Many weeds have a lifecycle of just 5-6 weeks.
Despite this, they can quickly cover a garden, and if not dealt with quickly weeds can become very difficult to get rid of. Creeping lawn weeds can spread across your lawn, covering any other plants, so it is important to know how you can stop them before they take over.
For a rundown of 5 creeping lawn weeds and how to get rid of them, keep reading.
1. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma Hedreracea)
Creeping charlie lawn weeds are tough enough to survive well in almost any conditions. They grow thick and if left unchecked will cover your entire lawn, smoothing other plants in the process.
Stubborn creeping lawn weeds like this need to be dealt with quickly. You can dig them up or use a herbicide, but they are very resilient so this isn’t always effective, and you may need professional help to manage them.
For professional lawn care in the Mt. Holly area, you may want to contact RDS Lawn Care Services. Head over to https://rdslawncare.com/mount-holly/ to see the services they offer.
2. Quackgrass (Elytrigia Repens)
Some creeping weeds in a lawn can be a bit harder to notice. Quackgrass can be mistaken for regular grass, so you need to be vigilant if any appears to stop it from spreading.
It reproduces from seeds and new shoots can quickly appear from the thick mat it forms in soil. If you spot any you should dig it out with the root as quickly as possible. Avoid putting it in a compost pile as it could continue to spread from there.
3. Canada Thistle (Cirsium Arvense)
Canada thistle (actually from Eurasia) often infests crops, pastures, ditch banks, and roadsides. However, this doesn’t mean it won’t grow on your lawn at home.
It forms deep root systems, so may take professional lawn weed control to handle it. This is best done in early spring when it starts to grow as the roots should not be too deep at this point.
If it does become rooted it will then be at its weakest in summer as it’s flowering, so this is another opportunity to eradicate it.
4. Bindweed (Convolvulus Arvensis)
This noxious weed sprouts in spring and spreads incredibly quickly in warm weather. As one of the most persistent weeds you might encounter, you will want to deal with bindweed straight away.
It forms a vine system with roots that grow through the roots of other plants. These can sometimes go as deep as 14 feet and even grow secondary vertical roots, making them very hard to get rid of.
Early intervention is essential, and root fragments as small as 2 inches can form new plants. The most effective way to kill it is to smother it with weed control fabric, plastic, or carpet. You may also need to resort to herbicides to get rid of it completely.
5. Slender Speedwell (Veronica Filiformis)
Slender speedwell grows quickly in managed turf and can be stubborn even against herbicide. It can spread overground, underground, and even from plant fragments.
Ensure you carry out good turf care to prevent this weed from appearing. Grass clippings should be removed and not used for composting. Whenever you see individual plants remove them immediately along with the root. Lawn sand in early spring can also help weaken (but won’t kill) the plant.
Controlling Creeping Lawn Weeds
Creeping lawn weeds can be incredibly persistent, and it will often take a lot of effort to eradicate them completely. Herbicides, regular weeding, and good lawn care all help, but for maximum efficiency, you should look into professional lawn care services.
If you’re interested in more gardening articles check out some of our other blog posts.