Common Lawn Weeds in Tennessee: A Comprehensive Guide

Tennessee's climate and soil conditions create a perfect storm for lawn weeds to thrive. Dandelions are one of the most common lawn weeds in Tennessee, with their bright yellow flowers and feathery greens popping up in lawns across the state.

They can grow up to 12 inches tall and produce hundreds of seeds, making them a nightmare to eradicate.

Common chickweed is another pesky weed that's found in many Tennessee lawns. Its small, white flowers and soft, hairy leaves make it hard to spot, but it's often found in areas with poor soil drainage.

It can grow up to 18 inches tall and spread quickly through its underground stems, making it a challenge to control.

For your interest: Green & Grow Lawn Care

Crabgrass is a common annual grassy weed that invades lawns in the spring and summer. It has a prostrate growth habit with long, slender leaves that are green to purple in color.

Goosegrass is another common grassy weed that grows well in compacted and poorly draining soil. It often pops up in areas of the lawn that have been mowed too short.

Annual bluegrass is a winter annual that commonly invades Bermudagrass lawns, preferring shaded areas with moist soil. It has greenish-yellow leaves with boat-shaped tips.

Here are some common characteristics of these weeds:

Yellow nutsedge is a common turfgrass weed in Tennessee, particularly in east Tennessee. It thrives in wet areas with full sun exposure, but can adapt to various conditions. This often indicates excess watering or poor soil drainage.

Emerging in late spring, yellow nutsedge grows from rhizomes and underground tubers, and spreads in excessively wet turfgrasses during summer. Its life cycle is perennial, and it can grow up to 2.5 feet tall.

To identify yellow nutsedge, look for long, light green or yellow leaves with a glossy appearance, and a triangular stem typical of sedges. The flowers bloom at the end of the branches as yellow spikelets.

Here are some key features to help you identify yellow nutsedge:

To get rid of yellow nutsedge, you can hand-pull it, but make sure to remove all underground tubers and rhizomes. For larger infestations, use a post-emergent herbicide from May to August. The best way to control sedges is to resolve the underlying problem, such as drainage problems or excessive irrigation, that is encouraging it to grow.

Common Chickweed is a prevalent weed that invades lawns, especially in shaded areas with consistently wet soil. It's common in lawns on the western side of the Cumberland Plateau.

This weed has shiny, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves and vertical hairs growing along the stem. It blooms in small white flowers in clusters.

You're most likely to spot common chickweed in the winter, outcompeting your turfgrass in its most vulnerable state. It's especially common if your lawn is shady or your soil is consistently wet.

Common chickweed can be identified by its shiny leaves and vertical hairs on the stem. It's a prolific seed producer, so controlling it as early as possible is crucial to prevent persistent infestations.

To get rid of common chickweed, you can remove it manually, especially if you're dealing with small infestations. For larger infestations, apply post-emergence herbicides anytime from May to early August.

Here's a quick rundown of common chickweed's life cycle:

By controlling common chickweed early on, you can prevent it from taking over your lawn and competing with your turfgrass.

Broadleaf Weeds are a common problem in Tennessee lawns. They can be difficult to control and require specific treatments to eliminate. Some common types of broadleaf weeds include Wild Violet, Dandelion, Spiny Sowthistle, and Broadleaf Plantain.

Wild Violet is a perennial weed that thrives in shaded sites with moist and fertile soil. It has heart-shaped leaves and produces flowers in shades of blue, violet, purple, or white. To control Wild Violet, healthy turfgrass is essential, and cultural practices like frequent mowing, regular fertilization, and good sun exposure can help discourage its growth.

Dandelions are another common broadleaf weed that can grow in a variety of soils and prefer full sun. They have bright yellow flowers that turn into white, fluffy seed heads. To get rid of Dandelions, it's essential to remove the entire taproot, as they can regenerate if severed from the root.

Spiny Sowthistle is a summer annual that thrives in full sun and can adapt to various soil types. It has yellow flower heads and leaves with spiny teeth. To control Spiny Sowthistle, hand-pulling can be effective for small infestations, and improving soil quality can help your turf outcompete the weed.

