With warming weather and budding trees come a not-so-sunny side of spring—weeds. Some are harder to control than others, and some are pretty enough to be left alone. Whatever the case, here are four different types of common spring weeds you may find across your lawn.

Common Spring Weeds

Broadleaf or grassy, flowering or not, weeds are anything growing in your lawn that isn’t grass. There are many reasons why weeds grow and there are several ways to prevent them. Here’s how to identify a few.

1. Dandelions. Chances are you know what the most recognizable weed looks like. It’s easy to spot with its bright yellow flower popping up across a green expanse. Or maybe you’ve made a wish on its puffy white seed head, thus spreading the seeds throughout your lawn even more. This perennial broadleaf weed has a deep root which makes it harder to control by hand. Since it’s so common, there are plenty of weed control products available to help you treat your lawn.
2. Ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie). This perennial broadleaf weed is sometimes meant to grow in lawns as ground cover. It thrives in moist, shaded areas but can tolerate full sun. You may notice its minty aroma when freshly cut or crushed, and it even flowers for a short time with orchid-like purple flowers. When not grown on purpose, it can be hard to control. It spreads fast with runners sprouting in every direction, making it hard to hand weed.
3. Clover. Often mistaken for shamrocks, these three-leaf weeds are only seen as lucky to those looking for a four-leafed one—not for homeowners that have to deal with removing weeds. Bees are also fans, for they pollinate the pinkish-white flowers. Clover is also used as ground cover since it’s dense and green—when not flowering.
4. Wild Violet. Another perennial broadleaf weed that prefers shady, moist areas. These weeds have heart-shaped leaves with rounded teeth on the margins. Their flowers range in color from blue, purple, to white. The waxy leaves protect it from herbicides, making it harder to control so it could take several seasons to eliminate more completely.

Methods of Weed Control

One of the easiest ways to help prevent weeds is to keep your grass lush and healthy—thus less likely to lose a battle against a weed. If you do notice weeds emerging:

• Manually remove it, but make sure you take out the entire root or it will grow back. Refill any holes with soil and grass seed to stop more weeds from establishing.
• Apply pre-emergent weed control products before you see any weeds. You’ll know you need it if you’ve had problems in the past.
• Apply post-emergent weed control products after weeds have already germinated.

If you have any questions about weed control in your area or the best products to use to combat it, contact Cardinal Lawns for more information.