Mouse-ear Chickweed

Cerastium holosteoides

General - Mouse-ear Chickweed is a short lived perennial weed that forms a dense mat in lawns and turf.

This prostate growing weed can easily tolerate close mowing.

Leaves - The tiny oblong leaves have pointed tips, they are very fleshy and covered with hairs.

Flowers - The small flowers on Mouse-ear Chickweed have 5 white petals.

Each petal is deeply notched, giving it the appearance of 10 petals.

Flowers can be seen between April and November.

Roots - Mouse-ear Chickweed has a shallow fibrous root system.

Habitat - The weed can tolerate most conditions but prefers areas that are shaded and moist.

Cultural Control - Hand weed before infestation becomes widespread. Slashing at the weed or raking the weed into an upright position prior to mowing may help weaken the weed.

Maintain the health of the lawn to help discourage weed invasion.

Chemical Control - If you go down the chemical weed killer route, consider spot treating the weed if the problem is fairly localised.

Mouse-ear Chickweed is susceptible to most weed killers and is usually controlled in one a single application.

For the best results apply weed killers when the weeds are actively growing usually between April and September.

It is important to follow the manufactures health and safety guidelines when applying chemicals to lawns.

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Common Chickweed

Stellaria media

General - Common Chickweed is an annual weed and is not usually a problem on closely mown luxury lawns.

It is mainly confined to neglected utility lawns, grassy areas and areas of bare soil that has been disturbed.

However it can be a nuisance on newly seeded lawns before the grass has had sufficient time to establish.

Leaves - Common Chickweed has pairs of heart shaped leaves bourn on short stalks.

Flowers - Similar to those of Mouse-ear Chickweed, the small flowers have 5 white petals which are deeply lobed, giving the appearance of 10 petals. common Chickweed flowers between February and November.

Roots - Common Chickweed has a slender tap root.

Habitat - Common Chickweed is usually confined to areas of neglected turf or newly sown lawns.

Cultural Control - Common Chickweed will only cause problems on new lawns that have not had sufficient time to establish, once regular mowing commences it should eventually disappear.

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Parsley Piert

Aphanes arvensis

General - Parsley Piert is an annual lawn weed, which is very common in closely mown areas of turf, as it spreads it forms in small clusters in the lawn.

The weed is often an indicator of mowing too closely, coupled with a nutrient deficiency (lack of fertiliser) in the lawn.

Leaves - The small fan shaped leaves of Parsley Piert has 3 deeply toothed lobes.

Flowers - Parsley Piert flowers between May and September, the tiny green flowers which are barely noticeable, form at the base of the leaves.

Habitat - The weed thrives in sandy, free draining soils, especially those which are deficient in nutrients.

Cultural Control - Hand weeding can prove effective for a small number of plants. Avoid mowing the lawn to close as this stresses the turf, which in turn creates thin, weak and even bare areas where this weed can invade.

Apply adequate nutrition with a balanced fertiliser program, this will help keep the lawn thick and healthy and discourage weeds.

Chemical Control - Parsley Piert is a difficult weed to control with selective weed killers.

If you go down the chemical route a mixture of 2,4-D and dicamba or alternatively a mixture of fluroxypry and clopyralid will be the most effective against Parsley Piert.

However repeat applications will most likely be needed for effective control.

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Procumbent Pearlwort

Sagina procumbens

General - Procumbent Pearlwort is a perennial weed which forms as a low growing mat. It can be quite troublesome in closely mown turf as it tolerates closely mown lawns.

It can be a difficult weed to identify as it is sometimes confused with moss. Leaves - The leaves of Procumbent Pearlwort are small and narrow.

Flowers - The small flowers have either white or green petals and are bourn on a thin stalk. Pearlwort flowers between May and September.

Roots - Procumbent Pearlwort has a fibrous root system.

Habitat - Procumbent Pearlwort can thrive in all soil types, especially moist conditions where the grass is mown very short.

Cultural Control - Hand weeding may be effective for a few plants. Keeping the grass in a healthy condition via feeding, aeration and regular mowing at a sensible height will help prevent any thin or bare areas in the lawn.
 
