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3 Common Winter Weeds and How to Deal With Them


Weed control can be a frustrating process for any homeowner, but it becomes even more challenging when dealing with weeds during the winter months. 

The Best Conditions for Winter Weeds

Weeds need specific conditions to grow in the winter. The environmental conditions in which winter weeds flourish include:

  • Water-logged soils
  • Air temperatures between 60°F and 85°F, five days and nights consecutively
  • Soil temperatures between 50°F and 55°F, five days and nights consecutively

What Are the Most Common Winter Weeds?

Corn Speedwell

Corn speedwell is a flower-bearing winter annual that germinates in the fall. During mild fall weather, corn speedwell can grow and spread quickly. Corn speedwell grows in thin, low-quality turfgrass and in soil with low nutrient levels (especially nitrogen).

How Do I Control Corn Speedwell?

Corn speedwell control tactics include proper nitrogen levels for healthy turfgrass, as well as aeration and seeding for cool-season grasses in fall.

Henbit

Henbit, sometimes confused with purple deadnettle, is a common winter annual with an upright growth habit. Generally speaking, the plant may grow to a height of 12 inches or more. The most common areas to find henbit include turf areas that are thin and of poor quality. Other areas include dormant warm-season grasses, newly seeded lawns, and water-logged soils.

How Do I Control Henbit?

Henbit control tactics include improving soil drainage and turf quality, as well as aerating and overseeding in fall.

Common Chickweed

Common chickweed is a winter annual that prefers moist sites and thrives in gardens, mulch beds, under trees, and in shaded areas of lawns, even during freezing temperatures. Common chickweed is difficult to control because it blooms all winter and can withstand low temperatures.

How Do I Control Chickweed?

Control tactics for chickweed include applying proper rates of nitrogen, improving areas of poor drainage, and aerating and overseeding to reduce compaction and improve plant types.

Winter Weed Controls Vary

Effective weed management requires a combination of proper identification and good cultural practices. The use of control materials is not always necessary if you understand the problem (why the weed is there) and devise a solution for it. Always treat the problem, not the symptom.

Warm Season Mowing

To minimize winter weeds in warm-season turf like bermudagrass, proper mowing is the key. Proper mowing height will encourage a dense, healthy stand of turfgrass that will naturally crowd out and discourage winter weed growth. Prior to the lawn going dormant, make sure you mow your warm-season lawn at the correct height for your grass type, and frequently enough so that no more than ⅓ of the blade is removed each time.

Control Winter Weeds With NaturaLawn of America

Preventing common weeds can be easier once you know how to reverse the conditions they prefer. With smart cultural practices, in combination with proper fertilizer applications from your lawn care technician, you’ll be able to get and maintain a healthy lawn no matter the season!

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