Grasses
Bahia Grass
- Warm-season grass prefers full sun
- Suitable for Deep South and Gulf Coast lawns
- drought- and heat-tolerant
- low water and nutrient requirements
- ability to tolerate wide range of soils
Barnyard Grass
- Warm-season annual grassy weed with thick stems that have a maroon tint near the base
- Leaves are flat and smooth, ranging from 4-12 inches long
- Seed heads will look spiky and can be 4-8 inches long with a green, red, or dark purple tint
- Spreads by scattering seeds
Creeping Bentgrass
- Cool-season grass
- Used primarily on golf course putting greens
- Fine Textured
Bermuda Grass
- Warm-season grass
- Used primarily on athletic fields and golf course fairways
- High wear tolerance and rapid recovery
- Medium to fine texture
- Excellent heat, drought, and salt tolerant
Annual Bluegrass
- Cool-season grass
- Fine texture smooth leaves
- Prefers moist compact soil
- Shallow root system
- Seeds even at low growth
- Invasive to other grass
Kentucky Bluegrass
- Cool-season grass
- Medium to fine texture
- Full sun to moderate shade
- Works well with other cool season grasses
Rough Bluegrass
- Cool season grass
- Course leaf
- Intolerant to heat, drought, and traffic
- Patchy growth pattern
- Primarily used for winter over seeding of golf course putting greens
Broomsedge
- Perennial weed frequently found along fields, roadsides, and pastures
- Flattened leaf and leaf hairs
- Mature leaves turn light brown and appear to be dry
Carpetgrass
- Warm-season grass, slow growing
- Creeping perennial
- Course wide leaves with blunt tip
- Thrives in moist sandy soil
- Used mainly in parks, airports, golf course roughs
Centipedegrass
- Warm-season, slow growing
- Course texture, pointed slender blade
- Intolerance to high traffic, drought, shade
- Use in low maintenance areas
Crabgrass
- Common annual weed in turf grass situations
- 2 common varieties are Crabgrass large and Crabgrass smooth
- Found in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas
- It emerges in early summer, drought tolerant.
Crowfoot Grass
- Annual grassy weed
- Characterized by a unique seed head that resembles a crow’s foot
Dallisgrass
- Common perennial weeds in turf
- Rapid growth and invasive
- Thrives in sandy and clay soils
- Course texture and grows in clumps
Fine Fescue
- Cool season grass
- Narrow fine blades
- Shade tolerant
- Likes rocky, sandy or clay soil
Tall Fescue
- Cool season grass
- Tolerant to heat and drought
- Disease resistant, minimum care
- Rough leaf blades
Green Foxtail
- Bright green clumping annual weed
- Common in turf and pasture areas
- Seed heads resemble foxtails
Yellow Foxtail
- Bright green clumping annual or perennial weed
- Common in turf and pasture areas
- Smaller than green foxtail with shorter bristles
Goosegrass
- Summer growing annual grass weed.
- This plant grows in clumps and produces a white to silver rosette center.
- Goosegrass is often confused with crabgrass which is similar in appearance.
- Seed heads consist of three to seven spikes in clusters.
Johnsongrass
- Warm season perennial weed
- Course, tall, invasive
- Drought resistant, salt tolerant
Nimblewill
- Dense perennial weed
- Found at field edges and forest openings
- Slender, thin leaves
Orchardgrass
- Common perennial weed
- Grows in most soil types
- Prevalent in pastures, orchards, and roadsides
- Used primarily for silage for livestock
Thin Papsalum
- Warm season perennial turfgrass
- Salt tolerant
- Primarily used for golf course turf and erosion control
Annual Ryegrass
- Bunch-type grass
- Used primarily in low profile fields in parks and recreational areas
- Can be used for quick ground cover or winter over seeding of Bermuda grass.
- Mainly found in low quality seed mixture
Perennial Ryegrass
- Bunch-type grass.
