Spring-Flowering Turf Weeds: Sprayer Beware

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— Written By Thomas Glasgow and last updated by Jami Hooper
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Brightly flowering forsythia and daffodils dominate the Craven County landscape in mid-March. However, if you look really close, you’ll find an array of bright colors and interesting flower forms among the various spring-flowering, cool-season turf weeds. Four examples are presented in the composite image below. Since these are weeds, and weeds must be controlled, should these offenders be sprayed, mowed, hit with weed-and-feed, dispatched with a blow-torch, or eradicated in some other manner?
In fact, a better alternative might be to leave well enough alone. Our warm-season lawns – centipedegrass being the most widespread – are heading into the green-up phase, and herbicide damage is a distinct risk until that process is completed. As explained in an information note from Clemson University, “If a weed problem begins and the grass has begun to green with warmer temperatures, wait until the grass has fully greened before applying a post-emergent herbicide. In the meantime, mow and bag the weeds. Centipedegrass is sensitive to certain herbicides, such as 2,4-D, not only during spring green up, but during hot summer temperatures.”  The various weed species prevalent now have been present for many weeks, and the optimal time to control is long past. Safer approaches would include pre-emergent applications (such as atrazine on centipedegrass) in early winter, or post-emergent sprays during warm periods in early to mid-winter. As of mid-March, mowing what you can and letting the bees enjoy the rest is probably the best policy.
Flowers

Clockwise, from top left: Flowers of hop clover (Trifolium campestre), common chickweed (Stellaria media), deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) and henbit (Lamium amplexicaule).

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