The definition of a weed is: any undesirable or troublesome plant, especially one that grows profusely where it is not wanted.Going off the definition a weed can be pretty much any plant. Weeds do fall into two main categories: annuals and perennials. (There are also a few biennials, but they’re generally treated like perennials.)

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Going off the definition a weed can be pretty much any plant. Weeds do fall into two main categories: annuals and
perennials. (There are also a few biennials, but they’re generally treated like perennials.) Annual weeds are ones that
sprout anew each year, live their entire life cycle in one year and then produce seed for the next generation. Perennial
weeds are those that come back year after year. They also may go to seed or send out runners, but unlike annuals, they
don’t die out with the season. When it comes to killing weeds you have to be able to determine if it is a grassy weed or
broadleaf weed in order to determine the proper control measure.
Broad-leaf weeds generally have wider leaves that have a main vein down the middle with smaller veins branching out in
a netlike pattern. Common broadleaf weeds we deal with in turf grass are Dandelions, Creeping Charlie (Ground Ivy),
Wild Violets, Clover, and Thistle to name a few. While broadleaf weeds are easier to control then grassy weeds some
broadleaf weeds need several herbicide applications to start to gain control (creeping charlie, violets) while others, like
dandelions, will show good improvement after one application.
Herbicides used to control weeds either kill by contact or systemically, its best to use combination of both to get better
results. Contact herbicides start to kill the weed when they come in contact with the leaf tissue while systemic herbicides
translocate throughout the plant and kill it from the root up. Always remember weeds are opportunists. They’ll quickly
move into any bare spots. The best method to prevent weeds is to follow proper cultural practices and to keep the turf
healthy and thick.
Common annual lawn weeds: crabgrass, goose grass, foxtail, black medic, prostrate
knotweed, prostrate spurge, purslane, common chickweed, corn speedwell, dog fennel and
henbit.
Some common perennial lawn weeds: dandelion, quack grass, tall fescue, yellow nutsedge,
wild garlic, plantain, creeping speedwell, cinquefoil, creeping charlie (ground ivy), clover,
and wild violets
Grassy weeds are generally thin, upright and recognized by long, narrow leaf veins that run up and down parallel to one
another. Common grassy weeds in turf grass are Crabgrass, Goose grass, Yellow Nutsedge, and Quack grass. It’s tough to
kill grassy weeds in lawns. This is because these plants are botanically so similar to turf grass that products that kill them
will also damage the turf grass. There are a few products that kill grassy weeds after they’re growing, but all work best
when applied early in these plants’ growth stage. Unfortunately it can be hard to distinguish grassy-weed outbreaks until
they are so far along that grassy herbicides aren’t very effective. Even under ideal conditions, it may take two or three
applications to dispatch a grassy-weed problem. This is why it’s much more effective to go after annual grassy weeds like
crabgrass and goose grass with a preemergent before they’ve sprouted. The good news is annual grassy weeds like crab-
grass and goose grass die off when frost arrives. But for perennial grassy weeds like quack grass and tall fescue, you’re
probably stuck with either digging out these patches or spraying the infested area with a non-selective herbicide such as
glyphosate (round up) and then reseeding the area.
Weeds
The definition of a weed is: any undesirable or troublesome plant, especially one that grows pro-
fusely where it is not wanted.