Broadleaf Weeds: How to Identify and Control for a Healthy Lawn

Types of Broadleaf Weeds

Bittercress

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Winter
  
  
• Control: Pre- and post-emergent treatments
  
  Bittercress thrives in weak, thin lawns and is commonly found in the southeastern U.S. It grows actively in winter, making it easier to spot during the colder months.
  
  

Virginia Buttonweed

• Type: Broadleaf perennial
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  This resilient weed spreads rapidly through birds, animals, humans, and wind. It thrives in lawns, particularly in moist, low-lying areas.
  
  

Carolina Geranium

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Winter
  
  
• Control: Pre- and post-emergent treatments
  
  Carolina geranium is found in lawns, fields, and roadsides across the southeastern U.S. and grows during the cooler months.
  
  

Chamberbitter

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Chamberbitter, also known as gripeweed or little mimosa, thrives in the Southeast and as far north as Illinois. Its fast-growing nature makes it a tough weed to manage.
  
  

Clover

• Type: Broadleaf perennial
  
  
• Active: Year-round
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Clover is rich in nutrients and palatable to livestock. While it can be beneficial in pastures, it’s often considered a nuisance in lawns due to its aggressive growth.
  
  

Common Chickweed

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Winter
  
  
• Control: Pre- and post-emergent treatments
  
  Common chickweed thrives in weak, thin turf and can persist in the soil for years, making it difficult to eliminate once established.
  
  

Dandelion

• Type: Perennial
  
  
• Active: Year-round
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Dandelions are persistent, thriving in a variety of soil types. They spread quickly when the seed puffs are blown, so it’s important to manage them before they go to seed.
  
  

Doveweed

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Requires multiple post-emergent treatments
  
  Doveweed can persist in soil for years, often requiring ongoing treatments for full eradication.
  
  

Henbit

• Type: Hairy annual
  
  
• Active: Winter
  
  
• Control: Pre- and post-emergent treatments
  
  A member of the mint family, henbit produces pink-to-purple flowers and can reach up to 30 cm in height. It becomes more visible as temperatures rise in the spring.
  
  

Lespedeza

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Lespedeza, or Japanese clover, grows in dry, compacted areas and forms mats that spread quickly, making it challenging to manage.
  
  

Mouse-Ear Chickweed

• Type: Broadleaf perennial (can behave as a winter annual in some climates)
  
  
• Active: Winter
  
  
• Control: Pre- and post-emergent treatments
  
  This mat-forming weed has fuzzy leaves and stems and is edible, often used in salads or cooked like spinach. However, it can overtake lawns if left uncontrolled.
  
  

Oxalis

• Type: Broadleaf perennial
  
  
• Active: Year-round
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Oxalis resembles small clover with yellow flowers and is sometimes used as ground cover. It can be a nuisance in lawns due to its deep, resilient roots.
  
  

Red Dead-Nettle

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Winter
  
  
• Control: Pre- and post-emergent treatments
  
  Also known as purple dead-nettle, this weed spreads rapidly and blooms year-round, even in warmer winters. It prefers full sun to light shade and rich, moist soil.
  
  

Spotted Spurge

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Pre-emergent treatments
  
  Spurge grows in compacted soil and full sun, forming dense mats up to two feet in diameter. It’s particularly hard to manage in dry, stressed turf.
  
  

Wild Violet

• Type: Broadleaf perennial
  
  
• Active: Year-round (prominent in spring and summer)
  
  
• Control: Difficult to manage with pre- or post-emergent treatments
  
  Wild violets are highly adaptable and spread quickly in a variety of environments. They are notorious for being hard to eradicate once established.
  
  

Khaki Weed

• Type: Broadleaf perennial
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Pre- and post-emergent treatments
  
  Khaki Weed is an invasive weed that spreads aggressively through seeds and creeping stems. Its spiny seed pods make it especially annoying in lawns, pastures, and walkways.
  
  

Creeping Charlie

• Type: Broadleaf perennial
  
  
• Active: Spring and Fall
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Also called ground ivy, Creeping Charlie thrives in shady, moist areas and forms dense mats that choke out grass. It’s tough to eliminate, requiring consistent treatment.
  
  

Purslane

• Type: Broadleaf annual
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Purslane thrives in hot, dry conditions and spreads through its succulent leaves and seeds. It can quickly invade garden beds, lawns, and disturbed soils.
  
  

Thistle

• Type: Broadleaf perennial
  
  
• Active: Summer
  
  
• Control: Post-emergent treatments
  
  Thistle grows quickly, producing sharp spines and deep taproots. It can invade lawns and gardens, causing soil disturbance and outcompeting other plants.