Common Weed Issues in Illinois Lawns and Gardens

It seems like the battle with weeds in your lawn is never-ending. You’ve probably spent countless hours bending over in your lawn or on your knees in the garden pulling, rooting, and digging to remove weeds. But how much do you really know about the common, every day weeds that can cause you so much frustration? And what makes these unwelcome guests appear and spread throughout your yard? If you have an outbreak of unwanted weeds in your lawn, the professionals at Pure Prairie Organics are here to help. 

Most Common Weeds Seen in Illinoisdandelions

Dandelion
Dandelions are persistent, hard-to-remove weeds that have a large yellow, many-petaled flower, irregularly edged lobed leaves, and the characteristic fluffy cotton-ball-like seed head. As you probably know, this weed has a very large taproot system that can make it difficult to completely remove and eradicate from your lawn. 

Chickweed
Chickweed usually appears in thick mats and can be recognized by its small pointed leaves and dense, fibrous system of roots underneath the soil. 

Clover
Clover is a broadleaf perennial weed that will come back every year if not treated annually. This weed is easily identified by its characteristic three-leaf shape and round white flowers. Although clover can act as a natural fertilizer for your lawn, most homeowners dislike its appearance and want to keep it out of their lawn. 

Crabgrass
Crabgrass gets its name from the seed heads of the plant that resemble the claws of crabs. This annual weed typically grows along the edges of your lawn, in thin or sparse patches of grass, and along the cracks of sidewalks. Crabgrass thrives in hot weather and is highly resistant to drought. It should be removed before the plant sprouts flowers to prevent it from spreading seeds to other areas of your yard.

Thistle
Thistles have tufty, pink-purple flowers and long, spiny leaves that can make them difficult to remove. This perennial weed spreads quickly because it sends out its root system via runners that can be difficult to completely remove. 

Purslane
Purslane is another pernicious broadleaf weed that will keep coming back just after you think you have finally got it under control. It is particularly difficult to keep in check because it often teams up with other weeds like crabgrass. Purslane has glossy green teardrop-shaped leaves and fleshy purple and red stems. This weed grows close to the ground and sprouts yellow five-petaled flowers. Even a small piece of a purslane leaf or stem left behind after weeding can result in a new plant, and a full-grown purslane weed can produce up to 50,000 seeds. 

Henbit and purple deadnettlehenbit weeds
These weeds are winter annuals with square-shaped stems, lobed leaves, tiny pink-purple flowers, and a dense fibrous root system. Henbit’s leaves are heart-shaped, while deadnettle leaves are triangular in shape. 

Why Weeds Grow and Spread

Despite what you might think, weeds don’t just pop up in your lawn at random. Some weeds prefer certain types of soil, and you can usually interpret the appearance of a weed in your lawn as a sign of some problem or weakness in your lawn. Factors such as compacted soil, too much or too little fertility, soil that remains wet for long periods of time or has water drainage problems, dry soil, shady areas in your lawn, and problematic pH can all give weeds an inroad into your lawn. Addressing these problems in your lawn with a dependable, comprehensive lawn care program can not only improve the overall health of your yard but will also prevent weeds from cropping up and competing with your grass plants for nutrients and water. 

Call Pure Prairie Organics To Keep Weeds Out Of Your Illinois Lawn

If you want to make sure weeds stay out of your Illinois lawn, call the experts at Pure Prairie Organics. We offer an organic-based blended lawn care program that combines all the best parts of organic fertilizer with as-needed effective weed control to keep your lawn looking beautiful, thick, and free of weeds. Pure Prairie Organics knows that every lawn is different, so we tailor our program to fit your lawn’s unique situation as well as your preference, needs, and schedule. You can visit our website to view more details about our organic-based blended lawn care program and all of our other services. Reach out via our contact form for more information and an instant quote, give us a call at 630-780-7939 and connect with us on our Facebook page. And be sure to check out our monthly blog for more educational articles about caring for your lawn and garden!