- Used for winter over seeding on sites where high quality and winter color are desired.
- Generally mixed with Kentucky bluegrass for over seeding golf course fairways and athletic fields.
Sandburs
- Troublesome weed in warm season turf.
- Seed heads have tiny burs that hurt when touched or stepped on.
- Thrives in sandy soil.
St. Augustine Grass
- Warm season grass
- Course leaf texture
- Does not tolerate cold weather
Velvet Grass
- Clumping perennial weed of turf
- Found mostly in moist areas in fields, lawns, and roadsides
Zoysiagrass
- Warm season grass
- Prefers sun, tolerates some light shade
- Heat- and drought-tolerant
- Low water and maintenance requirements
- Dense, traffic-tolerant growth
Weeds
Kyllinga, Green & False Green
- Perennial
- Warm season turf
- Thrive in wet soil receiving full sun
- Dormant in winter
- Invasive and spreads quickly
Purple Nutsedge
- Perennial
- Warm season turf
- Thrive in most any soil but prefers moist areas
- Dormant in winter
- Invasive and spreads quickly
Yellow Nutsedge
- Perennial
- Warm and Cool season turf
- Thrive in most any soil but prefers moist areas
- Invasive and spreads quickly
Annual Sedge
- Annual
- Warm season turf
- Thrive in most any soil but prefers moist areas
- Grows in clumps
Cylindric Sedge
- Perennial
- Warm season turf
- Thrive in sandy and moist soils
- Grows in clumps
Globe Sedge
- Perennial
- Warm season turf
- Thrive in sandy and moist soils
- Grows in clumps
Broadleaf Weeds
Florida Betany
- Perennial
- Emerges in fall and becomes a problem in late winter early spring
- Produces white to pink flowers in spring
Hairy Bittercress
- Winter or Summer Annual (depending on location).
- Small, green, and rounded growing in opposite pairs along the leaf stem with one single, usually larger, finishing, or terminal leaf at the end.
- If left to bloom will have tiny, delicate, white, four petaled flowers growing in small groups at the top of a vertical stem.
Blackberry
- Perennial.
- Upright and vining growth.
- Invasive if left uncontrolled.
- Has prickles on the stems and leaves.
- Distinctive berries form in late summer turning black when edible.
Lawn Burrweed
- Very low-growing winter annual weed that closely resembles parsley-piert and knawel.
- It is freely branched and usually does not root at the nodes. The leaves are oppositely arranged and highly divided into little leaf segments.
- Flowers are small (1⁄4 inch or less), broad, and inconspicuous.
- The seeds have sharp spines, hence the common name.
Bulbous Buttercup
- Winter annual or Perennial
- Prevalent in pastures and hayfields, and occasionally, in lawns and gardens.
- It produces bright yellow flowers with cup-shaped petals in the spring and summer.
Hairy Buttercup
- Winter annual.
- They quickly invade thin turf areas especially where there is good soil moisture.
- Shade may also encourage growth.
- It produces bright yellow flowers on hairy stems.
Smallflower Buttercup
- Winter annual or biennial weed or perennial weed
- Upright growth
- Commonly found in fields, waste areas, wooded habitats
- Yellow flowers which appear from April to August
Virginia Buttonweed
- Herbaceous perennial with prostrate or spreading branches
- Low growing
- Likes damp and low-lying areas
- White flowers with pink streaks
Carpetweed
- Summer annual weed
- Low growing
- Covers large areas in a short time
- Flowers from July to September
Common Chickweed
- Winter annual or perennial weed
- Low spreading
- Quickly invades thin turf areas
- Small white flowers in clusters at the end of the stems
Mouse-Ear Chickweed
- Winter annual (Eastern NC).
- Perennial (Western NC).
- Vigorous prostrate growth habit quickly invades thin turf areas especially where there is good soil moisture. Shade and frequent watering encourage chickweed growth.
- Oblong leaves covered with soft hairs.
