Common Broadleaf Weeds – Indiana Lawn Pros

As summer gets into full swing, we see longer days, warmer temperatures…and weeds. If your lawn isn’t treated properly, you may be seeing dandelion’s yellow flower, buckhorn plantain’s tall stalk, or violet’s heart-shaped leaves. Some of these plants could be considered pretty or useful in their own right, but are an unwelcome interruption to your lawn.

Weeds come in all shapes and sizes. For this post, we’re outlining 10 broadleaf weeds that are common in central Indiana. Look for a future post on grassy weeds.

Fortunately, a good weed control program can get rid of these weeds or in many cases prevent them from appearing at all. If you’re seeing these weeds (and would prefer not to), give us a call (812-361-6749) and we can help you get rid of them!

1. Chickweed, Common

Stellaria media

Its light green leaves are small, smooth, and rounded. They grow on smooth stems that form a low, spreading mat or rounded mound. The plant produces small white flowers. It has weak, shallow roots.

Type: Annual or perennial
Where you’ll find it: Shady, cool, moist areas or thin, weak lawns. It prefers poorly drained soil and is common in new lawns, but will grow in a wide range of conditions.
How it spreads: Seeds and spreading stems
When you’ll see it: The seed is spread in the spring and germinates in the fall.
How it’s treated: Pre-emergent herbicide in late summer/early fall
Did you know? Chickweed seed can remain viable for up to 10 years.

2. Chickweed, Mouse-ear

Cerastium vulgatum

This plant gained its name from its leaves, which are fuzzy, long, and narrow, and grow in pairs opposite one another, like a mouse’s ears. Its stems are also hairy and form dense mats or mounds that can root at the nodes as they spread. Small white flowers bloom in late spring through the summer.

Type: Perennial
Where you’ll find it: Open areas. It can tolerate very low mowing and most situations.
How it spreads: Seeds and spreading stems
When you’ll see it: The seed is spread in the spring and germinates in the fall.
How it’s treated: Keep the lawn healthy with fertilizer and aeration to out-compete this weed. Pre-emergent herbicide.
Did you know? Seed can remain viable for up to 10 years.

3. Clover

Trifolium repens (white), Trifolium pratense (red), Trifolium campestre (large hop)

Though the four-leaf version is said to bring luck, most clover grows with leaves in groups of three and spreads in lawns and gardens. It belongs to the legume family and has distinctive ball-shaped flowers that grow throughout the summer from long stems that rise above the leaves. Clover is sometimes included as part of lawn seed mixtures and is an important pollinator.

Type: Perennial
Where you’ll find it: Soil low in nitrogen or over-fertilized with potassium. Prefers cool, moist soils.
How it spreads: Seeds and creeping runners that root at the nodes
When you’ll see it: Seeds germinate in the fall and the plant thrives throughout the summer.
How it’s treated: Keep the lawn healthy with fertilizer to out-compete the clover and apply herbicide in spring.
Did you know? Bacteria that grows on clover take nitrogen from the air and convert it to a form that the clover can use. This nitrogen is eventually transferred into the soil.

4. Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

The unmistakable bright yellow flowers of dandelions dot lawns throughout the U.S. The flowers grow on leafless, hollow stalks above a low rosette of deeply-lobed leaves. As the weather turns warm, the flowers turn to puffballs of seeds that spread in the wind, mowing, or any agitation. The plant has a very deep taproot that allows it to survive a variety of conditions and withstand pulling or damage to return year after year.

Type: Perennial
Where you’ll find it: Thrives in weak, thin lawns, but tolerates a wide range of conditions.
How it spreads: Seeds (a single plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds!)
When you’ll see it: Seedlings emerge in early spring when soil temperatures reach 50* and flowers soon after.
How it’s treated: Post-emergence herbicide early in the spring, after plants emerge from dormancy.
Did you know? Dandelion roots are typically 18” long and will produce new seedlings even after the top has been pulled. The plant can adapt its height to escape mowing.

