You might think you’re past the worst of the lawn weeds once you reach the cooler fall months in Memphis and North Mississippi.
Think again. Weeds never take a vacation.
And, quite honestly, it can be kind of a bummer to see more weeds. After all, annual bluegrass germinates in fall, and it can stand out like an eyesore in our dormant lawns all winter. Not to mention others like lespedeza and spurge.
While fall may be a time when you’re not thinking about your lawn much, it is actually a great time to check in on your lawn care program, notice any issues and make the necessary adjustments to manage weeds.
After all, what you do now means a lot to your lawn's success come spring's return. And no one wants to let a lawn full of weeds hang dormant until spring, letting those weeds continue to strengthen and wage a bigger war once the growing season returns.
Let’s discuss lawn care in Memphis and North Mississippi, including managing the worst lawn weeds so you can have a great-looking lawn all year long.
Understanding the best time to fight common lawn weeds in Memphis and North Mississippi means knowing which weeds you’re fighting and what approach is necessary to battle them. This involves proper identification.
While you may think all weeds are the same, the truth is that there are many different varieties—and they can have different features and control methods that work best to tackle them.
Some weeds are annual, and some are perennial, meaning they either last one year and must be reintroduced the next year to appear in your lawn, or they naturally come back year after year until you stop them. Different weeds germinate at different times of the year. Some weed control strategies only work for one weed, while others can be applied to multiple types of weeds.
Sound confusing? We get it.
Here are some of the areas most common lawn weeds that strike in late summer and fall in this area. They may make you feel like you’re losing at lawn care, but there are ways to fight them and keep your lawn happy, too.
Poa annua, or annual bluegrass, can spread easily and infest lawns and landscapes. With a lighter, brighter green color, a softer texture, and blades that curl toward their centers, these weeds can make your lawn look rather patchy.
In Memphis and North Mississippi, this clumping weed quickly looks out of place during the winter. Unfortunately, it grows fast, so by the time you notice it, this common lawn weed can develop into a pretty big patch.
A prolific seed producer, annual bluegrass can germinate 12 months of the year, with most germination happening between September and November.
A preemergent herbicide application in the late summer/early fall can target this weed right before it’s too late and reaches maximum germination.
Lespedeza, also known as Japanese clover, has three smooth oblong leaves similar to clover with small pink to purple flowers. As this weed matures, its stems harden and become more persistent, giving your Memphis and North Mississippi lawn a real battle.
Preemergent herbicide treatments in spring can prevent the late summer arrival of this common lawn weed. Post-emergent materials can help to knock it back if it emerges later in the season.
Spurge is another one of the common lawn weeds that thrive in the heat. It takes up residence in weak lawn areas with its hairy red stems and tiny dark green leaves with red spots and its stems emit a thick, milky sap.
Unfortunately, spurge can produce thousands of seeds that can lay dormant in your lawn until those temperatures heat up enough for it to sprout. Then it can even stretch into a thick mat of weeds up to 3 feet long.
Regular fertilization, particularly in the fall, can help reduce these late summer lawn weeds, as well as a well-watered lawn that isn’t stressed. Spot spraying weeds after they’ve emerged is also a great removal strategy.
Dallisgrass is a common lawn weed in Tennessee that is known as a perennial, meaning it comes back every year.
This weed has a coarse texture and a gray-green color. Dallisgrass also has a fibrous root system, meaning it can spread fast.
Pre-emergent herbicides applied at the proper time and rate are critical for controlling dallisgrass, as well as post-emergent control and practicing proper lawn care practices to keep your lawn thick and healthy.
Nutgrass is one of the worst lawn weeds because it grows faster than your regular grass, meaning it can stand taller than your lawn.
After you mow, you might even see this one shoot up above your regular grass.
Nutsedge will return each year if you don’t control it. Managing this one involves multiple herbicide application strategies and quality lawn care.
Weeds with small, white flowers in your lawn are known as buttonweed.
This worst lawn weed grows fast because it’s deep-rooted and spreads via unground stems. If left unchecked, it can take over your lawn.
For control, a pre-emergent herbicide application at the correct time and rate can work.
Weeds love to take over your lawn when it’s most vulnerable after a hot, dry summer.
That’s why your largest defense against these weeds is a thick, healthy lawn.
How do you maintain a lawn that stands strong against fall weeds? With proper and regular care.
This includes:
Your ultimate goal is to create the best environment for your lawn so it can remain thick and healthy and give common lawn weeds less of a chance to germinate.
Even with proper care, some weeds may still find a way, especially if weather conditions are ripe for weed germination. That’s when proper herbicide controls can help.
Trust a professional for proper weed identification and precise herbicide timing to ensure maximum, targeted control.
Lawn care professionals will use specialty herbicides delivered with commercial-grade nozzles to reduce the treatment’s particle size and help them better stick to tough weeds.
Weeds like to invade lawns when the weather and lawn conditions give them the chances. Then, once they are in, they act like they’ll never move out. And – what’s worse – they don’t even pay you rent.
You don’t want to give weeds a chance to slip in and take over your lawn by using the wrong herbicides, overapplying products, or using bad treatment timing. If you find a lot of weeds cropping up, remember you don’t have to fight weeds alone.
Lawn & Pest Solutions can help you by providing a complete, proactive lawn care program that includes everything you need to keep your lawn strong.
When you have a professional eye on your property who can recognize these common lawn weeds in Memphis and North Mississippi on first inspection, you can keep weeds in check before they get out of hand and maintain that lush, green, weed-free lawn you desire.
Ready to learn why Lawn & Pest Solutions could be your choice for lawn care services in Memphis and North Mississippi? We’re excited to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn.
Image Sources | Buttonweed, Dallisgrass, Nutsedge, Annual Bluegrass, Spurge, Lespedeza