Identifying weeds in your lawn or garden can be easy if you know what you planted or if it doesn’t look like grass. There are some surefire ways to tell the difference between broadleaf and grassy weeds, and this can help you keep your lawn and garden weed-free.

Broadleaf Weeds

Some of the noticeable characteristics of broadleaf weeds include:

• Distinct, wide leaf-shape
• Branched or netlike veins
• Thicker, branched stems
• May bud colorful flowers at certain times of the year

Broadleaf weeds are usually easier to identify because of their shape and size. They’re also easier to kill since many herbicides products are for targeted spot treatments.

Grass Weeds

Grass weeds can be harder to identify, since they typically look like grass. Here are some noticeable characteristics of these weeds:

• Long, narrow leaf blades with parallel veins
• Round or oval stems
• End of stems may develop a seed head
• Subtle or no flowers

These weeds typically go unnoticed in the lawn, but can show up uninvited in your garden.

Difference between Broadleaf and Grassy Weeds Treatment

Some weed treatments may work to kill broadleaf weeds, but not grass weeds. These spot treatments can be used in lawns since they typically won’t kill your grass. One of the best ways of treating weeds of any kind is to hand weed them from your lawn or garden. If you are able to get to the root of the weed, there’s a better chance they won’t return.