Lawn Weed Identification
The first step in dealing with any weed or weeds it to correctly identify them. This is why we have put together this handy chart to help with identification. Simply click on the weed image and you will be taken to the relevant page. Most major lawn and turf weeds are covered.
Daisy
Botanical name: Bellis perennis Family: Asteraceae General information The daisy is one of the most familiar lawn weeds. It is a favourite of children, who enjoy picking it and making ‘daisy chains’.…
Parsley Piert
Botanical name:Aphanes arvensis Family: Rosaceae Aliases: Western-lady’s mantle, parsley breakstone, slender parsley piert General information Parsley piert is an annual weed and is found in all types of habitats, including waste…
Red Clover
Botanical name: Trifolium pratense Family: Fabaceae General Information: Red Clover is a perennial weed found on all types of lawn lawns throughout in the UK. The flowers and leaves are…
Greater Plantain
Botanical name: Plantago major Family: Plantaginaceae General information: Greater plantain or broad leaf plantain as it is often referred to, is a very common weed that frequently inhabits lawns and…
Creeping Cinquefoil
Botanical name: Potentilla repatans Family: Rosaceae Aliases: Common cinquefoil, five finger grass, five leaf, Mary’s five fingers General information Creeping cinquefoil is a perennial plant that is a member of the rose family.…
Silverweed
Botanical name: Argentina anserina Family: Rosaceae Aliases: Silverweed cinquefoil General information Silverweed is a flowering, perennial plant of the rose family. It takes it name from the silvery-white colour of the leaves, particularly…
Creeping Thistle
Botanical name – Cirsium arvense Family – Asteraceae General Information: Creeping Thistle is a perennial weed which spreads by seed and is one of the most common thistles in the…
Scarlet Pimpernel
Botanical name: Anagallis arvensis General Information: Scarlet Pimpernel also known as ‘Poor Man’s Weatherglass’ is an annual weed. The leaves are very similar to Common Chickweed, but can be identified by…
Autumn Hawkbit
Botanical name: Leontodon autumnalis Family: Asteraceae General Information Autumn Hawkbit which is often mistaken for dandelion is a perennial weed. Autumn Hawkbit Identification Leaf: As previously mentioned the leaves are similar to…
Common Ragwort
Botanical name: Senecio jacobaea Family: Asteraceae Aliases: cankerweed, staggerwort, tansy ragwort General Information Ragwort can be a problem on fine lawns but is more common on low maintenance and neglected lawns. Ragwort,…
Broad-leaved Dock
Botanical name: Rumex obtusifolius Family: Polygonaceae Aliases: bitter dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf, butter dock General Information Broad-leaved dock is a perennial weed most commonly found in neglected lawns and rough grassland. Docks…
Crowfoot
Botanical name: Ranunculus acris Family: Ranunculaceae Aliases: Tall Buttercup, Meadow Buttercup, Upright Meadow Crowfoot, Giant Buttercup General information Crowfoot also known as meadow buttercup and tall buttercup is a widespread and common herbaceous…
Moss
Although moss is not a weed as such, we have included it, as it probably causes more problems than most turf problems and disorders. This especially true on garden lawns,…
Bristly-ox Tongue
Botanical name: Helminthotheca echioides Family: Asteraceae General Information Bristly ox-tongue is a dandelion type weed which is both annual and biennial. It is not a common weed in well maintained lawns, it…
Horsetail
Botanical name: Equisetum arvense General Information: Horsetail, sometimes referred to as mare’s tail or puzzle grass is a deep rooted perennial weed. It spreads aggressively via underground runners (rhizomes) and produces…
Common Sorrel
Botanical name: Rumex acetosa Family: Polygonaceae General Information Common Sorrel is a perennial weed that belongs to the dock family. It is rarely a problem in well maintained lawns, being…
Ground Ivy
Botanical name: Glechoma hederacea Family: Lamiaceae General Information: Ground Ivy is a perennial weed (sometimes it is confused with speedwell) that can be found in hedge banks, woodland and grassland throughout…
Mayweed
General Information: Scentless mayweed can be either annual or biennial and is usually found on rough grassland and waste ground. It can be found in lawns and areas of turf,…
Doves-foot Cranesbill
