What Weeds Commonly Grow On Lawns in Florida?

Weeds are a nuisance for anyone with a lawn, as they steal nutrients and drag down your curb appeal. However, knowing the different types common in Florida will ensure proper identification and effective control. Weeds to look out for on your lawn include chickweed, crabgrass, spurge, bull thistle, and dollarweed. Chickweed grows low to the ground and has small, white flowers, and crabgrass is a summer annual that can spread quickly if left unchecked. Meanwhile, spurge is a broadleaf weed that grows along the ground, creating dense mats across your lawn. Bull thistle is a biennial weed that produces spiny leaves and purple flowers. Finally, dollarweed is a perennial weed that has rounded leaves and grows in moist areas. Continue reading to learn more about these common weeds!

Chickweed is a common annual weed that grows in Florida.

Chickweed is a common weed that grows in Florida. This annual weed grows low to the ground, forming dense mats across your lawn. It can be identified by its oval-shaped leaves with a pointed tip, hairy stems, and small, white flowers. Chickweed is a highly adaptable weed that can grow in different conditions, though it thrives in cool weather and moist soil, making it particularly problematic during the winter months. Additionally, it spreads through seeds, and a single plant can produce up to 25,000!

Crabgrass is a summer annual weed that can spread quickly.

Crabgrass is a summer annual weed that commonly grows on lawns in Florida. This weed is characterized by its coarse texture and light green color, with its leaves branching out from the center and resembling the legs of a crab, hence the name. It can spread quickly through seeds if left unchecked, so it's important to take action as soon as you notice it on your lawn. Crabgrass thrives in hot weather and dry soil, making it particularly problematic during the summer months.

Spurge is a broadleaf weed that grows flat against the ground.

Another common lawn weed in Florida is spurge. Spurge is an annual broadleaf weed characterized by its low growth habit and small, dark green leaves. It also spreads from seeds and grows in the summer when conditions are warm. Other conducive conditions to this weed's growth are compacted soil and full sunlight. You'll want to be careful around spurge, as it produces a milky sap when stems are broken, which can irritate the skin.

Bull thistle is a biennial weed that produces spiny leaves and purple flowers.

Bull thistle is a common biennial weed that grows on lawns in Florida. This weed is characterized by its spiny leaves and purple flowers. It can be identified by its unique, prickly appearance and grows anywhere from 3 to 7 feet tall. Bull thistle thrives in disturbed areas and can quickly take over your lawn if left unchecked. It spreads through seeds and typically produces flowers in summer and early fall.

Dollarweed is a perennial weed that has rounded leaves and grows in moist areas.

Dollarweed is a perennial weed that infests lawns in Florida. This weed is characterized by its rounded, coin-shaped leaves, hence the name, with scalloped edges, and grows low to the ground. Dollarweed thrives in wet, poorly drained soil and is a highly persistent spreader, as it reproduces via seeds, rhizomes, and tubers. Because of this, it proves a challenging weed to manage.

Give us a call today to sign up for our weed control service!

If you're looking to keep your lawn free of weeds, then you've come to the right place! At Leafy Landscapes, we offer a weed control service that includes both pre- and post-emergent treatments to combat chickweed, spurge, bull thistle, dollarweed, crabgrass, and other weeds at both ends of their life cycle. That way, they don't steal precious nutrients from your grass!

We offer this service to residential property owners in New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, and surrounding areas in Florida. Give us a call today at (386) 492-8862 to sign up for our weed control service!