Autumn Hawkbit

Common name: Autumn Hawkbit

Botanical name: Leontodon autumnalis

Family: Asteraceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Habitat: This weed forms as a low growing, rosette type plant in the base of the turf. It will grow in most types of soil but it prefers moist conditions.

Leaf: The leaves are dark green, narrow with visibly pointed lobes. Similar in appearance to the dandelion but narrower.

Flowers: Typical yellow dandelion like flowers are bourne in clusters on branched stalks. The flowers bloom between June and October.

Removal & control: Autumn hawkbit can be removed via hand, taking care to remove the deep taproot. Promote a thick coverage of turf with regular feeding to help suppress weeds from encroaching.

This weed can be treated with a selective weed killer and a single application is usually enough for control.

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Cats Ear

Common name: Cats Ear

Botanical name: Hypochaeris radicata

Family: Asteraceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Habitat: Cats ear will grow in a range of conditions, but it prefers sandy free draining soils. It forms as a low growing rosette on lawns and will withstand close mowing.

Leaf: The long, oblong leaves are covered in fine hairs and have rounded edges which resemble the ears of a cat.

Flower: The yellow flowers are smaller than those of the dandelion, they are bourne on long stalks with each plant having several flowers. They bloom from May to September.

Removal & control: Individual plants can be removed by hand, taking great care to remove the whole plant.

If you go with a selective weedkiller then more than one application may be needed for control of this weed.

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Dandelion

Common name: Dandelion

Botanical name: Taraxacum officinale

Family: Asteraceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Habitat: Dandelions will grow in almost all conditions, however they prefer nutrient rich soils with an alkaline pH. It is another weed that can adapt to the mowing conditions, making it a major nuisance in all types of grassland and turf.

Leaf: The long, oblong leaves gradually narrow from the tip to the base. The edges of the leaves are deeply toothed, with jagged edges. They form as a basal rosette, which smothers and eventually kills the grass beneath them

Flower: The dandelion has a very distinct yellow flower which can be seen between March and November. The flowers eventually turn into seed heads, producing hundreds of seeds which are dispersed by the wind.

Removal & control: Dandelions can be removed by hand, however it is vital that the long tap root is completely removed or the weed will regenerate.

A selective weed killer can be used to control this common weed. However a second application may be needed for complete control.

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Scarlet Pimpernel

Common name: Scarlet Pimpernel

Botanical name: Anagallis arvensis

Family: Primulaceae

Life cycle: Annual

Habitat: Scarlet pimpernel is rarely a troublesome weed in managed lawns, it is more commonly found on road sides, waste areas, cultivated land and grassy areas.

Leaf: The leaf is very similar in appearance to those of common chickweed and some times the two weeds can be confused with each other for this reason. The leaves are stalk less, oval in shape, often with pointed tips.

Flower: Scarlet pimpernel has five distinct red-orange petals which can be seen during June to August.

Removal & control: This weed would find it difficult to survive on a well manged lawn, it is more troublesome on utility lawns that are neglected somewhat. Therefore change the maintenance program by employed proper lawn care practices to discourage scarlet pimpernel.

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Mouse-ear Chickweed

Common name: Mouse-ear Chickweed

Botanical name: Cerastium vulgatum

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Habitat: Mouse-ear Chickweed can grow on all types of soil. It can be a problem in managed turf as it forms as a low growing mat, easily able to tolerate low mowing.

Leaf: The small leaves are dark green in colour, oval shaped, fleshy and are covered in fine hairs

Flower: Very similar to those of common chickweed. They are small and white in colour, each flower has 5 petals that are deeply cut, giving the appearance of 10 petals. The flowering period of mouse-ear chickweed is between May and October.

Removal & control: A difficult weed to remove by hand unless the plants are few in number. Reducing the amount of shade over the lawn may help with this weed. Avoid placing stress on the lawn by mowing at a sensible height.

A selective herbicide can be used to control mouse-ear chickweed. A single application is usually enough for effective control.

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Common Chickweed

Common name: Common Chickweed

Botanical name: Stellaria media

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Life cycle: Annual

Habitat: Common chickweed is very common on waste areas, cultivated land, roadsides and hedgerows. It is rarely a problem on managed turf, however it can be a nuisance on newly seeded areas, before the grass has had sufficient time to establish.

Leaf: The light green leaves are oval in shape (sometimes with pointed tips) and are bourne in pairs

Flower: The flowers are small and white in colour, very similar to mouse-ear chickweed. Each flower has 5 petals which are so deeply lobed,  giving the appearance of 10 petals. Flowering period is typically between February and November.

Removal & Control: Common chickweed should not cause problems in managed turf. It is however, a nuisance on newly seeded areas, but once regular mowing commences and the lawn establishes is will disappear.

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Silverweed

Common name: Silverweed

Botanical name: Potentilla anserina

Family: Rosaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Habitat: Silverweed is common on neglected lawns, rarely is it a problem on managed turf.  It can often be found on road sides, sand dunes, grassland and wasteland.

Leaf: The leaves are pinnate (leaves are arrnaged on each side of the stalk). Each leaf can have between multiple heavily toothed leaflets. The top of leaves can be either green or silver in colour, with the underside silver.

Flower: Each flower has  five (sometimes six) bright yellow petals, which can be seen between May and August.

Removal & control: Encourage a healthy lawn with regular feeding and good turf care practices to prevent weeds from invading. Raking this weed prior to mowing will help to remove and weaken the weed.

Silverweed is a stubborn weed to remove with chemicals. In almost all cases, more than one application of a selective herbicide will be required for control.

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