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If weeds become established in the lawn and nothing is done about them, they quickly push the lawn aside. Recognizing weeds and fighting them properly is the be-all and end-all for a well-groomed lawn. The plant guide helps you to identify and gives professional tips for combating.
lawn weeds
The denser and healthier a lawn grows, the less opportunity it offers weeds to establish themselves. Nevertheless, some weed species always manage to find space on the lawn. If they remain undiscovered and are not removed, more and more are usually added. In the end, the lawn consists of more weeds than blades of grass. You should therefore always react quickly and use effective control methods, as described in the guide.
Weeds with A to B
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
Recognition:
- Stem height: between 30 centimeters and 80 centimeters
- radiating, broadly funnel-shaped flowers
- white or light red corolla
- fivefold calyx
- Flowering period: June to October
- sprout-forming root
Combat:
Fighting the field bindweed is quite difficult due to the root sprouts reaching up to two meters deep, but it is not hopeless. Use the weeder to poke out all the diapers. Make sure that no parts of the plant are left on the ground or fall on it, as new windlings can quickly develop from the smallest elements. Then you dig the soil as deep as possible with a special digging fork and sift it through a sieve to catch and dispose of even the smallest sprouts. Then close the hole again with soil and sow new lawn.
bindweed
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Mugwort often spreads along roadsides and on semi-dry lawns. For some it is a healthy herb, but for the lawn it is an annoying weed.
Recognition:
- Growth height: between 50 centimeters and 150 centimeters
- basket covered with wrappers
- light, hairy undersides of leaves
- Flower color: brownish
- Flowering time: from the end of June
Fight:
Before mugwort begins to bloom, this type of lawn weed should be lifted out of the ground with a weed puller. After that, it is essential to cut the lawn at short intervals and keep it evenly moist so that it becomes denser and does not give room for mugwort.
mugwort
Broad plantain (Plantago media)
Broad plantain is one of the deep roots and can spread extremely widely. If it stays in the lawn for a long time, it destroys the turf over a large area around it. After removing weeds, what remains is an unvegetated area of land, which requires renewed lawn seeding.
Recognize:
- Growth height: between 15 centimeters and 50 centimeters
- Flower color: pink, white
- leafless stems
- rosette of leaves at ground level
- oval cylindrical leaves
- very tough, stable weed
Combat:
The plantain is difficult to pull out of the ground by hand, as its roots lie deep and can only be grasped to a limited extent through the rosette of leaves lying on the ground. Usually only the upwardly projecting stems are torn off. The easiest way to remove weeds is to use a weed puller that reaches far into the ground.
plantain
weeds with F
Thread speedwell (Veronica filiformis)
The thread speedwell is one of the plantain plants. There are different types of lawn weeds.
Recognition:
- conspicuously long flower stalks
- creeping shoot stems on the top layer of soil that take root
- Flowering period: between March and June
- Growth height: up to 15 centimeters
- Flower color: purple-blue
Combat:
Small amounts of these lawn weeds can easily be pulled out of the ground by hand. If it spreads over a large area, the lawn clippings make it invisible. However, cut stem parts also take root if they get close to the ground. Effective only helps to at least partially combat the cause. Thread speedwell prefers soil that is poor in lime. Regular fertilization with algae lime, for example, prevents the spread and, ideally, a first infestation.
Speedwell, Veronica
weeds with G
Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Daisies blooming like little daisies are pretty to look at. But once established in the lawn, they multiply rapidly and damage the turf.
