Back to Tips for Weed Prevention and Management [1]
A healthy, dense, vigorous lawn is the best defense against weeds. Practices that contribute to less weed problems include:
- Soil testing [2] to check soil fertility and pH
- Proper mowing height and frequency [3]
- Fertilizing at the recommended times [4]
- Overseeding in the fall to thicken up the lawn [5]
Common Lawn Weeds and Conditions that Favor their Growth
| Problem/Condition | Weeds That May Grow |
| Shade-intolerant turfgrass has begun to thin out and decline in the shade | Ground ivy [6], wild violets [7] |
| Compacted soil | Broadleaf plantain [8], goosegrass [9], knotweed [10], prostrate spurge [11], annual bluegrass [12] |
| Droughty soil | Yarrow [13], prostrate spurge [14], knotweed [10], black medic [15], goosegrass [9] |
| Wet soil | Bentgrass, roughstalk bluegrass [16], Nutsedge [17], wild violets [7] |
| Lawn mowed too short | Chickweed [18], crabgrass [19], annual bluegrass [20] |
| Lawn grown with infrequent applications of nitrogen fertilizer | Plantain [8], black medic [21], lespedeza [22], nimblewill [23], chicory [24], clover [25], common speedwell [26] |
| High levels of nitrogen | Annual bluegrass [20], Common chickweed [18] |
| Acidic soils | Red sorrel [27] |
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