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Turfgrass Weeds

Weeds of Texas Turf Casey Reynolds, PhD and Matt Elmore, PhD

Weed Identification

Weeds, like all plants, are classified based on morphological characteristics of their vegetative and reproductive structures. A basic understanding of the types of weeds commonly found in turf is very helpful in identification and herbicide selection.

Weeds are often grouped by morphological characteristics into the categories: broadleaf weeds, grassy weeds, and sedges (Table 1). Editor’s Note: A “weed” is simply a plant growing someplace we don’t want it. Many of the “weeds” listed here make lovely groundcovers, so be cautious as you seek an all-turf lawn…

Table 1. General Characteristics of Weed Species When Grouped as Broadleaf weeds, Grassy Weeds, or Sedges.

Broadleaf Weeds Grasses and Grass­like

Weeds Sedges

Embryo

Dicot

Monocot

Monocot

Stem

Usually solid, variable in shape

Hollow, round or flattened

Solid, usually triangular

Leaf Shape

Variable

Simple, entire

Simple, entire

Leaf

Arrangement

Variable

Alternate, 2­ranked

Alternate, 3­ranked

Leaf Veins Netted

Parallel

Parallel

Table 1. General Characteristics of Weed Species When Grouped as Broadleaf weeds, Grassy Weeds, or Sedges. (Continued)

Broadleaf Weeds Grasses and Grass­like

Weeds

Sedges

Inflorescence

Highly variable, often

colored and showy

Spike, Raceme, or Panicle

Head­like with flattened

spikele

Secondary

Growth

None, Tubers, Bulbs

Rhizomes, Stolons

etc.

None, Rhizomes,

and/or Stolons

None, Rhizomes, and/or

Tubers

Family

Classification

Many

Poaceae, Iridaceae,

Commelinaceae, Liliaceae,

others

Cyperaceae

Examples Henbit, Chickweed,

Prostrate Spurge,

Slender aster, etc.

Crabgrass, Dallisgrass,

Annual bluegrass, Smutgrass,

etc.

Purple nutsedge, Yellow

nutsed Kyllinga, etc.

Identifying weeds based on these features is helpful because herbicides are often particularly effective on one or more of these groups. However, it is important to be able to identify specific weeds within a group (down to the genus and species level), because many herbicides only control certain species. This is also important because there are several species of weeds with vegetative characteristics (leaves, stems, sheaths, etc.) that appear to be grasses, but when left un­mowed their floral characteristics reveal that they are actually quite different. These species are sometimes referred to as “grass­like” weeds and for the purposes of organization they are classified in the image gallery below as Grassy Weeds.

Broadleaf Weeds

Sow Leaf Thistle

Arrowleaf Clover

Asiastic Hawksbeard

Bitterweed

Black Medick

Bristly Mallow

Buckhorn Plantain

Burclover

Carolina Dichondra

Carolina Geranium

Carpetweed

Catchweed Bedstraw

Common Chickweed

Common Groundsel

Common Mallow

Cudweed sp.

Curlydock

Dandelion

Dogfennel

Dollarweed

Field Bindweed

Field Madder

Filaree

Frogfruit

Ground Ivy

Hairy Bittercress

Hairy Buttercup

Hedge Parsley

Henbit

Horrible Thistle

Horse Purslane

Horseweed

India Mock Strawberry

Kahkiweed

Lawn Burweed

Lespedeza

Mouse-ear Chickweed

Paleseed Plantain

Pepperweed

Pigweed

Pillpod Sandmat

Powderpuff

Prostrate Knotweed

Purple Deadnettle

Purslane

Ragweed

Reversed Clover

Scarlet Pimpernel

Shepherd’s-purse

Showy Evening Primrose

Silverleaf Nighshade

Slender Aster

Slender Fumewort

Slime-lobe Celery

Spiny Sowthistle

Spotted Burclover

Spotted Surge

Sprawling Horseweed

Sticktight Buttercup

Sweet Clover

Swine Wartcress

Texas Dandelion

Texas Ragwort

Texas Thistle

Toothed Spurge

Trampweed

Tropic Croton

Vetch

Virgina Buttonweed

Virginia Copperleaf

Water Hyssop

Western Horsenettle

White Clover

Wild Carrot

Winecup

Yellow Woodsorrel

Grasses and Grass-like Weeds

Annual Blue-eyed Grass

Annual Bluegrass

Annual Ryegrass

Bahiagrass

Bermudagrass

Blue-eyed Grass

Common Dayflower

Crowfoot Grass

Crow-Poison

Dallisgrass

Doveweed

Goosegrass

Johnsongrass

Jungle Rice

King Ranch Bluestem

Large Crabgrass

Ohio Spiderwort

Prairie Nymph

Prairie Spiderwort

Red Sprangletop

Rescuegrass

Sandbur

Smooth Crabgrass

Smutgrass

Spring Starflower

Wild Onion

Sedges

Annual Sedge

Green Kyllinga

Purple Nutsedge

Yellow Nutsedge

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