Recognize:
- Growth height: between five centimeters and 15 centimeters
- Season: between March and October
- Flower Color: White with yellow tubular flower in the center
- cup-shaped flowers
Combat:
You can only remove small regions with the weeder. If the daisies have already spread out like a carpet, cutting out the individual stalks becomes an ordeal. However, you can ensure the best control if you regularly mow the lawn at short intervals to create a dense lawn in which there is no room for daisies. Mowing the lawn also prevents seeds from spreading if there is a weed infestation.
daisy
Claytonia perfoliata (Claytonia perfoliata)
Recognition:
- Main flowering period: April to June
- Flower color: white
- Growth height: seven centimeters to 20 centimeters
- two plates or bowl-shaped fused leaves on the flower stalks
Combat:
If the soil is well moist, the common plate weed can be easily removed with a sharp knife.
plate herb
ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria)
Recognize:
- Flowering period: May to September
- large and jagged structured leaves
- white, slightly reddish flowers in umbels
- angular stems
- Growth height: up to one meter
- forms a carpet-like floor covering
Combat:
Control is usually a bit more difficult, since lawn weeds such as groundweed spread via seeds and continue to spread underground via rhizomes. Therefore, you should dig up the ground around the goutweed with a digging shovel and sieve the soil so that you can catch and remove all root parts and rhizomes. New lawn seed is then to be distributed over the filled-in hole.
goutweed
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Recognition:
- coarsely notched and kidney-shaped leaves
- creeping engine
- Growth height: up to 30 centimeters
- Season: April to July
- Flower color: purple to blue
- Flower margins with triangular teeth
Combat:
Weed control of the ground ivy should take place as soon as it is detected, as it not only spreads quickly, but also draws plenty of water and nutrients from the lawn. In order to take effective action against the weeds, treatment with a weed killer is advisable, such as CELAFLOR® lawn weed-free Weedex.
Glechoma hederacea, ground ivy
weeds with H
Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa)
Barnyardgrass is a fast-germinating sweet grass that grows extremely quickly over the entire lawn. It is quite easy to determine as this.
Recognize:
- Growth height: between ten centimeters and 100 centimeters
- Spike blossom from July
- Blades of grass grow upright and are quite stiff
- partial inflorescences curved downwards
Combat:
Since barnyardgrass is one of the monocotyledonous lawn weed species and lawn weed killers only work on dicotyledonous varieties, there would only be a TOTAL killer that also attacks the lawn or a mechanical control solution using hand weeders or weeders. Mowing your lawn regularly will keep barnyardgrass under control.
barnyardgrass
weeds with K
Common poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
One of the most common lawn weeds in meadows is the poppy.
Recognition:
- bright red flower, sometimes with a dark spot towards the stem
- Flowering time: May to July
- four petals
- in the middle of the flower a black poppy capsule with countless seeds
- Growth height: between 20 centimeters and 60 centimeters
Combat:
When weeding by hand, a root residue may remain in the soil. The most effective way to combat this is with a weed cutter.
Corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas
Lesser prunella (Prunella vulgaris)
The small brownelle grows inconspicuously at first and is often overlooked until the first flowers form and stand out in color on the green lawn.
Recognition:
- Growth height: between five centimeters and 30 centimeters
- tall, erect stem
- oppositely arranged leaves
- Flowering period: from June to October
- blue-purple petals, rarely white
Combat:
The small prunella can be easily pricked out of the ground with a knife. It is important that you take care to include all foothills. Only the smallest root remnant allows the small prunella to sprout again.
Little Brownie
Spear Thistle (Cirsium)
The spear thistle belongs to the daisy family, is represented in numerous species and feels particularly at home on arable soil. Therefore, it often shows up on lawns that are not very densely overgrown.
Recognition:
- Growth height: between five centimeters and four meters, depending on the species
- erect stems that may branch
- basal leaves
- Leaf margins finely to coarsely jagged
- thorny leaf teeth
- cup-shaped inflorescences
- Flower heads with up to 200 tubular flowers in different colors (depending on the species)
- Flowering period: between June and September
Combat:
Fighting a scratching thistle is more difficult. Basically, the smaller it is, the easier it is and it can still be lifted out of the ground with a weed puller. As soon as a spear thistle has increased significantly in size, a pesticide should be used specifically to destroy lawn weeds.
spear thistle
Crawling Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
This Günselart is a creeping plant, which is one of the ground cover. Some hobby gardeners deliberately plant it, but it is undesirable in the lawn and should be fought if you don't want it to take over the entire lawn.