Intriguing read: Chickweed Lawn Weeds with White Flowers

Broadleaf Plantain is a perennial weed that thrives in compacted or disturbed soils. It has leaves with wavy edges and prominent veins, and flowering stems grow erect with no branches. To control Broadleaf Plantain, hand-pulling can be effective, and spot-treating with post-emergent herbicides can also help.

Here's a list of common broadleaf weeds in Tennessee, along with their characteristics and control methods:

By understanding the characteristics and control methods for these common broadleaf weeds, you can take steps to prevent their growth and maintain a healthy, weed-free lawn.

Dandelions are one of the most common types of weeds in Tennessee, and they can be notoriously difficult to get rid of. They have a deep taproot that makes them hard to kill.

Crabgrass is another weed that's common in Tennessee lawns. It's a warm-season grassy weed that thrives in the state's climate.

Nutsedge is a type of weed that can be tricky to control, as it has a unique ability to photosynthesize and produce new growth even after being mowed or treated. It's a major problem in Tennessee lawns, and can be difficult to eradicate.

Worth a look: Invasive Grass Weeds in Lawns Identification

Dallisgrass is a type of grassy weed that's similar to crabgrass, but it's more aggressive and can form dense mats that crowd out other plants. Poa Annua, also known as annual bluegrass, is a type of weed that's common in Tennessee lawns, particularly in cooler months.

Here's a quick rundown of the common weeds you might find in your Tennessee lawn:

Johnsongrass (Sorghum Halepense) is a warm-season perennial that can cause trouble in your lawn if it creeps in. It's native to the Mediterranean region and was brought to the U.S. as a forage crop.

This weed is a prolific seed producer and can spread quickly via thick rhizomes. It's poisonous to humans if eaten, so it's best to avoid it altogether.

Johnsongrass thrives in full sun and fertile soils, making it a common sight in agricultural fields. But with the right care, you can prevent it from taking over your lawn.

To identify johnsongrass, look for coarse rhizomes and narrow leaves with a smooth texture and a vein in the center. The stems are often pink to reddish near the base.

If you do find johnsongrass in your lawn, hand-pulling can be an effective way to get rid of small infestations. For larger infestations, you may need to use a combination of mowing and post-emergent herbicide applications.

Nutsedge is a perennial weed with a triangular stem and foliage that sprouts in groups of three. It can grow in dry soils and shoots up more rapidly than turfgrass.

Purple nutsedge is most common in West Tennessee because it's a better fit for warmer climates. It doesn't do too well without sunlight.

Nutsedge is known to have both yellow and purple varieties in Tennessee. Yellow nutsedge is a common turfgrass weed with long, light green or yellow leaves and a glossy appearance.

The stem of nutsedge is typically triangular, as is typical for sedges. You can distinguish the plant from purple nutsedge because it has yellow- to gold-brown spikelets and blooms with many flowers.

Related reading: Lawn Weeds Purple

Nutsedge has very deep root systems, as much as 4 feet deep. If you try pulling them, it will not help much.

The grass is more prevalent in East Tennessee because it's cold-tolerant. While the yellow nutsedge loves poorly drained, overwatered soil and full sun, it can grow under any sunlight conditions.

Nutsedge will thrive in compacted soil, so breaking it up will reduce growth activity.

Controlling spring lawn weeds can be a challenge, but working with a lawn care company that implements a varied weed control approach is key to success. Different weeds require different control approaches, so it's essential to identify the specific weeds on your property and devise a plan with specific materials that will work best.

A customized plan is crucial for true progress in killing spring lawn weeds. It's not just about how many applications are needed, but also what products are used.

Good year-round turf health is the true secret to solving weed control problems. Weeds often thrive best in thin lawns, so nothing crowds out weed growth like thick grass.

Here are some of the most common types of weeds you'll see in Tennessee:

These weeds can be invasive and take over your lawn completely if not addressed properly. It's essential to use the right methods to kill them and keep them away for good.