Different Types of Weeds that grow in Austin, Texas

Weeds are well-known pests of plants beneficial to man. Like all pests, they must be eradicated because they affect the optimal growth and development of plants. It is nearly impossible to escape the menace caused by weeds. A good plan of action can reduce their presence to the barest minimum. A simple search through online lawn services on the web can provide you with methods and techniques to eradicate weeds if you should decide to handle the weeding yourself.

There are broad-leaf weeds and grassy weeds. These weeds can also be either annual or perennial. This means that their life cycle is yearly or has a two-year cycle. The longer its life cycle, the harder the weed is to eradicate. In a case where you encounter such stubborn weeds, your best bet will be to engage the services of a lawn service in Austin. Experts in weed control will help you get rid of these hardy plant pests. 

The two main types of weed in Austin, Texas - broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds have different species under them. For broadleaf weeds, the most common weed species are: the dandelion, thistle and henbit, chickweed.

-          Dandelion

The dandelion is very easy to recognize because of its distinctive appearance. It has a star-shaped flower head which is yellow in color when it blossoms. Dandelions are in full bloom usually in early summer or spring and can be either biennial or perennial.

-          Thistle

Thistles are weeds that can be very tough if left unchecked. They can grow several feet high and can take up your whole lawn and have a woolly, hairy look. They can also be either biennial or perennial.

-          Henbit

Henbit is another common weed in Austin. It is purple in color and has very weak supporting stems that grow even weaker as the plant grows. They are more common in central Texas and blooms mostly in early spring. It is a winter weed.

-          Chickweed

This is another winter weed that ends its life cycle in early summer. They grow in pairs opposite each other on the same stem and have hairy stem. Chickens love eating this weed and this is how it derived its name - chickweed.

For the grassy weed category, below are some of the grassy weeds that are common in Austin, Texas. From the name - grassy weeds, you can easily tell that they are grass - like in nature compared to their broad-leafed counterparts. They include the following species: Crab grass, Bluegrass (Poa annua), and Goose grass.

-          Crab Grass

Crab grass is a very stubborn grass type that is very difficult to eradicate because its seeds can stay dormant in the soil for a very long time and can start growing at any time. Despite a lot of weed control efforts, crab grass can be tough. You will need to use the services of a lawn care service to control them effectively. They are of two types – the smooth and the hairy crab grass. Both grow quickly and can take over your lawn if left unchecked.

-          Blue Grass (Poa annua)

This is another very stubborn grassy weed that can grow very rapidly once its seed is spread through your lawn. They grow from late winter to early spring usually and are annual in nature. It grows best in rich and moist soil. A good lawn care Austin can control it perfectly well or if you can plant a grass type like Bermuda or Zoysia grass before the weeds germinate, they can be naturally controlled.

-          Goose grass

Goose grass is an annual grassy weed that grows rapidly once its seeds are spread through your lawn. They are tough to cut with a lawn mower if your blades aren’t sharp. It is commonly found through-out Texas and removing them might require the services of a Lawn care services Austin.