Top Five Kansas City Weeds and Treatment Options

Here in Kansas City, we treat many lawns that have experienced weed control problems over the years. Sometimes, they’re the result of poor planning and maintenance, and some are just the result of weird weather (like 6 consecutive weeks of rain … remember 2015?). We’ve seen all different types and have developed the best possible treatment plans to stop them all! Although there are hundreds of different varieties, the most common weeds present in customers’ lawns are listed below:

1. Dandelions

Let’s start with the one we all really hate: Dandelions. These little monsters are just the worst! They are one of the most common, and certainly the most easily recognized weeds with their bright yellow flowers. Dandelions produce a strong taproot that can penetrate deeply into the soil – anywhere from 6-18 inches. They thrive in sunny areas, and with a little rain to boost them along, they can REALLY take off.

Dandelion Weed Treatment

Herbicides are an absolute must for treating a lawn infested with dandelions, but it’s best to work with a professional lawn care service to handle the treatments. Dandelions are pervasive and will require multiple herbicide applications to completely kill them off. Your lawn will likely need some patching up after the fact too. Whatever you do, DON’T spray RoundUp all over your dandelions … it will kill your grass and look WAY worse than some little yellow weeds!

2. Nutsedge

You may not be familiar with the name, but you’ve definitely seen nutsedge … if not in your lawn, in your neighbors. In years when we have experienced above average rainfall (like 2015), this weed seems to just take over. It’s a fast growing, fast spreading lawn nuisance that can be tough to get rid of.

This weed is tricky to treat because it looks like regular grass … just slightly lighter in color. However, it grows at an unusually fast rate compared to the surrounding grasses, so it’s usually easy to spot. Nutsedge grows best in wet or damp lawns, particularly in areas with poor drainage.

You’d think it would be easy to just pull the weeds out to control them, but in this case, it isn’t. Pulling nutsedge only increases the number of plants that spring up because dormant roots below the surface become active once the primary stalk has been removed. So, herbicides are your best choice. If the infestation isn’t too severe, one application should suffice. But if we have another rainy season this spring, two applications will likely be necessary.

3. Crabgrass

Crabgrass is one of those weeds that’s easy to treat … as long as you plan in advance. A pre-emergent herbicide application is essential to control crabgrass before it starts (or spreads). It’s one of those weeds that you can’t afford to ignore if you want to maintain a healthy lawn, because if you do, it will take over in no time.

Known for its reddish-colored roots and broad-leaves, crabgrass grows in clumps – usually along the edges of driveways, sidewalks, and patios, and sprouting up through the cracks in the concrete. It’s the kind of plant RoundUp was made for, and when it appears outside or away from the lawn (in the patio, for example), RoundUp is the perfect solution. When it comes to your lawn, however, treatment options really boil down to consistent herbicide applications throughout the spring season and into the summer. If you’re not already on an annual treatment plan, call us right away to stop this one before it starts!

4. Broadleaf Plantain

Broadleaf Plantain is a perennial weed that tends to grow in areas where there is inconsistent moisture. The leaves of this weed look a bit like spinach – they are oval shaped and quite smooth. The leaves are approximately 3 inches to 6 inches long and its veins are quite prominent. The roots of these weeds are shallow and fibrous.

 

Broadleaf PlantainIf you find broadleaf plantain in your yard (and there aren’t too many), pull the young plants immediately. You want to remove them before they set and spread seeds. But even if you don’t get them all, we can help. We use a broadleaf weed spray during the spring to control this and similar weeds. And because our herbicide spray is selective to only broadleaf plants, the application won’t damage the lawn grasses.

5. Clover

Clover Treatment OptionsHaving clover spreading throughout your lawn is anything but lucky … even if you do find one with four leaves. Depending on the specific variety, clover may grow small flowers of various colors at the center of the plant, making patches of the weed very obvious in your otherwise perfect lawn. It’s quite a common weed and can be seen in many parts of North America, but it thrives in thinning lawns. Worst of all, it can survive through the winter. Some perennial varieties can last for years and years without treatment. Your best best is to control the spreading with a treatment plan that covers the entire growing season.