- Small white flowers
Large Hop Clover
- Winter annual or biennial weed
- Hop clover has short, hairy, reclining, slender stems
- Flowers are bright yellow in clusters.
Small Hop Clover
- Winter annual weed.
- Low growing.
- Prominent yellow flowers that bloom in early summer.
White Clover
- Perennial
- Creeping stems rooting at some nodes
- Flowering heads on long stems
Cudweed
- Summer annual or winter annual or biennial weed
- Cudweeds are comprised of many different species
- They grow in basal rosettes and are covered in distinct fine wooly fibers
Carolina False Dandelion
- Winter annual weed or biennial weed
- Common in disturbed areas such as pastures and fields
- Hairy leaves, deeply lobed and forms a basal rosette
- Bright yellow flowers appear in spring and summer
Cat’s Ear Dandelion
- Perennial weed
- Basal rosette with hairy leaves, rounded lobes
- They thrive in weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and industrial grounds.
- Bright yellow flowers on long stems
Common Dandelion
- Perennial weed
- Common in playgrounds, industrial grounds, home lawns, golf course fairways
- Leaves grow in a rosette and are long, narrow, irregularity lobed and lance shaped
- Deep golden yellow flowers when matured turn into white puffballs, composed of parachute-like seeds.
Purple Dead-Nettle
- Winter annual weed
- Found in NC waste areas
- Flowers in early spring
Dichondra
- Perennial
- Slender creeping stems that root at the nodes
- Small white, green, or yellow in color
Curly Dock
- Perennial with a thick taproot
- Leaf blades are 6 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide
- Green leaves may be tinged reddish purple
- Small greenish flowers are produced in clusters at the top of the main stem
Dollarweed (Pennywort)
- Perennial weed
- Commonly found in wet area
- Dollarweed can float in water
- Solid scalloped leaves.
- Clusters of white flowers form in late summer
Wild Garlic
- Perennial
- Grows upright on long stems
- Greenish-pink to purplish flowers are borne in cluster at the stem tip
Carolina Geranium
- Winter annual or biennial weed
- Leaves are deeply five to seven lobed and bluntly toothed
- Flower is pink to lavender and borne two or more on stalks from the upper nodes
- Blooms in April and May
Roundleaf Greenbriar
- Perennial woody vine
- Broad heart shaped leaves
- Stems have sharp prickles their entire length
Henbit
- Winter annual or biennial weed
- Grows primarily upright but can root at the lower lobes
- Leaves are rounded, coarsely toothed, hairy, and deeply veined.
- Flowers are purple and fused into a two-lipped tube
Ground Ivy
- Perennial weed
- Creeping stems that root at the node
- Forms dense patches and thrives in sun and shade
- Leaves are round, scalloped along the margin, heavily veined and rough on the upper surface
- Funnel shaped blue to violet flowers are clustered in leaf axis and occur in the spring
Knawel
- Winter annual.
- Freely branched plant with spreading stems.
- Leaves are less than 1mm wide and sharp-pointed.
- The tiny inconspicuous flowers are clustered in the leaf axils. They are small green, lacking petals and somewhat spiny to the touch.
Prostrate Knotweed
- Annual or perennial weed.
- Prostrate growth so it can survive close mowing.
- The tough wiry, slender stems radiate from a central tap root and produce a tough mat like growth.
- Leaves are dull, blue-green, oblong in shape, smooth and alternate along the stem.
- Tiny white flowers are borne at the nodes.
Common Lespedeza
- Summer annual weed
- Several wide spreading prostrate branches come from the slender taproot.
- Grows close to the ground so it is not affected by mowing
- Small single flowers arise from the leaf axils and are pink or purple
Sericea Lespedeza
- Perennial weed
- Commonly found in pasture area
- Woody stems grow upright
- Leaves are oblong in shape and appear to be folded.