Chemical Control - Ideally stay on top of this weed with the cultural methods as it is a difficult weed to control with chemicals.

However if it has become widespread choose a selective weed killer containing mixtures of 2,4-D and mecoprop-p or 2,4-D and dicamba or clopyralid and fluroxypyr.

A further application will be needed to control this weed. For the best results selective weed killers should be applied during periods of active growth usually between April and September.

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Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

General - Yarrow also known as Milfoil is a perennial weed and is troublesome on all types of lawn and turf.

Yarrow can survive long periods of drought, it spreads by underground runners and seed.

Once established it can spread quickly and it also tolerates close mowing.

Leaves - Yarrow has feathery, fern like leaves that give off a fragrant smell when they are crushed.

Flowers - The flowers are a white or pale colour and form on the end of stems in dense clusters. Yarrow flowers between June and October.

Roots - Yarrow has a fibrous root system with many rhizomes which help the weed establish and spread.

Habitat - Yarrow prefers soils that are dry and deficient in nutrients. Yarrow is often a good indicator of nutrient deficiency (low fertility).

Cultural Control - Yarrow can be physically removes by hand weeding taking care to remove all of the roots. Regularly mowing the lawn will help stop the weed producing seed heads.

Raking the weed prior to mowing will help stand up the lateral growth and weaken the weed.
Ensure the lawn receives adequate nutrition as this will encourage a thick lawn and help prevent any Yarrow problems.

Chemical Control - Yarrow is going to be difficult to control using chemicals as it is resistant to many selective weed killers.

If go down the chemical route choose a product that contains 2,4-D & mecoprop-p or 2,4-D & dicamba. Repeat applications will be needed and success may be limited.

Alternatively you may want to call in a professional lawn care specialist with the relevant pesticide application certificates.

They may have access to professional weed killers used in the sports turf industry. These are more effective than the weed killers that are available to the amateur gardener.

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Silverweed

Potentilla anserina

General - Silverweed is a perennial weed that is generally confined to neglected lawns, it is rarely a problem on a well maintained lawn.

It is often confused with Creeping Cinquefoil as the leaves are similar. Silverweed spreads by creeping stems which root at intervals.

Leaves - The underside of the leaves are covered with fine white hairs giving them a silvery colour. The leaves contain up to 14 leaflets, all with toothed edges.

Flowers - Silverweed flowers have 5 petals and can be seen between the months of May and August.

Roots - This weed has a fibrous root system.

Habitat - Silverweed can grow in all types of soil conditions where the turf has been neglected.

Cultural Control - Raking the weed prior to mowing will stand up and cut off the runners weakening the weed.

Repeat this method each time you mow the lawn and it should soon disappear. Keeping the lawn in healthy condition will help suppress all common lawn weeds.

Chemical Control - Silverweed can be a difficult weed to control using a selective weed killer. As with Creeping Cinquefoil the cultural methods of control should be effective against this weed.

If you go down the chemical route choose a product containing mixtures of (2,4-D and mecoprop-p) or (2,4-D and dicamba) or (clopyralid, fluroxypyr and MCPA). A repeat application will be needed to effectively control Silverweed.

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Creeping Cinquefoil

Potentilla reptans

General - Creeping Cinquefoil is a perennial weed mainly confined to neglected lawns and longer areas of grass or turf.

It is not a problem on luxury lawns which are mown on a regular basis. It can sometimes be confused with Silverweed as the leaves are quite similar.

Leaves - The leaves consist of 5 leaflets which are toothed. They are very similar to strawberry leaves.

Flowers - The yellow flowers have 5 heart shaped petals. Creeping Cinquefoil flowers between June and September.


Habitat - Creeping Cinquefoil is often found in dry neglected areas.

Cultural Control - Raking the weed prior to mowing will severely weaken the weed and remove the creeping stems. This process should eventually eradicate the weed from the lawn.

Chemical Control - Creeping Cinquefoil is not a major problem on luxury lawns that are mown frequently. It is mainly confined to utility lawns that have been neglected. before reaching for the chemical bottle consider the cultural control methods.