Recognize:
- erect, stiff growing
- forms creeping runners
- Growth height: between ten centimeters and 30 centimeters
- grape-shaped flowers
- Flowering period: between April and July
- Flower color: blue-purple
- depending on the species, reddish or green leaves
Combat:
Cutting out the Günsel lawn weeds is a promising control method. The shallow roots make it easy to remove completely. To prevent re-infestation, the bald spot should be immediately covered with new lawn seed. The denser the lawn, the lower the chances that a crawling bugle will establish itself again.
crawling bugle
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
The creeping buttercup has a fine structure. This type of lawn weed not only spreads quickly, but is also poisonous.
Recognition:
- threefold pinnate leaves
- five-part flowers
- Flower color: golden yellow
- Flowering time: between May and September
- creeping runners
Combat:
When the ground is damp from a rain shower, there's the perfect moment to pull a creeping buttercup out of the ground by hand or dig it up with a weed puller. The removal should be done before flowering, so that the seed does not spread and spread can take place. Do not forget to wash your hands after touching them, as poisonous parts of the plant are present.
Woolly buttercup, Ranunculus lanuginosus
Weeds with L to M
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion is known as the dandelion and falls under the deep-rooting family. As a rule, the lion number can be easily identified as such, but it should be taken into account that it can appear slightly different visually, for example if there are different light and weather conditions.
Recognize:
- Growth height: between ten centimeters and 30 centimeters
- yellow flowers - less often white flowers with a yellow center
- unmistakable white elongated gliders
- white milky sap in the plant parts
- cup-shaped inflorescence
Combat:
Since the root usually grows deep into the ground, it is difficult to reach it with conventional weed killers in granular or liquid form. Removal with a weed puller is best. With this you can get relatively deep and without much effort into the ground and pull out the dandelion in this way. However, if the dandelion has spread far and wide, a herbicide, such as the Universal Lawn Weed Free from Bayer, makes the effort easier. When using it, care should be taken to ensure that the lawn is well moistened so that the herbicide can penetrate better and, above all, deeply.
dandelion
moss
Moss is one of the most common types of lawn weeds. It spreads out like a tightly "woven" carpet and pushes the blades of grass further and further back. It can usually only be seen up close, as it neither blooms nor grows significantly above the height of the blade of grass. Moss multiplies via spores, which initially cannot usually be identified as moss spores.
Recognition:
- green, wide, cushion-like growth
- Growth height: up to a maximum of five centimetres
- usually very slender with no visible stems
Combat:
In order to combat moss effectively, you should get to the bottom of why moss feels comfortable and spreads on the lawn. A low-lime, compacted and moist soil as well as a shady location are often to blame for moss infestation.
The moss itself can be combated with algae lime fertilization. Special chemical-based moss killers also help. Scarifying the lawn beforehand ensures improved aeration and removes compaction, so that moss killer and/or algae lime can penetrate the soil better. In addition, scarifying removes most of the moss. As a precaution, the grass should never be cut shorter than four centimeters. If branches or entire trees take the sun out of lawn areas, they should be shortened accordingly.
moss
Weeds with R
Red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum)
Recognize:
- Flowering time: spring and autumn
- Growth height: ten centimeters to 30 centimeters
- Flower Color: Light pink, purple, or white (rare)
- nettle-like plant without a burning factor
- helmet-shaped upper lip
- slightly patterned lower lip
- ovate leaves
Combat:
Once the red deadnettle has spread far, weeding by hand is strenuous and time-consuming. We recommend a lawn weed killer for double germs that does not attack the lawn but reliably kills this type of weed.
Red deadnettle
Red and white clover (Trifolium repens)
White clover is also called creeping clover because it spreads as a creeping weed. It is one of the weed species that can be seen most often on lawns.
