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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To get rid of a weed without damaging the plants you want, first identify it and where it is growing. A lawn, vegetable bed, and ornamental border need different control strategies, and no single treatment works for every weed. The names below are examples of common weeds—not a verified, region-by-region checklist of all 49—so use them as a starting point for identification, then choose a method suited to your site.
Start by identifying the weed and its setting
Look closely at the leaves, stems, growth habit, and any flowers or seed heads. In a mown lawn, flowers may be missing, so leaf shape and how the plant spreads can be especially useful. The University of California Statewide IPM Program groups lawn weeds as broadleaf plants, grasses, or sedges, and notes that life cycle also matters. Its visual weed key covers common California lawn weeds; it is not a universal guide for every region.
Also note whether the weed is in turf, a vegetable garden, a flower bed, a path, or another site. A treatment suitable for turf may injure nearby ornamentals or be inappropriate in a vegetable bed. Iowa State University Extension’s landscape weed-management guidance likewise stresses that control depends on the setting.
Examples of common garden and lawn weeds
The following names appear among the examples surfaced in the indexed 2022 article. Their presence and abundance vary by region, and a common name can refer to different plants in different places. Confirm the plant locally before choosing a control.
#1 Best Overall
- KILLS WEEDS – NOT THE LAWN: When used as directed
- VISIBLE RESULTS IN 5 HOURS: Conquer unruly weeds and see visible results in as fast as 5 hours
- KILLS 470+ WEED TYPES AS LISTED: Kills broadleaf and grassy weeds including dandelion, chickweed and clover as well as crabgrass and yellow nutsedge – see product label for complete list of weed types
- KILLS THE ROOT: Kills weeds by contact down to the root
- READY-TO-USE FORMULA: No mixing required
- Broadleaf lawn weeds: dandelion, broadleaf plantain, clover, chickweed, henbit, wild violets, black medic, prostrate knotweed, dollarweed, lespedeza, and curly dock.
- Grassy weeds: crabgrass, quackgrass, dallisgrass, annual bluegrass, goosegrass, and foxtail.
- Garden and landscape examples: shepherd’s purse, ragweed, bindweed, purslane, nightshade, puncturevine, velvetleaf, smartweed, fleabane, yellow sweet clover, bittersweet, dodder, mallow, garlic mustard, pigweed, and pokeweed.
This is a partial set of examples, not a confirmed inventory of all 49 plants or a claim that each grows in every lawn or garden. For identification, compare the plant with a local extension guide or ask a qualified local diagnostic service if you are unsure.
Choose a control method that fits the plant and site
Pull isolated weeds early
For a few small weeds, hand removal can be practical, especially before they flower, set seed, or spread. Pull when the soil is moist; Utah State University Extension notes that this makes removal easier. Remove the roots and any underground parts, such as rhizomes or tubers, that can regrow. A dandelion fork or fishtail weeder can help loosen thick taproots. When digging a dandelion, cut the taproot below the crown to reduce the chance of regrowth.
Rank #2
- WEED KILLER SPRAY FOR LAWNS: With a simple hose-end application, kill weeds in your lawn, including dandelions, chickweed, clover, crabgrass and foxtail with Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready-to-Spray
- FAST-ACTING WEED CONTROL: This weed killer hose sprayer kills listed weeds like crabgrass, dandelion, clover, chickweed and creeping charlie down to the root and gets results with 1 application
- COVERAGE: This 32 fl. oz. container of Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready-to-Spray provides up to 5,000 sq. ft. of lawn care
- HOW TO USE: Apply to listed lawn weeds that are young and actively growing by connecting your garden hose to the weed killer sprayer, sliding the switch to "ON" and spraying evenly until the lawn is wet
- WHERE TO USE: This spray weed killer for lawns won't harm lawn grasses when used as directed - use on northern lawn grasses including Bermudagrass, Buffalograss, Fescues, Kentucky Bluegrass, Ryegrass and Zoysiagrass
Prevent weeds in lawns by supporting the turf
Weeds occur in lawns, but they are less likely to become serious problems in healthy, well-managed turf. Improper mowing, watering, or fertilizing can weaken grass, and compacted soil can also stress it. Correct the lawn-care problem where possible, remove young weeds, then patch or overseed bare areas so desirable grass can fill the space. The University of California Statewide IPM Program advises that “Total eradication of weeds isn’t realistic or necessary for most lawns.”