If however you are intent on using chemicals use a product that contains (2,4-D and mecoprop-p) or (2,4-D and dicamba )or a mixture of (clopyralid, fluroxypyr and MCPA).

More than one application may be needed to control this weed. Selective weed killers are most effective during periods of strong growth usually between April and September.

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Creeping Buttercup

Ranunculus repens

General - Creeping Buttercup is a perennial weed that spreads by seed and overground runners called stolons.

This weed can adapt to mowing heights making it a common weed in mown turf especially in wet poorly drained soil conditions.

Leaves - The leaves have 3 lobes, the upper lobe is stalked. The leaves of Creeping Buttercup are deeply toothed and can either be smooth or hairy.

Flowers - The flowers produce 6 to 9 yellow petals 20mm to 30mm in diameter. Creeping Buttercup flowers between April to August.

Roots - The weed has a fibrous root system which regenerates from the nodes.

Habitat - Creeping Buttercup prefers wet heavy soils. This weed is often an indicator of drainage problems in turf.

Cultural Control - Hand weeding can be effective, taking care to remove the whole plant. Regular mowing will suppress seed head formation. Encouraging a tight, healthy lawn will help prevent weeds invading the lawn.

Chemical Control - Creeping Buttercup can be controlled using a selective weed killers, however this method of control should only be used when necessary.

Choose a weed killer that contains 2,4-D and (mecoprop-p or dicamba). Alternatively a weed killer that contains fluroxypyr should be effective against this weed. For the best results treat weeds when they are actively growing, this is usually between April and September.

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Bulbous Buttercup

Ranunculus bulbosus

General - Bulbous Buttercup is a perennial weed that spreads by seed.

If left to grow it can reach up to 45cm, however it can just as easily adapt to grow in closely mown turf or lawns.

It takes its name from the large bulbous corm (a large swollen underground stem).

The plant dies back in the summer heat but the corm survives the winter months.

Leaves - The leaves of this weed are very similar to those of Creeping Buttercup but are generally smaller.

Flowers - Again similar to Creeping Buttercup but those of Bulbous Buttercup are smaller. The plant flowers between March and June.

Roots - Bulbous Buttercup has a bulbous root system with fibrous roots.

Habitat - This weed prefers free draining, light soils. Maintain sward density to prevent weeds establishing and becoming a problem.

Cultural Control - Bulbous Buttercup can be hand weeded, taking care to remove the whole plant.

Chemical Control - Bulbous Buttercup is more resistant to chemicals than Creeping Buttercup. Choose a selective weed killer that contains 2,4-D and (mecoprop-p or dicamba) or a weed killer that contains fluroxypyr may also prove effective against Bulbous Buttercup.

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Lesser Celandine

Ranunculus ficaria

General - Lesser Celandine is a perennial weed and is one of the first weeds to appear before it quickly disappears again.

This weed is a member of the Buttercup family and is very difficult to control effectively. Lesser Celandine is a low growing weed which rarely exceeds 50mm in height

Leaves - The weeds have glossy heart shaped leaves, which on occasions have a slightly serrated edge.

Flowers - Lesser Celandine has yellow star shaped flowers. Each flower can have up to 12 petals and can be seen between March and May.

Roots - Lesser Celandine has a fibrous root system and numerous root tubers.

Habitat - Lesser Celandine prefers wet soil conditions. Excess shade may also encourage the weed.

Cultural Control - The weed may be removed by digging it out. However it should be noted that the whole weed should be removed, as any remaining roots and tubers may assist in helping the weed spread.

Encourage a healthy lawn with good lawn care practices, this will help reduce the opportunities for weeds to invade the lawn.

Chemical Control - Controlling Lesser Celandine is going to prove very difficult, and success may be limited, as it is resistant to most chemicals.

Another drawback is that the weed only appears between March and May, this only leaves a short time frame in which to control this weed.

Choose a selective weed killer that contains MCPA for the best results. Aim to treat Lesser Celandine early (when the leaves are fully developed), this should leave enough time for a second application before the weed disappears again in May.

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