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Summer Weeds and Grasses that Must Be Controlled

Some of the most common irritants in your lawn during the summer months are weeds and unwanted grasses. Jostling for space, these opportunistic plants can easily take over your lawn if not checked in time. We explore below some common weeds and grasses that grow in summer in Pennsylvania and ways to keep them under control.

5 Common Unwanted Summer Weeds and Grasses in Pennsylvania

  • Dandelion: These yellow-flowered weeds are extremely common during the summer months and can easily invade your lawns. They grow well in areas low in calcium.
    • Use digging sticks or other lawn tools and pull the dandelions from their roots.
    • For larger areas, use herbicides meant for broadleaf weeds, ensuring that you use the herbicides only in the affected area so as not to harm your lawn.
  • Crabgrass: It is a coarse, light-green clump of grass found in thinning lawn spaces. It grows well in areas that have been depleted of nutrients and are calcium deficient. Pests love to hide under its high stalk space.
    • Crabgrass can be pulled by hand. Use garden weeder tools to ensure that you remove all parts of the plant’s roots after pulling the plant out with your hand.
    • Applying pre-emergent herbicides before seedlings appear in the spring as well as spot treatment during summer on young plants to keep them at bay. 
  • Foxtail grass: A summer weed, this grass grows in sunny areas and has a moderate drought tolerance. There are different types like yellow foxtail, green foxtail, and giant foxtail. Its seedhead has barbs for reseeding itself along with the other grasses.
    • Digging it from the roots can effectively eliminate it, especially from small sections of your lawn.
    • Post-emergent herbicides can eliminate this weed from larger areas. 
    • Applying mulch in the area can help eliminate this grass type as well.
  • Nutsedge: An aggressive weed, nutsedge is perennial. It looks like grass, except that it has stems that have triangular or V-shaped cross sections. Its leaves are broader and thicker than regular grass. It prefers moist soil but can thrive in dry areas too.
    • Pulling out nutsedge can cause the tubers to be activated, thus increasing the spread of weeds. However, pulling consistently from small areas can eventually eliminate this weed.
    • Post-emergent herbicides are extremely effective in eliminating them. 
  • Ground Ivy: Also called ‘Creeping Charlie’, Ground Ivy is an invasive species that thrive in moist, shady, and sparse lawns.
    • Trim trees and shrubs to bring in more sunlight in ivy-infested areas.  
    • Water the lawn right, ensuring that the soil isn’t too moist.
    • You can pull the weeds out by hand if the area is small. Ensure that you pull completely with the root. 
    • A post-emergent broadleaf herbicide can be used to kill this weed effectively. 

*Always follow the label instructions before applying any herbicides yourself.

Tame Summer Weeds and Grasses

Weeds come in various forms and require different techniques for effective control. Tackling these unwanted intruders can be labor-intensive and often demands specialized knowledge. 

At Greenskeeper, our team of landscaping professionals employs customized strategies to address the different weed varieties. We carefully select organic and safe solutions, guaranteeing effective weed control without compromising the health of your lawn or the environment. 

Contact our landscaping experts and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of a weed-free outdoor oasis.

Check out our service programs or call GREENSKEEPER at 215-938-8440. You can also contact us using our online form for a free quote.