7 Common Weeds Found in Texas Lawns

Weed growth in a flowerbed quickly becomes a problem because it detracts from the beauty of your garden. While weeds in your lawn may not be as noticeable, they still pose a danger. Any weed growth will require the same moisture and nutrients that your grass needs to thrive. By taking steps to remove these common Texas weeds, you’ll promote better grass growth.

Weed	How to Identify It	When It Grows	Why It’s a Problem	Best Control Methods
Crabgrass	Flat growth, dull light-green blades; thrives in sunny, compacted soil	Summer; hot, arid conditions	Spreads by reseeding; causes bare patches and weak grass	Preventive & post-emergent herbicides; treat patches before seeding
Goosegrass	Flat, thick mats; broad light-green leaves with white centers; <6″ tall	Spring–Summer	Spreads fast; rough mats make removal difficult	Preventive & post-emergent herbicides; pull small patches by roots
Prairie Spiderwort	Purple/blue/pink flowers; often mistaken for ornamental plants	Spring–Summer	Rapid reseeding; can quickly overtake lawns & gardens	Dig up completely (stems + roots); herbicides with triclopyr or glyphosate
Nutsedge	Grass-like appearance; bright green; spreads by underground tubers (rhizomes)	Summer	Very aggressive spread; easily overtakes healthy lawns	Herbicides with halosulfuron; early detection is key
Sandbur	Grows in dry, sandy, full-sun areas; spiky seedheads with sharp burs	Summer–Fall	Burs cling to skin/clothing; spreads quickly in stressed soil	Maintain lawn health; use preventive & post-emergent herbicides
Clover	Bright green leaves; pink or white flowers; grows in dense mats	Year-round (strong in spring)	Rapid spread; can blanket an entire lawn	Pull by hand; broadleaf herbicides; vinegar solutions; chelated iron
Chickweed	White star-shaped flowers; round, bright-green leaves; grows up to 6″	Winter–Spring	Spreads quickly in cool temps; competes with turf	Regular mowing; preventive & post-emergent herbicides; remove by hand

Crabgrass

This weed grows flat in compacted soil, and its blades usually have a dull, light green color. Crabgrass thrives in hot, arid temperatures and usually crops up in sunny spots on poorly maintained lawns. It spreads by reseeding itself, leading to bare patches and poor grass growth. Herbicides can both prevent crabgrass growth and treat patches before they seed.

Goosegrass

Look for goosegrass in the spring and summer months. It grows in thick, flat mats, but the broad leaves are light green with white centers. This weed usually won’t grow taller than six inches, but it spreads fast. The rough matting makes these weeds difficult to remove. Use herbicides to prevent and treat goosegrass growth. For small patches, pulling the weeds up by their roots is effective.

Prairie Spiderwort

It’s easy to mistake this weed for a flower, and many property owners deliberately plant it in their gardens. It has attractive purple, blue, and pink flowers. Prairie spiderwort is a problem because it seeds quickly and can overtake a lawn or garden in a short time. 

Remove these weeds by digging them up and completely removing the stems and roots. Herbicides that contain triclopyr or glyphosate are also effective in removing these weeds.

Nutsedge

People often miss this weed because it closely resembles the color of healthy grass. Its rhizomes grow underground tubers that help the plant to spread, making it a challenge to control. It can quickly overtake a healthy lawn. The best way to get rid of nutsedge without harming healthy grass is by using a herbicide with halosulfuron. 

Sandbur

The sandbur weed grows from summer through fall in dry, sandy soil. It thrives in well-drained soil and areas with full sunlight. Its spiky seedheads grow sharp burs that attach themselves to the skin or clothing. Good lawn care practices are essential in keeping this weed from growing. You can also use herbicides to prevent and treat sandbur growth.

Clover

While clover has bright green leaves, its pink or white flowers are usually more noticeable. Cover patches grow in thick mats, and they spread rapidly. Without proper control, this weed can overtake an entire lawn. There are several methods for removing clover. Pull the weeds by hand or use a broadleaf herbicide. Vinegar solutions and chelated iron products are also effective.

Chickweed

Texas property owners should look for the white chickweed flowers from winter through spring. This weed also has distinctive, round leaves that are bright green in color. The plant grows up to six inches in height. In addition to regular mowing, herbicides can help prevent chickweed. Remove it by hand or use post-emergent herbicides.

Year-Round Weeding Will Keep Your Lawn Healthy and Beautiful

It’s easy to assume that weeds will stop growing in the winter, but that’s not always the case. Many types of weeds are especially resilient against colder temperatures. By weeding your lawn and using the right herbicides all year long, you’ll keep this problem from affecting your lawn’s health. Consistent weeding leads to a greener and healthier spring lawn.

If you need help with weeds in your Central Texas lawn, contact Grass Works Lawn Care to learn more about our residential landscaping & lawn care services.