How to Get Rid of Dollar Weed in a Lawn

Dollar weed (Hydrocotyle) is a warm-climate perennial plant that thrives in very wet conditions. It is often found growing in waterlogged lawns that have thin, weak turf, according to Clemson University. Also called pennywort, the plant is identifiable by its long, crawling stems and round leaves. It is not always possible to completely get rid of dollar weed in a lawn. The plant can grow from tiny seeds, underground roots or tubers. It is possible, however, to control the weed and minimize the invasion into your turf.

Instructions

1. Reduce your irrigation levels. Simply reducing the amount of water your lawn receives can reduce the amount of dollar weed present in your turf, according to Clemson University. Landscape lawns only need about an inch of water per week.

2. Pull up as much of the weed by hand as you can. This works best in small areas along the edges of the lawn. Remove all parts of the plant and dispose of them carefully in a plastic garbage bag. Take care not to scatter any seeds or leave any roots in the ground.

3. Treat the lawn with a selective herbicide designed to kill broad-leaf weeds. The type you choose will depend on your turf. Herbicides with antrazine, for example, can be used on centipede grass and St. Augustine turf. Apply in late spring for best results.

4. Reseed any bare areas left from the weed removal. Fertilize and maintain the turf throughout the year. Thick, healthy turf will help crowd out undesirable plants such as dollar weed, according to Clemson University.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not spray herbicides on your lawn if your water table is close to the surface, as the chemicals can seep into the water.

• Some herbicides can affect newly seeded grass, so check the label and postpone using those pesticides until the seeded areas are firmly established.

References

• Clemson University: Dollarweed
• University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Water Pennywort