Now that your lawn has slowed down in growth, it can become more vulnerable to weed invasions. So, if weeds are growing, it is best to get on top of them now to help prevent their spread. In this blog, we look at common winter weeds, Winter Grass, Bindii, Chickweed, Richardia and Clover, and how to remove them from your lawn.
Winter Grass
Winter Grass is a pesky weed, and if you have it in your lawn this year, it will return almost every winter if left untreated. Getting on top of the winter grass now will help prevent it from spreading further.
To remove Winter Grass, we recommend using a post-emergent herbicide. Make sure you do your research before you choose one, as some grass types can be incompatible with some of the post emergent on the market.
To help prevent winter grass from returning, we recommend using a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert or Oxafert Plus. These products will help stop Winter Grass seeds in the soil from germinating and growing. Pre-emergents are best used just before temperatures are set to cool in your region, but can be used in conjunction with a post emergent herbicide if it has already started to grow in your lawn.
Bindii
Bindii is another weed that starts to grow in winter. In early spring, it goes to seed, producing a prickly seed pod. This weed can be identified by its fern and carrot leaves, growing low to the ground.
As the Bindii will go to seed in spring, it is best to get on top of it now. To remove Bindii from growing in your lawn, use a broadleaf herbicide like All Purpose Weed Control for removal.
Chickweed
Chickweed is another common winter weed that can grow in our lawns. It has paired leaves protruding opposite one another. As temperatures rise in spring, white flowers bloom in clusters at the end of a stem.
If there is only a small amount of Chickweed growing, usually the best and easiest removal method is by hand. If there is a more considerable amount growing, you can look at using a broadleaf herbicide for removal. Something like All Purpose Weed Control or Amgrow Bin Die.
Richardia
Richardia, also known as Mexican Clover, is another common weed that can grow in your lawn. It typically flowers in spring and autumn, so treating it now can help prevent its spread. This weed also has a large tap root, making hand removal difficult.
To remove Richardia, it is recommended to use a herbicide with Dicamba as the active ingredient (this is not buffalo safe). If you do have a buffalo lawn, you can try repeated applications of a buffalo safe broadleaf herbicide like Amgrow Bin Die however results may be limited. Alternatively, you can carefully spot treat with a non-selective herbicide like roundup. When using roundup, you will need to be careful to only apply it to the weed and not your lawn as it will harm it also. We recommend using a weed wand to help with an accurate application.
Clover
Clover can easily be identified by its oval-shaped leaves and white circular markings. This weed will usually grow in leaflets of 3 and produce either a white or pink flower. Due to its small creeping stem, it can often be difficult to remove by hand.
To remove Clover, a broadleaf herbicide will be able to get on top of it fairly quickly. Something like All Purpose Weed Control or Amgrow Bin Die is ideal and safe for use on most lawn types.
A big thanks to our mates at Lawn Solutions Australia for the info in this blog. We stock a range of LSA products to keep your lawn in tip top shape. If your lawn is struggling with a weed that we haven’t mentioned, why not head in store? Our friendly and knowledgable team members are always happy to answer any of your lawn care questions.