3 Basic Types of Lawn Weeds found in North Carolina
For North Carolina lawns, there are three basic types of weeds: grassy type weeds, grass-like weeds, and broad leafed weeds. Each require a different method for control.
Some common lawn weeds are annuals. Sprouting from seeds, they develop, blossom and form new seeds, then die in the fall, repeating the process each year. Crabgrass is one such weed. Once these types of weeds take root, they are difficult to remove without harming the lawn. The ideal control prevents them from developing in the first place.
Applying a Pre-emergent Control in the spring does this. The soil's surface is covered with a microscopic protective layer that prevents any germinating seeds from taking hold, including crabgrass. If left undisturbed, this protective layer will maintain its defensive qualities throughout the prime germinating period. This is when most weed seeds will normally start developing. Of course, there is no 100% guarantee that additional seeds won't be carried in by winds, birds, or any number of other methods.
Grassy-type weeds are usually more difficult to identify than broadleaf weeds. Grassy weeds are true grasses or monocots. A grass seed germinates and emerges as one single leaf. It develops hollow, rounded stems and nodes (joints) that are closed and hard. The leaf blades alternate on each side of the stem, are much longer than they are wide and have parallel veins.
Broadleaf weeds are generally the easiest to identify of all the weeds. They have leaves that are
broad, and are generally produced in pairs or multiples, have wide, flat leaves situated on a stem.
Broadleaf weeds are distinctive from and are botanically not closely related to grasses and sedges.
Dandelions are a good example of a broadleaf weed.
We have special applications that can spot treat for broadleaf weeds that appear throughout the growing season.
Grass-like weeds at first glance look like a grass, but are relatively easy to to distinguish from grasses. Upon close inspection, the stems are triangular in shape. Common grass-like weeds include sedges such as nutsedge.
Our professional staff are trained to identify all types of weeds commonly found in our area and know how to treat for them in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
