging nettles, deadhead the flowers to prevent them from self-seeding. Hoe new seedlings to expose and dry out the roots while the plants are young. For established plants, use a garden fork to pull them out from the roots. Ensure you get the entire rhizome, or nettles will resprout from the remaining roots. Regular mowing will keep these to a minimum. 

Wild Clover

	common name Wild Clover
	botanical name Trifolium repens
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4”-6”
	hardiness zones 3-10

If you like pollinators, wild clover is more of a beneficial plant than a weed. However, if you prefer a pristine, turf grass lawn, clover can be a problem. It is an adaptable nitrogen-fixing plant, so you can grow this as a cover crop for your vegetable garden. 

White clover is invasive but not difficult to get rid of. To remove it, hand pull and mulch in cultivated areas. Mowing it before it goes to seed is the best way to prevent its spread. That said, despite its aggressive spreading, it is a source of food for non-native pollinators. 

Shepherd’s Purse

	common name Shepherd’s Purse
	botanical name Capsella bursa-pastoris
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 20”
	hardiness zones 6-10

Depending on how you look at it, this member of the mustard family is a charming wildflower or a nuisance. It is non-native and is invasive in many areas of the United States, including in AZ, CA, HI, MD, NV, UT, and VA. It’s also edible, and nutritious, with a history of medicinal use. It is a protocarnivorous plant, meaning that it traps insects, but doesn’t feed on them. 

To kick this weed out of the garden, frequently hoe seedlings, or pull up young plants manually. You can smother it with a weed barrier or cardboard if it doesn’t interfere with other plants. Vinegar is a valid treatment for shepherd’s purse. Make sure to apply vinegar on a day without wind, and with protective eye and respiration gear. 

Nutsedge

	common name Nutsedge
	botanical name Cyperus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 3’
	hardiness zones 9-11

You’ll recognize nutsedges by their seed pods, which are spiky and mingle with the grasslike leaves. This is a difficult weed to contend with, as it is very aggressive, and infestation is difficult to deal with. 

To control this weed, you’ll want to tackle it from more than one angle. Maintaining proper drainage is an important facet of control. Dig up any patches you fund, digging down 10 inches to make sure you dig up all of the roots and tubers. Mulch heavily in cultivated areas to smother the weeds. Herbicides are somewhat effective post-emergence. A good way to keep this to a minimum is by properly maintaining a dense, healthy lawn.

Poison Ivy

	common name Poison Ivy
	botanical name Toxicodendron radicans
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 4’ tall, 20’ long
	hardiness zones 4-10

There are different varieties of poison ivy, and you will find at least one in every contiguous state. This common plant is a lawn weed in every sense of the word. It spreads quickly and causes severe allergic reactions in many people, especially if playing in the yard. It’s adaptable and can tolerate most types of soil, moisture levels, and exposure levels. 

Because of the risk of an allergic reaction, physical removal of poison ivy is not a great idea. I hate to use herbicides in my garden, but for poison ivy, I make an exception. I’ve found that no matter how hard I try to eradicate this weed, it ends up returning, and I have to spray it every year. Treat it early in the season as soon as it pops up, and repeat treatment if you see it pop back up.

Lambsquarters 

	common name Lambsquarters
	botanical name Chenopodium album
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Lambsquarters is a less serious lawn weed, but it’s still common. It spreads by small seeds which can travel in the wind and live for up to a decade in the soil. It’s a member of the amaranth family and is grown as a food crop in some areas of the world.

Because of its edible nature, you might not hate having this one around. If you do, it’s difficult to eliminate, but not impossible. The roots are shallow, so you can pull this up manually. Do so before it goes to seed to avoid more plants in the spring. Keep pulling each spring, and soon you’ll have no more lambsquarters issues.

Lawn Burweed

	common name Lawn Burweed
	botanical name Soliva sessilis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1”-2”
	hardiness zones 3-9

You might feel this low-growing weed before you see it. Lawn burweed isn’t noticeable in small amounts, but it produces sharp, spiky burs and when you step on them; they hurt a lot. The burs form in spring and stick around all year, and by stick around, I mean they stick to everything.

Keeping your lawn healthy and lush is the best way to keep this one away. Well-maintained turf grass will out-compete this common lawn weed. Hand pull any small sprouts you notice before they flower. Post-emergence pesticides will help to control it but are best applied in the winter.