Our Guide to Common Florida Lawn Weeds and How to Beat Them
Maintaining a lush, green lawn in Florida comes with challenges, mainly due to the warm and humid climate here in the Sunshine State. While the year-round warm weather and frequent rain showers make it a great place to live, it’s also an ideal place for common weeds to thrive in Florida lawns. Warm-season grasses, like St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia, can be taken over by stubborn weeds without the right weed control and ongoing lawn care.
Common Weeds in Florida Lawns
The key to winning the battle against common lawn weeds in Florida is knowing how to spot them. Understanding different perennial weeds and annual weeds will be important to effectively get rid of them.
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is the most common summer annual weed for most Florida lawns and can quickly overtake your grass if left unchecked. The best way to control crabgrass is prevention with spring pre-emergents. Applying preventative weed control at the right time, in early to late spring, will limit crabgrass germination, making it easier to control throughout the summer months.
Dollarweed
Also known as pennywort, dollarweed is a common perennial broadleaf weed in Florida. It’s named for its coin-shaped leaves that can grow as large as a silver dollar. Dollarweed is common in areas of the lawn with bad drainage and excessive moisture. It can be controlled with proper mowing and watering as well as post-emergent weed control when it’s actively growing.
Florida Pusley
Another one of the most common weeds for Florida homeowers, Florida Pusley is a persistent summer annual broadleaf weed noticeable by its clusters of tiny white flowers. Because this weed spreads through seeds and rhizomes, it can be prevented with pre-emergent weed control. Florida pusley has deep taproots making it hard to control in some cases.
Oxalis and Yellow Woodsorrel
Oxalis or yellow woodsorrel is a common perennial weed in Florida lawns. It’s spotted by its bright yellow flowers, and spreads through seed heads and rhizomes, making it a persistent problem. It can be controlled with weed control spraying, hand-pulling, and consistent mowing.
Nutsedge
Yellow nutsedge, a type of sedge, has yellow flowers and grows in bunches like a grassy weed. There are different types of nutsedge and they’re very common in Florida lawns. Nutsedge is a perennial weed, meaning it can’t be prevented and it’s difficult to control due to its spreading by underground tubers. It’s fast-growing and can be controlled with regular mowing, aeration to combat compacted soil, and post-emergent weed control in the summer.
How to Prevent and Control Lawn Weeds in Florida
Preventing weeds is a crucial part of keeping a happy, healthy lawn in Florida. You can prevent weeds with chemical treatments like pre-emergents, or through proper lawn care practices, like healthy mowing, watering, and more.
Pre-Emergent Herbicides
Pre-emergents act as weed prevention when applied at the right time. Spring pre-emergents will prevent summer weed germination, helping stop weeds before they can sprout. Preventative weed control treatments are key to tackling many kinds of common weeds. Not all weeds can be prevented, but pre-emergents can help with half of the battle.
Proper Fertilization
Regular fertilization helps keep your grass strong and resistant to weeds breaking through. Fertilizer helps build a healthy root system which is the base of your lawn’s natural defense against weeds.
Healthy Mowing
Keep your lawn well-maintained with regular mowing at the recommended height for your grass type. Always follow the one-third rule when mowing, ensuring you never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at once. This helps control weed growth and promotes a healthy lawn.
Post-Emergent Herbicides
Managing existing weeds requires targeted weed control. Depending on the type of weed, and time of year will determine the best way to battle common weeds in your Florida lawn. Post-emergent weed control can be applied for existing weeds, targeting specific weed types without harming the surrounding lawn.
Professional Weed Control Near Melbourne
Don’t let common Florida lawn weeds ruin the beauty of your Florida lawn. Partner with Pearce Lawn Care for personalized lawn care services in Melbourne and enjoy a vibrant, healthy lawn year-round. Our lawn care program includes weed control to tackle the most common weeds in Florida and fertilization for a lush, green lawn. In addition, we offer lawn care services like aeration, mosquito control, tree and shrub care, pest control, and more. Since 1994, we’ve been a trusted, local lawn care company for homeowners in the Melbourne area. We service Melbourne, Viera, Palm Bay, Malabar, Satellite Beach, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for a free quote!