Recognizing common weeds is one of the first steps to cultivating a healthy lawn all year. Stubborn, unwanted weeds are common in Wichita during the spring and summer, and in many cases, it can be challenging to tell which plants are weeds and which are helpful flowers.
Elite Landscape Solutions is here to help. In this comprehensive weed guide, you’ll learn how to identify common weeds in Wichita, what methods to use for getting rid of weeds, and how to keep your lawn weed-free year round.
What Kinds of Weeds Grow in Wichita?
Wichita is known for its diverse climate and extreme seasons. To tolerate the hot summers, cool falls, and year-round winds, weeds in Wichita have to be adaptable, durable, and persistent. Because of this, it’s no wander that hardy weeds like dandelions and crabgrass are some of the most commonly seen weeds growing in Wichita yards.
Given the unpredictable weather, different weeds in Wichita grow at different times of the year. Broadleaf weeds, like chickweed and henbit, tend to germinate in cool season grasses during the fall. Other grassy weeds, like crabgrass, plant roots in the late spring to early summer.
What Are the Most Common Weeds in Wichita?
If you live in Wichita, there’s a good chance you’ve seen at least one of these weeds growing in your yard. By learning more about each of these common weeds, you’ll have an easier time keeping them out of your yard.
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is a fast growing, invasive annual grass weed that can spread rapidly through thin or poorly maintained lawns. Up close, crabgrass blades are typically light green, coarse and noticeably wider than lawn grasses. Homeowners can typically find the durable weed growing in small, resilient patches and clumps in dry, hot conditions.
How to Spot Crabgrass:
- Lime green leaves that are wider than typical lawn grasses.
- Small mat-like patches with stems spreading outward.
Helpful Facts about Crabgrass:
- Crabgrass is safe to touch and non-toxic to pets and children.
- Crabgrass gets its name from the stems that branch outward, resembling crab legs.
- A single crabgrass plant produces up to 150,000 weed seeds.
Dandelions
Dandelions are stubborn weeds with yellow flowers and deep roots that make them tough to remove from lawns. Known for their bright yellow flower and fluffy seed head, dandelions are one of the quickest spreading weeds in Wichita. Once the flower blooms, the dandelion turns into white globe of exposed seeds. Then, seeds are spread by the wind or by birds, adding to the dandelion’s widespread growth.
How to Find Dandelions in a Lawn:
- Bright yellow, single flowers that turn into puffy seed globes.
- Leaves look jagged, almost sharp, and spread outward.
Common Facts About Dandelions:
- Dandelions are safe to touch and handle and are non-toxic and will not harm pets or children.
- Humans have used dandelions as a food and herb throughout history.
- Before modern medicine people used dandelions to heal ailments like toothaches, sores, and fevers.
White Clover
White clover is a perennial weed, meaning it grows, dies, and returns yearly, making it challenging to remove entirely. The leave typically grow in groups of three, heart-shaped leaflets and have a small white, crescent-shaped mark on the surface.
White clover weeds grow low to the ground and spread through long, thin stems, allowing them to take over large areas rapidly. Once blooming, the clovers produce round flower heads that are usually white or pink.
Easy Ways to Spot White Clover:
- Clusters with three distinct heart-shaped leaflets.
- Small, white, ball-like flower heads close to the ground.
White Clover Fun Facts:
- White clover is considered safe to touch and non-toxic to pets and children.
- White clover can help improve soil health by fixing nitrogen from the air.
- The small, white flower heads often attract bees throughout the spring and summer.
Grassy Sandbur
Grassy sandbur weeds are known for their prickly, sharp seed pods – often called ‘burrs’ or ‘stickers.’ These spiky pods often get embedded in shoes, clothing, and animal fur. When it comes to features, sandbur weeds have grass-like leaves that are typically flat and somewhat folded. The folded leaves help the weed save water, adding to the stubborn growth pattern and giving this plant strong drought tolerance.
It’s also important to note that the grass sandbur grows closer to the ground, making it easier for the burs to spread through lawns unnoticed.
How to Quickly Identify Sandburs:
- Look for prickly, spiny burrs or ‘stickers’ that are painful to touch/step on.
- The plant has a spreading, grassy appearance with short, flat leaves.
Quick Facts About the Grassy Sandbur:
- Grassy sandburrs are non-toxic, but their sharp spines can cause physical pain and irritation.
- The burrs can easily get stuck in clothing and pet fur.
- Grassy sandbur thrives in dry, sandy soils and is common in open, disturbed areas.
Chickweed
Chickweed is a common broadleaf weed in Wichita that grows in dense mats, making it difficult for treatments to fight new growth.
The dense, low-growing, weed has small, oval, leaves with white petals that sprawl outward, allowing it to smother nearby plants. Chickweed stems are weak and often root where they touch the soil. However, chickweed growth habits let the plant thrive in disturbed areas and even survive mowing.
Spotting Chickweed in a Lawn:
- Look for low mats of small, bright green, oval leaves on slender stems.
- Tiny, white flowers with what looks like ten petals.
Chickweed Quick Facts:
- Chickweed thrives in cool, moist, and shady conditions and appears in early spring or late fall in Wichita.
- It is edible and has a mild, slightly grassy taste, sometimes used in salads.
- Common types of chickweed are still used in certain medicines due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Henbit
Henbit can be challenging to address because the weed germinates in the fall and winter, meaning it grows before other plants in the spring. Because of this, most homeowners don’t use preventive herbicide in time to fight henbit. This makes henbit a common sight in many Wichita lawns.
When fully grown, henbit is a low-growing annual weed with rounded or kidney-shaped leaves that deter small animals. The squared stems often grow upright and branch from the base, producing small, purple flowers that cluster near the upper part of the weed.
How to Find Henbit in a Lawn:
- Look for squared stems and round leaves growing along the stem.
- Henbit has small, tubular, purplish-pink flowers.
Facts About Henbit:
- Henbit prefers cool, moist conditions.
- Henbit typically grows during the early spring in Wichita.
- It is considered edible and is sometimes used in salads or cooked as a green.
Effective Weed Control Options for Lawns & Gardens
In general, prevention is the most effective approach to weed control. The best type of prevention involves health lawn care practices, such as mowing at the proper height, efficient watering, and seasonal fertilization. These practices give your lawn the right balance of nutrients to fight off stubborn weeds and reduce stress on your lawn. Over time, your lawn will become better at discouraging unwanted growth and more easily resist common lawn diseases.
Should I use Herbicides on My Lawn?
While post-emergent herbicides can fight existing weeds, they are often less effective than preventive herbicides or health lawn practices. For a more in-depth guide on when to use herbicides and the best types, check out our article on “How to Prevent Weeds Early.” Keep in mind, a well-maintained lawn is the key to preventing weeds over longer periods of time.
Your Trusted Wichita Weed Control Experts
Accurately identifying common weeds is a crucial first step toward effective long-term weed control. Understanding the growth habits and weaknesses of specific weeds helps you find the best strategies to keep your lawn health and weed-free all year long.
Reclaim your Wichita lawn with tailored weed control services from Elite Landscape Solutions. Contact us today for a free estimate.