Botanical name: Geranium molle Family: Geraniaceae General Information: Doves-foot cranesbill is an annual weed that prefers dry soils and is common on lawns throughout the UK. Identification Leaf: The leaves…
Ribwort Plantain
Botanical name: Plantago lanceolata Family: Plantaginaceae General information Ribwort plantain is a very common weed, with its distinctive long, narrow leaves and clusters of erect plantain like flower heads. The flower heads…
White Clover
Botanical name: Trifolium repens Family: Fabaceae Aliases: Dutch clover General information White clover is a herbaceous, perennial weed and arguably the most common and recognisable of the clover weeds in turf. This common…
Dandelion
Botanical name: Taraxacum officianale Family: Asteraceae General information The Dandelion is a common perennial weed, growing in a wide variety of conditions and sites, including fine turf, grassy pastures, roadside verges and…
Creeping Buttercup
Botanical Name: Ranunculus repens Family: Ranunculaceae General information Creeping buttercup is perennial weed and the most common of the buttercups found in turf. It is an easy weed to recognise with its…
Black Medic
Botanical name: Medicago lupulina Family: Fabaceae Aliases: nonesuch, hop clover, hop medic, yellow trefoil General information Black medic is a lawn and turf weed that belongs to the legume or clover family of…
Birds-foot Trefoil
Botanical name: Lotus coniculatus Family: Fabaceae Aliases: Bacon and eggs, crow toes, cats clover, ground honeysuckle General information Birds-foot trefoil, which is a member of the ‘pea’ family is a herbaceous perennial turf…
Lesser Trefoil
Botanical name: Trifolium dubium Family: Fabaceae General information Lesser trefoil is an annual turf weed that is related to the clover family of Fabaceae (also part of the pea family). In fact…
Yarrow
Botanical name – Achellia millefolium Family – Asteraceae Aliases – common yarrow, milfoil, devil’s nettle, carpenter’s weed, bloodwort, nosebleed, old man’ pepper, staunchgrass General information Yarrow is a perennial broad-leaf…
Selfheal
Botanical name: Prunella vulgaris Family: Lamiaceae General information Selfheal grows on a wide variety of sites including grasslands, meadows, woodland, roadside, lawns and fine turf. This herbaceous perennial plant has an affinity…
Slender Speedwell
Botanical name: Veronica filiformis Family: Plantaginaceae Aliases: Creeping Speedwell, Threadstalk Speedwell, Round-Leaved Speedwell, Whetzel Weed General Information Slender speedwell is the most common of the speedwell family that that is found in managed…
Germander Speedwell
Botanical name: Veronica chamaedrys Family: Plantaginaceae Aliases: Bird’s-eye, Eye of Christ, cat’s-eye, Angel’-eye General information: Germander speedwell is a herbaceous perennial plant, it is a common, hardy plant that invades lawns and…
Mouse-ear Chickweed
Botanical name: Cerastium vulgatum Family: Caryophyllaceae General information Mouse-ear chickweed or Mouse-ear as it is also known is a short lived perennial weed that is very common in intensively managed turf and…
Common Chickweed
Botanical name: Stellaria media Family: Caryophyllaceae Aliases: Chickenwort, winterweed General information Common chickweed is an annual or overwintering plant, it is one of the most common weeds in cultivated land. It is also…
Procumbent Pearlwort
Botanical name:Sagina procumbens Family: Caryophyllaceae Aliases: bird-eye pearlwort, prostate pearlwort General information Procumbent pearlwort is a low growing perennial weed, which can be a major nuisance in fine turf and luxury lawns,…
Cats Ear
Botanical name: Hypochaeris radicata Family: Asteraceae General information Cats ear is one of the most common of the dandelion like weeds. This perennial plant is common on roadside verges and other grassy…
Buckshorn Plantain
Botanical name: Plantago coronopus Family: Plantaginaceae Aliases: Starweed General Information Bucks-horn Plantain is very common on coastal sites where the soil is very sandy and free draining. This weed is…
Knotgrass
Botanical name: Polygonum aviculare Family: Polygonaceae Aliases: Common knotgrass, knotweed, matgrass, doorweed, birdweed, pigweed, wireweed General information Knotgrass is an annual weed that is related to the Dock family of plants. It is…
Lesser Celandine
Botanical name: Ranunculus ficaria Family: Ranunculaceae General information Lesser celandine is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). This perennial weed is abundant during early spring, until the early summer period. Its…
