Tips for Identifying Lawn Weeds

By: Gene Rodriguez, III

Identifying lawn weeds is the first step in removing them from your yard. It can be difficult to identify weeds, however, as they tend to look different at each stage of growth, but knowing what you're looking at is crucial for natural lawn care.

The Best Resources For Identifying Lawn Weeds
As with most subjects, the Internet provides a dizzying array of choices when it comes to identifying lawn weeds. Photo guides are the quickest way to identify the weeds that are taking over your yard. Here are several of the best:

  • Midwestern Turfgrass Weed Prevention and Control (http://www.turf.uiuc.edu/weed_web/index.htm) - Created by the University of Illinois, this site is a good technical resource if you already suspect certain weeds. Access to the photos is by an alphabetized list of common and Latin names. Once you've selected a specific weed, this site will provide you with a detailed description and up to 6 images at various stages of the plant's life cycle.
  • MSU Turf Weeds (http://www.msuturfweeds.net/) - Maintained by Michigan State University, the Turf Weeds site has an excellent ID tool that helps you narrow your search by identifying plants using characteristics like leaf type, growth habit and flower color. This site is a good place to start if you only have visual information to work with.
  • The UC IPM Weed Photo Gallery (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/weeds_intro.html) - This University of California site has an incredibly diverse list of weed types available for identification. This site lists plants alphabetically, but also provides a visual identifier under the "Key to weeds in turf and landscapes" section. Although the site provides pictures and descriptions, it provides no control or management information.
  • N.J. Weed Gallery Thumbnail Images (http://njaes.rutgers.edu/weeds/thumbnail.asp) - One of the few sites that begins with visual identification, this Rutgers University site features a wide array of weeds that inhabit the northeast and other areas of the country. Light on control and management information, this site is best used as a starting point in your war against weeds.
  • WeedAlert.com (http://www.weedalert.com/) - Although geared toward professional landscapers, this site is a great resource for weed identification. Weeds are categorized by region of the country and clicking on the region links will take you to a thumbnail gallery where you can easily compare images of different weed types. Control and management information is somewhat technical, but can form the basis for a good weed control strategy.
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