5. Ground ivy (creeping Charlie)

Glechoma hederacea

Despite its common name, this plant is actually a member of the mint family, not ivy, and has a distinct minty odor when crushed. It has long square stems and kidney-shaped leaves about an inch wide with scalloped edges. Small, funnel-shaped purple flowers grow in clusters. It forms a low mat that can choke and shade grass.

Type: Perennial
Where you’ll find it: Moist, fertile, shady sites.
How it spreads: Stems root at the nodes
When you’ll see it: Spreads in the winter; produces flowers in the spring.
How it’s treated: Herbicide in the spring or fall.
Did you know? Ground ivy has medicinal uses and is used as a salad green in some countries.

6. Lespedeza, Common (Japanese clover)

Lespedeza striata

This plant forms low patches 15-18 inches wide that can choke out thin grass. It has wiry stems with long dark green leaves arranged in threes. As it matures, the stems harden and become woody. Small pink or purple flowers bloom on most of the nodes of the main stems.

Type: Annual
Where you’ll find it: Thin, under-fertilized grass in poor or compacted soil
How it spreads: Seeds
When you’ll see it: Throughout the summer
How it’s treated: Avoid overwatering and soil compaction. A 3-way herbicide (2, 4-D) may be used.
Did you know? As the plant matures, the stems harden and become woody.

7. Knotweed, Prostrate

Polygonum aviculare

Knotweed has wiry stems up to 24” long that radiate from a central point to form a broad, low, tough mat. The leaves are about 1” long, oval, dull blue-green, and alternate along the stem. Small white, yellow, or pink flowers form where the leaves attach to the stem in mid to late summer.

Type: Annual
Where you’ll find it: Compacted areas, heavily trafficked areas
How it spreads: Seed (mowing can spread)
When you’ll see it: One of the first annuals to emerge in the spring and grows slowly until mid-summer.
How it’s treated: Pre-emergent in spring
Did you know? Knotweed exudes chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby grasses

8. Plantain, Broadleaf

Plantago major

Broadleaf plantain has 3-6” long oval leaves that are broad and flat and form a low rosette, lower than its cousin the buckhorn plantain. At the center of the circle of leaves is a stiff upright thin stalk 5-10” tall with clusters of small flowers. It has a short, thick, fibrous taproot.

Type: Perennial
Where you’ll find it: Common in wet, compacted soil, but also tolerates dry, compacted soil. Grows where moisture is inconsistent or in areas of infrequent fertilization.
How it spreads: Seeds that attach to passing people and animals.
When you’ll see it: Appears in spring and continues through summer
How it’s treated: Pre-emergent or post-emergent (pulling is ineffective as bits of root can regenerate)
Did you know? The leaves are edible and can be included in salads, soups, etc.

9. Plantain, Buckhorn

Plantago lanceolate

Unlike the broadleaf plantain, the leaves of the buckhorn plantain are upright. They are typically covered with short hairs, football-shaped, and clustered at the base of the plant. A thin leafless stalk grows from the center of the circle of leaves and bears a small cluster of flowers, sometimes in the shape of an upside down cone.

Type: Perennial
Where you’ll find it: Thin/bare areas. Will tolerate dry or compacted soil and low mowing.
How it spreads: Seeds
When you’ll see it: Summer
How it’s treated: Post-emergent herbicide
Did you know? Buckhorn plantain can be used as a medicinal herb.

10. Wild violet

Viola species

Similar to its domestic cousins, the wild violet has pretty blue or purple flowers that bloom in May and broad, waxy, heart-shaped leaves that form a rounded clump about 5” high. In addition to their colorful flowers, violets also produce small self-pollinating flowers that stay below the leaves and drop seeds in the surrounding areas.They spread to create dense colonies that can take over the lawn.

Type: Perennial
Where you’ll find it: Thrives in moist, shady sites, but can also tolerate drought once it has been established. Also common in thinning lawns that are in poor condition.
How it spreads: Seeds & underground stems (rhizomes)
When you’ll see it: Flowers bloom in spring, though the plant is present year-round.
How it’s treated: Selective broadleaf herbicide
Did you know? Violets are native to the northern U.S. and southern Canada.