It is a fact of life that if we have a lawn and garden we will have to deal with weeds from time to time. Here’s 5 common weeds and how to treat them but for more weed advice visit our guide here or send us a picture and we’re happy to help identify and recommend a treatment!
1. Soursob
One of the most common weeds in South Australia, especially through winter is Soursob. Don’t confuse this for clover, although they look similar treatment is different!
Soursobs present as a dense mat of clover-like leaves along the surface. It is extremely hard to kill, especially in lawns, as it has a fast-growing onion-shaped bulb system. Autumn and winter is when Soursobs are at their peak growing stage. Cultivating is certainly not recommended during this time, as it will spread the rhizomes further, which will result in more bulbs to form.
How to treat Soursob
The best way to manage soursobs is to mow them off continuously. This attacks the weed at its weakest stage. As your lawn roots establish, they will suffocate the soursobs, resulting in them dying.
Another method which can be more timely is to use a paint brush with glyphosate and paint each individual plant, making sure to get NONE on your lawn as it will kill anything it touches.
Duke Herbicide has some promising results in tackling soursob too.
2. Marshmallow
Mallow weed has a long, deep tap root and lobed leaves. It is a fast spreader if left untreated as it can seed itself. It is most commonly found in Southern states and pops up through autumn and winter.
How to treat Mallow
Young, immature mallow weeds can be pulled by hand or hoed as soon as they pop up.
Alternatively, an application of an MCPA or Dicamba based herbicide such as All Purpose Weed Control
3. Winter Grass
Winter Grass (Poa Annua) is a low growing turf grass. It has soft, drooping green leaves grown in tufts with triangular shaped seed heads.
How to treat Winter Grass
Winter Grass can be removed very easily by hand as it doesn’t have particularly deep roots and it doesn’t have any runners; growing in simple clumps.
Applying a selective winter grass control such as Amgrows Winter Grass Killer will help to eradicate these weeds from your lawn. It is safe to use on buffalo lawns (including Sir Walter DNA Certified), blue and common couches, but should be avoided on Kikuyu.
4. Nutgrass
Nutgrass is a noxious weed that gets its name from its nut-like tubers found on the plant’s roots. It is usually identifiable from its lighter green leaves that grow taller than the rest of your lawn.
How to treat Nutgrass
If there is only a small amount, you can remove it by digging it out with a small spade, but you have to be extremely diligent with this to ensure there is no roots or bulbs left in the soil, as Nutgrass will reappear if left behind. Simply pulling the nutgrass out by hand will leave these nut-like tubers in the soil, allowing them to continue to spread.
If there is a large amount of Nutgrass in your lawn, you will need to treat it with a selective herbicide such as Amgrow Sedgehammer. Repeated applications may be required to ensure complete eradication.
5. Clover
Clovers have green leaves with white circular markings, on thin stems. Clovers are a weed in lawn, but in other areas can be beneficial due to high nutritional value.
How to treat Clover
In a lot of cases when you see clover growing in your lawn it means that there isn’t enough nitrogen in the soil and a fertilise will help by giving your lawn an increase in nitrogen and slow the clover down. We recommend a slow-release granular fertiliser such as Lawn Solutions Premium Lawn Food.
Clover can be easily managed by hand-pulling or applying a selective broadleaf herbicide like Bin-Die or Lawn Solutions Australia All Purpose Weed Control.
Check out some more common lawn weeds here or send us a picture to lawn@theturffarm.com.au and we will help identify and recommend a treatment for you!
