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If you’ve longed for a rich, lush green lawn, you may have taken steps in the past to sow grass seeds and apply fertilizer and soil amendments to nourish the turf. While little growth seems to occur during dormant winter months, in Maryland and Virginia some categories of weeds actually begin thriving during this time of year. Without the implementation of effective control measures, some unwelcome weeds may monopolize available resources when spring arrives and interfere with your plans to maintain attractive expanses of grass.
Some Common Winter Weeds
Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua): Some groundskeepers classify annual bluegrass as a lawn weed because this grass frequently occurs in bunches. Unless you plan to dedicate your entire lawn to annual bluegrass, you may want to prevent this species from populating your yard. It will thrive during the winter but may die off during hot summer months, producing patches of brown in the lawn. Annual bluegrass prefers wet, cool growing conditions and high levels of nitrogen in the soil. Applying fertilizer too generously sometimes promotes exuberant annual bluegrass growth.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): The hardy Dandelion supplies an excellent source of Vitamin A. Unfortunately, this perennial has earned the status of a lawn weed because it proliferates vigorously. A single dandelion in your yard becomes an entire colony just a short time later (each plant produces up to 15,000 seeds). The distinctive bright yellow flowers quickly transform into puffy white strands capable of dispersing seeds through the air. By developing densely packed, healthy turf and physically removing any dandelions you observe, you’ll help prevent the growth of this weed in your yard. If you fail to remove the dandelion’s tap root, it will survive over the winter to produce new growth in the spring!
Dead Nettle {Lamium purpureum): This annual winter weed begins growing prominently during winter months only to erupt into dark purplish blossoms during the early spring. The angular leaves frequently turn blotchy. The weed’s life cycle ends before the arrival of hot weather. You’ll risk inadvertently encouraging this plant to gain a foothold in your yard if you mow grass too heavily during dormant periods. Dead Nettles interfere with the vibrant appearance of verdant summer lawns, creating unwelcome patches of decayed vegetation. Many experts recommend hand weeding to remove this weed.
Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta): This pretty weed forms a rosette of thick stems topped by clusters of delicate white flowers. It prefers shady locations. Mechanical weeding or careful spot treatments with a commercial weed killer will control this winter annual.
Landscaping Assistance
Located in Alexandria, Virginia, the firm of Campbell Ferrara has assisted customers desiring lovely, well-maintained yards and grounds since 1945. If you have any questions or concerns about landscaping, simply call us at 703-354-6724. We offer a wide array of useful services designed to help maintain lawns in a healthy, sustainable condition throughout the year!
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