How to Identify Common Mid-Atlantic Lawn Weeds
Many homeowners are obsessed with lawn care, working to create the ideal lawn of verdant green grass, mowed to a certain height and without a weed in sight. A weed is broadly defined as any plant that shouldn't be growing in a specific area. For example, while many pond supply companies sell water lettuce as an ornamental garden plant, it is considered an invasive weed in many of Florida's natural waterways. Because no two plants are alike, a weed may possess any number of characteristics that make it hard to eliminate. The first step in eradicating a weed from your lawn is to identify it. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Look over your weed carefully, noting all characteristics of the plant.
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Take pictures of the weed using a digital camera. If your camera has a macro feature, use it to get several up-close pictures of the plant. Closer pictures are better for revealing details about the plant.
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Classify the plants based on your observations as a broadleaf weed, a grassy-like weed or a grass-type weed. A broadleaf weed features wide leaves, usually produced in pairs or multiples. A dandelion is a broadleaf type of plant. Grass-like weeds look like grasses, but have triangular stems. Wild garlic is a type of grass-like weed. Grass-type weeds look like true grasses, with straw-like stems and nodes. Crabgrass is a grass-type weed.
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Narrow your weed identification by searching for similar plants in a field guide. If your weed looks very similar to a plant listed in the field guide, it may be a hybrid of the same type of plant. If it looks exactly like the plant in the field guide, it is probably the same plant.
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Search plant databases with photos and descriptions on the Internet. One good website with pictures for identification of weeds in the Mid-Atlantic region is maintained by Rutgers University.
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Consult your area Extension Office of the USDA, farmer's cooperative or land grant college. Many of these offices maintain agents who are knowledgeable about local species of plants and can identify your weed by photo. By taking your photos to an agent, or sending them via e-mail, you may be supplied with an identification as well as recommendations for how best to eliminate the weed.
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