Recognize:
- three or four leafed stems
- long central stem with spherical flower
- Flower color: white or pink
- Season: between May and September
- Growth height: between ten centimeters and 30 centimeters
Combat:
White clover, like red clover and all other types of clover, usually appears in a "colony". This means that individual specimens are rarely seen. Although its roots often reach deep into the ground, they do not form any spurs, so that anchoring does not take place and the root is easier to pull out. It can be combated with hand weeding, but this is very laborious and time-consuming in the case of large accumulations. It is best to use a weed killer for dicotyledonous lawn weeds, such as the Banvel M lawn weed killer from CAMPO.
Meadow clover
Weeds with V to W
Chickweed (Stellasia media)
Chickweed is a carnation plant that has similar flowers to daisies, but is otherwise very different.
Recognition:
- stem growth creeping along the ground
- Flowers: white star flowers
- Flowering time: from spring to late summer
- Expulsion possible in winter with mild temperatures
- Growth height: between five centimeters and 30 centimeters
Combat:
It is important that you remove lawn weeds such as chickweed in good time before flowering to prevent self-reproduction by seeds. Control with hand weeding is the most effective. The weeds are relatively easy to pull out of the ground.
Chickweed
Meadow bittercress (Cardamine pratensis)
Recognize:
- Growth height: 15 centimeters to 60 centimeters
- Flowers from white to soft purple
- Flowering time: May to June
- basal leaves arranged in a rosette
Combat:
Since the meadow foam herb does not cause any major damage, a regular lawn cut and annual scarifying is sufficient. If you let the lawn dry out well every now and then, you will provoke the drying and dying of this weed species.
Meadow bittercress
Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense)
Recognition:
- Flowering time: from June to October
- Growth height: up to 70 centimeters
- Flower color: blue, white, pink or double, depending on the variety
- separate petaled flowers
- five-petalled flowers
- remarkably long flower stalk
Combat:
The meadow cranesbill is one of the fast-growing types of lawn weeds and should be removed quickly. The roots are fairly shallow under the ground, so this weed can easily be picked up with a small hand shovel.
Cranesbill, Geranium
Wild carrot (Daucus carota)
The wild carrot can usually only be found on poor meadows and can be easily identified as such by their appearance.
Recognition:
- Growth height: up to one meter
- few fern-like leaves before flowering
- red-spotted stem
- Flowering time: June to August
- white-flowered umbellifers
- mostly lilac colored pseudo-flowers in the middle of the umbel
- typical smell of carrots when crushing the leaves
Fight:
Due to the usually strong stems, this weed can be grabbed by the stem and pulled out of the ground. This should be moist to ensure that the entire root is pulled out.
wild carrot
Weeds with Z
Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)
Recognition:
- green-yellow inflorescence
- Flowering time: April to May
- white pseudo-flower in the middle of the calyx-like shell
- Growth height: between 15 centimeters and 30 centimeters
- blue-green stem
- densely leafed
Combat:
Lawn weeds such as cypress spurge are usually too delicate in their structure to be easily pulled out by hand. With a sharp knife or a weed puller, however, it works without any problems.
Cypress Spurge
frequently asked Questions
Which weeds are edible?Weed is not the same as garbage. Many of the unwanted plants can even be eaten. Examples of edible weeds include:
- Nettle
- goutweed
- Dandelion
- wild garlic
- Groundman
- Chickweed
- Buttonweed
- burnet
Tip: The wild herbs are particularly suitable for a delicious wild herb salad.
For small amounts of weed, the most natural control method is manual removal with your hands or weed picker. If the weeds have spread stubbornly and widely, the only thing that usually helps is to dig them out with a shovel and then sieve the soil. After that, the lawn needs to be sown again. We generally advise against using chemical weed killers on the lawn. Especially when playing animals and children are on it.
How can I prevent weeds in the lawn?Regular and thorough lawn care should be carried out so that the lawn cannot be infested with weeds in the first place. This includes mowing the lawn regularly. This is how you ensure dense growth of the stalks and take the space away from the weeds. Keeping the lawn short also prevents weed seeds from spreading further. In addition to regular mowing, you should also rely on the right fertilization. Lime the lawn, for example, to keep many weeds away. Moss, for example, loves lime-poor soils. By regularly scarifying the lawn, you loosen the soil and weeds can be removed more easily.