Category: Weed Identification
Star of Bethlehem , Spring Beauty Emerging in Shaded Areas
Star of Bethlehem and Spring Beauty are currently emerging and flowering in shaded areas in southern and central Indiana . Both plants have pretty white flowers with the Star of Bethlehem having six petals while Spring Beauty has only five petals. The Star of Bethlehem was once planted as an ornamental while the […]
Knotweed germinating next to sidewalks and other hotspots
Prostrate knotweed is currently germinating in thin areas next to sidewalks, cart paths, driveways and other hotspots. Knotweed is often confused with crabgrass at this early stage. Knotweed leaves have rounded leaf tips whereas crabgrass has leaf tips that come to a dull point (See photos). Crabgrass also has veins running lengthwise (parallel veination) whereas […]
Common Chickweed in New Seedlings
Common chickweed is currently dominating any fall- or dormant-seedings (including my lawn). Common chickweed is a winter annual, so it germinated last fall, grew well into December and is starting to spread with the temperatures this weekend (see accompanying photos). In established lawns, I wouldn’t recommend spraying it because it will die with the first […]
Which is it, Annual Bluegrass or Kentucky Bluegrass?
Kentucky bluegrass is currently producing seedheads that are difficult to mow and create an uneven appearance. However, annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is also producing similar looking seedheads. It’s important to distinguish the two because Kentucky bluegrass is highly desirable in a lawn, but annual bluegrass is a weed. It is a weed because it is […]
Star of Bethlehem, Spring Beauty Emerging in Shaded Areas
Star of Bethlehem and Spring Beauty are currently emerging and flowering in shaded areas. Both plants have pretty white flowers with the Star of Bethlehem having six petals while Spring Beauty has only five petals . The Star of Bethlehem was once planted as an ornamental while the Spring Beauty is native. Both plants are […]