What Kind of Grass Is Broadleaf?

Identification

• The best time to control broadleaf weeds and grass weeds in your lawn is when they first begin appearing as young seedlings. Although it is often easier to identify the weeds after they develop seed heads, this also increases the risk of weed infestations due to subsequent germination and sprouting. Weedy grasses differ in appearance at an early age from desirable lawn grasses, making it easy to identify and control broadleaf varieties in your lawn area.

Broadleaf Seedlings

• Common broadleaf lawn weeds include Russian thistle, common cocklebur, wild buckwheat, smooth pigweed, hairy nightshade, white cockle, field pennycress, wild mustard, bindweed and common ragweed. The first true leaves of these young plants, also called the cotyledons, usually have small rounded shapes or slightly ovate shapes that differ from the elongated blades of your germinating grass plants.

Grass Weed Seedlings

• Grass weed seedlings more closely resemble the seedlings of the young lawn grass varieties you plant to grow as ground covers in your landscape, making it slightly more difficult to identify these weedy grasses. Common grass weeds include yellow nutsedge, quack grass, wheat grass, barley grass, crabgrass, wild oats, Johnson grass and foxtail. These weedy grasses vary in size and shape, although most tend to have broader, flatter blades and hairy sheaths.

Control

• Promoting the health of your planted lawn grass is the best method of discouraging the growth of broadleaf weeds and weedy grasses. Chemical herbicide treatments can damage the growth of desirable plants, such as nearby trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables. Herbicide formulas that contain dicamba are useful in helping to control broadleaf weeds in lawn areas. Some herbicides, especially those used to control weedy grasses, may harm certain varieties of desirable lawn grasses, such as buffalo grass. Always read and follow the label instructions on herbicide products.