Broadleaf Lawn Weeds

Broadleaf weeds are generally the easiest to identify of all the weeds. They have leaves that are broad, and are generally produced in pairs or multiples, have wide, flat leaves situated on a stem. Broadleaf weeds are distinctive from and are botanically not closely related to grasses and sedges. Broadleaf leaves may be simple (having one leaflet, like dandelion) or compound (having more than one leaflet, like clover). Veins within the leaf give a netted appearance in most cases.

Broadleaf weed control

A dense, healthy stand of grass is the best way to reduce broadleaf weeds in home lawns. To achieve a healthy lawn, plant the best-adapted turfgrass species and use accepted turf management practices. Even with proper management, however, the best-cared-for lawns can still be invaded by troublesome broadleaf weeds. These may require the careful and selective use of broadleaf weed control herbicides.

Common broadleaf weeds:

Broadleaf Weed Name	Description	Photo ID
Broadleaf Dock	Broadleaf dock / curly dock has a bright, shiny green, lance-shaped leaves that appear in the spring. In the summer and fall, the wavy puckered edges of the leaves are tinted a reddish purple. Small greenish flowers appear on a tall, narrow spike that arises from the center of the plant.
Broadleaf Plantains	Broadleaf plantain is a common broadleaf weed in lawns. It is a cool-season perennial weed found practically in any habitat. The leaves are arranged in a rosette and have prominent veins.
Buckhorn Plantain	Buckhorn plantain forms a spreading or upright basal rosette of narrowly oval leaves that grow above a long, sturdy taproot with lateral branches. Leaves of buckhorn plantains are sometimes twisted and curled, narrowly oval, dark green, and up to 1 1/2" wide and 8" long.
Carolina Geranium	The plant produces a deep taproot. Flowers have five pink to lavender petals. Seeds have a conspicuous cranesbill beak about 1/2" long.
Carpet Weed	Carpetweed is a summer annual with a short taproot. Seeds lie dormant over the winter and sprouts slowly in the spring. Once it sprouts it grows rapidly in the summer heat.
Chickweed	Chickweed is a prolific spring weed as it thrives under cool, wet conditions. It rarely tolerates hot, dry conditions that occur in late spring or early summer. Other common names for chickweed include starweed, winterweed, satin flower and tongue grass.
Curly Dock	Curly dock has a bright, shiny green, lance-shaped leaves that appear in the spring. In the summer and fall, the wavy puckered edges of the leaves are tinted a reddish purple. Small greenish flowers appear on a tall, narrow spike that arises from the center of the plant.
Dandelion	Dandelions are a persistent weed problem. Each seed head of a mature plant produces thousands of weed seeds that float easily in the breeze. So if anyone in your immediate vicinity has dandelions, you can count on you having them too.
Ground Ivy	Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) also known as Creeping Charlie, is an aggressive, low-growing, perennial invader of lawns, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. It thrives in moist, shady areas, as well as sunny locations. The scalloped leaves are round or kidney-shaped and are attached by petioles to square stems. Ground ivy roots at each joint whenever it touches the soil, thus making it difficult to hand pull.
Henbit	Henbit is responsible for painting many lawns with a pinkish purple cast in the early spring. It emerges in the fall and has square stems, the upper leaves of which appear to encircle the entire stem. It grows in an upright position, seldom reaching heights greater than 12". The flowers range from pink to purple.
Lambsquarters	Lambsquarters is usually found in low-maintenance turf situations. Proper mowing will usually control lambsquarter due to its upright growth habit. It establishes easier in spring-seeded cool-season turf that enters the summer in a thin state.
Violets	Violets (Viola species) include several cool-season annuals and perennials with low-growing habits. These species are very shade tolerant and prefer lawns located on moist, fertile soils. Violets tend to be most visible during cool weather of spring and fall.
White Clover	White clover is a perennial broadleaf weed. It is commonly found in the northern half of the United States.
Yellow Wood Sorrel	Common wood sorrel is a plant from the Oxalis genus. It flowers for a few months during the spring, with small white flowers with pink streaks. Red/violet flowers occur, but rarely. The binomial name is Oxalis acetosella, because of its sour taste.