Know Your Enemy: A Quick Identification Guide

A “weed” is really just a plant that’s growing where you didn’t invite it. But if you’re going to evict them, you need to know who they are. Here are the three most common crashers at the garden party:

The Broadleaf Bully: Dandelion

You know this one. Bright yellow flower, followed by a puffball of seeds that your kids love to blow across the yard (effectively doing the weed’s marketing for it).

• The Fix: They have deep taproots, so if you pull them, you have to get the whole root, or they’ll be back next week.

The Stealth Bomber: Crabgrass

It grows low, spreads wide, and looks like a flattened green spider. Crabgrass thrives in the heat and loves thin spots in your lawn.

• The Fix: Prevention is key. A thick, tall lawn shades the soil and prevents crabgrass seeds from germinating in the first place.

The Lucky Charm: White Clover

Once a standard part of lawn seed mixes, clover is now often seen as a weed. It has three round leaflets and white, ball-shaped flowers.

• The Fix: Clover actually fixes nitrogen in the soil. If you have a lot of it, it might be a sign your soil is nitrogen-deficient. You can treat it, or you can embrace the “mini-meadow” look!