Use mulch in beds, not as a lawn treatment
In garden beds, mulch can help limit new weed growth by covering exposed soil. It is a prevention measure, not a dependable way to eliminate established perennial weeds with deep roots or spreading underground parts. Remove those weeds and their regrowth sources first, and keep mulch away from plant stems where appropriate.
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Rank #3
- Roundup For Lawns₁ is a ready-to-use tough weed killer for Northern grasses that kills weeds, roots and all (when used as directed), with up to 3 month weed control (as listed)
- Kills 253 types of weeds (see inside booklet for weed list), including crabgrass, dandelion, clover, yellow nutsedge, poison ivy, chickweed, oxalis, and purslane
- Roundup For Lawns₁ starts working immediately and is rainproof in 3 hours
- Use this tough weed killer on listed Northern grasses, including Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Fescue spp. including Tall, Red, and Fine Leaf Fescues, and Zoysiagrass
- The easy reach extendable spray wand makes application a breeze with its continuous spray
Consider herbicides only when the label fits
Herbicides differ by when and how they work. Preemergence products target weeds before seedlings emerge; postemergence products are used on emerged weeds. Contact products affect the treated tissue, while systemic products move within the plant. Selective products may control some weeds while sparing some turf species; nonselective products can injure desirable plants they contact. These categories do not make a product suitable for every weed or site. Some grassy weeds are difficult to control selectively without damaging turf.
Before using any herbicide, check the current product label for the weed, site, turf or crop species, application timing, and directions. Follow local pesticide rules. Do not assume that a lawn product is suitable for a vegetable bed or ornamental border, and do not treat a selective product as harmless to all desirable plants.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- KILLS 460+ WEEDS AS LISTED: Kills all types of listed broadleaf weeds including dandelion, chickweed, clover and yellow nutsedge.
- VISIBLE RESULTS: This product will give you visible results in 3 hours.
- KILLS BY CONTACT: Spectracide Weed Stop For Lawns Concentrate2 kills by contact and kills weed roots.
- WHERE TO USE: Use this product on lawns – treats bluegrass, fescue, zoysia, Bermuda and perennial ryegrass.
- Do not apply to zoysiagrass just emerging from dormancy.
Rank #4
- LAWN FRIENDLY FORMULA: Our lawn friendly weed killer spray formula contains three proven ingredients that specifically target common lawn weeds, so it won't harm your grass (when used as directed)
- EASY APPLICATION: The continuous spray Comfort Wand weed killer sprayer applicator makes it easy to apply for lawn care, allowing for precise spray control and maximum accuracy without any pumping required
- LAWN WEED CONTROL: Use Ortho WeedClear Weed Killer for Lawns with Comfort Wand, a lawn weed killer, to kill weeds down to the root without harming your grass (when used as directed), with visible results in hours
- KILLS OVER 250 WEEDS: This broadleaf weed killer for lawns targets over 250 common broadleaf lawn weeds, including dandelions, clover, poison ivy, chickweed, and dollarweed (see product label for complete weed list)
- FAST VISIBLE RESULTS: See visible results in hours; this lawn care formula that is rainproof in 1 hour after drying, and people and pets may re-enter the treated area after the spray has dried
A practical sequence for a weed problem
- Identify the plant. Use a regional guide and note whether it is a broadleaf plant, grass, or sedge, as well as whether it is spreading by seed or underground growth.
- Match the site. Decide whether it is in turf, a vegetable bed, an ornamental planting, or another surface; the site changes which methods are appropriate.
- Address the cause. In lawns, review mowing, irrigation, fertilization, and compaction, then repair bare areas with suitable turf.
- Remove small patches. Pull or dig early when practical, removing roots and other parts that could regrow. In beds, use mulch to help prevent new weeds.
- Check a product label before spraying. Use an herbicide only if its current directions cover the specific weed and site, and protect nearby desirable plants.
- Recheck the area. Watch for seedlings or regrowth and remove them before they spread.
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