"You fight dandelions all weekend, and late Monday afternoon there they are, pert as all get out, in full and gorgeous bloom, pretty as can be, thriving as only dandelions can in the face of adversity." -  Hal Borland

They come out of nowhere, and multiply like rabbits. Spring weeds are popping up early this year - a ton of rain, together with a mild winter, has given them a head start, and we're all scrambling to catch up! Here, we'll identify the four most prevalent weeds in our lawns this April, and talk about how to manage them.

CHICKWEED, also known as starwort or satin flower is an annual that grows from seeds that sprout in the fall. It rarely grows taller than 2 inches, but runs along the ground and forms a thick, dense mat that produces small, white flowers. Chickweed has a shallow root system and is easily controlled with a lawn weed control spray. 

WHITE CLOVER, also known as Dutch clover, is a perennial weed that grows low to the ground. This clover can overrun especially sparse lawns where the competition from grass is weak. White clover grows in a creeping manner and will develop roots where ever a stem node touches the ground. Fighting White clover starts with encouraging a thick, dense, well-fertilized turf grass lawn. But if white clover is already established in your yard, controlling it can be done through hand pulling or by using an herbicide. Regardless of the method you choose, killing the weed plant already in your lawn is easy, but the weed seeds are more tricky, and you can find more information about controlling White clover here. 

HAIRY BITTERCRESS has at its base alternating, slighly scalloped leaves that form a rosette. Long stems grow from its base, with tiny white flowers at the ends of the stems. These flowers develop into long seedpods that, when ripe, will literally explode and send weed seeds all across your lawn. Hairy Bittercress has very long tap roots which makes digging them out by hand a real chore. Frequent mowing will eventually help you control this weed, but if you want faster results, a chemical weed killer is your best bet. 

DANDELION This all too familiar weed is tricky. Its seeds spread easily in the wind (or with a gentle blow from the neighbor kid's lips). And it has a long tap root, which makes removing the entire plant nearly impossible. There are many solutions to this problematic weed including digging them out by hand and applying herbicide. Check out this step-by-step guide on removing dandelions from your lawn.

The month of April generally sets the tone for how your lawn will look, and how much maintenance it will require of you, for the rest of the year. Whether you're doing it yourself, or thinking of hiring professionals, Weed Pro has put together a lawn care guide to help you make the most of your lawn. And, as always, if you have any questions, or if you are ready to turn your lawn over to the professionals, contact us at any time for a free quote.

Click below for our NEW FREE GUIDE, and see what you can do NOW to make your lawn look great in the coming months!