Kinds of Weeds

Weeds are considered a nuisance by many lawn and garden enthusiasts. A healthy lawn or garden can quickly become overgrown with weeds, choking the root systems of native plants or making the yard unsightly. Numerous types of plants fall into the category of weeds. Weeds are generally classified into a few different subcategories.

  1. Grassy Weeds

    • Grassy weeds look like ordinary grass, and are basically non-native grasses that find their way into your yard. Lawns that are supposed to be entirely Bermuda grass may have crab grass infiltrate the yard in various spots. Conversely, yards made up of St. Augustine grass can have spots of Bermuda grass infiltrate; in this case the Bermuda grass is considered the grassy weed. Crab grass is the most common of grassy weeds that are found in yards among others, such as goose grass, yellow foxtail and barnyard grass.

    Broadleaf Weeds

    • Broadleaf weeds are the most common classification of weeds found in both lawns and gardens. The leaves are broad, flat and have a net pattern of veins. Common broadleaf grasses disperse thousands of seeds to ensure progeny. Many of the common varieties of broadleaf weeds can be found around the world. Some common broadleaf weeds that you may recognize are dandelions, clover varieties, violets, carpet weed and varieties of ivy.

    Sedge Weeds

    • Sedge weeds are the most invasive and aggressive of all weed types. These weeds grow very fast and can encroach on a yard or take over a lawn faster than any other weeds if not controlled. These sedge weeds look like tall grasses but are distinguished from grasses by a complete, non-jointed stem. Sedge weeds are often found in wetlands such as marshes and other swampy ecosystems. Common sedge weeds include wild onion and garlic, nutsedge and Star of Bethlehem.

    Annual and Perennial Weeds

    • Annual weeds are the most common found in gardens and lawns. These weeds return each year via seed. Annual weeds also produce thousands of seeds to ensure progeny, such as the shepherd's purse that can produce up to 40,000 seeds per plant. Common annual weeds are predominantly grassy varieties, but do include some sedge and broadleaf weeds. A few common annual weeds are crab grass, chick weed and lamb's quarters.

      Perennial weeds are generally the most damaging to a garden or lawn. These weeds return each year through a vast root system that hibernates in the winter. Perennial weeds tend to fall predominantly into the broadleaf classification but do include sedges and grasses. Grasses that grow up through asphalt and concrete are generally perennial. These weeds are also difficult to pull up due to vast root systems. Common perennial weeds are clover, ivy, thistle and plantain.