- Small white and purple flower can be found in the axils of the leaves
Prickly Lettuce
- Summer annual or biennial
- Woody stems of this plant are hollow and form in the middle of a basal rosette
- Deeply lobed leaves that form a “C” shape with spines on the midrib and base of the leaf.
- Yellow flowers that appear to be white from a distance due to the wooly hairs on each seed.
Mugwort
- Perennial weed
- Commonly found in waste areas, flower beds and lawns
- Distinctive alternate and dissected leaves
- Resembles the common chrysanthemums and omits an odor when crushed
Field Pansy
- Winter annual.
- Erect, freely branched stems growing ½ to 5 inches tall.
- Leaves are borne alternately on the stem with prominent dissected stipules.
- Flowers may be white with blue veins or entirely bluish to bluish-violet.
Parsley-Piert
- Winter annual.
- Freely branched, grows 1-3 inches tall.
- Leaves are alternate and palmately dissected. Three lobed with each lobe three to four lobed.
- Inconspicuous flowers are borne in axillary clusters.
Blackseed Plantain
- Perennial weed.
- Fibrous rooted with smooth lower leave that are oval to elliptical in shape and purplish at the base of the leaf stalk.
- Leaf blades are often 1-3 inches wide and 3-6 inches long.
- Growth habit is rosette.
- Inconspicuous white flowers.
Broadleaf Plantain
- Perennial weed.
- Broadleaf Plantain is similar to Blackseed Plantain, however, leaves lack dark markings like those of the Blackseed Plantain.
- Growth habit is rosette.
- Inconspicuous white flowers.
Buckhorn Plantain
- Summer annual or biennial or perennial weed.
- Growth habit is rosette.
- Leaves are basal, long, narrow, and pointed with several prominent parallel veins.
- Flowers are arranged in a dense terminal spike on a long, hairy, leafless stem.
Ragweed
- Summer annual weed.
- Emerges early spring but can germinate throughout the summer.
- Often found in cultivated areas, roadsides, and landscapes.
- Leaves are hairy on both sides and produce copious amounts of pollen in late summer.
Red Sorrel
- Perennial weed
- Growth habit upright or rosette
- Common in pastures, turf, and nursery crops
- The mature leaves are a unique arrowhead shape and form a rosette
Spiny Sowthistle
- Summer annual weed.
- Growth habit is basal rosette and an upright flowering stem.
- Leaves are deeply notched and wavy.
- Yellow flowers that appear in late spring.
- Commonly found in open habitats, waste areas, and roadsides.
Corn Speedwell
- Winter annual.
- Growth habit prostrate, spreading, small, weak, and low growing.
- Lower leaves are rounded and toothed, while the lower leaves are smaller and more pointed.
Ivyleaf Speedwell
- Winter annual.
- Growth habit prostrate, spreading.
- Distinctive 3-5 lobed leaves are densely hairy. Leaves are thicker and less serrated than those of the Corn or Persian Speedwell.
- Flowers are blue/purple and are borne on stalks longer that 1mm.
Persian Speedwell (Veronica)
- Winter annual weed.
- Growth habit is prostrate, spreading they are low growing.
- Found mostly in shady areas with dry, sandy, or rocky soil.
- Flowers are blue.
Spotted Spurge
- Summer annual.
- Growth habit is prostrate and mat forming.
- Leaves vary in color from a pale reddish-green to a dark green but usually have a conspicuous maroon blotch.
- Leaves are smooth or sparsely hairy, toothed especially near the tip.
- Flowers are very small, pinkish-white, inconspicuous, and borne in the leaf axils.
Indian Mock Strawberry
- Perennial weed.
- Growth habit prostrate, spreading.
- Leaflets are toothed and hairy with long hairy petioles with leaf like stipules.
- Single flower with five yellow petals are borne on long stalks from the leaf axils.
- Fruit is similar in appearance to the commercial strawberry though smaller and tasteless.
Oldfield Toadflax
- Winter annual or biennial weed.
- Growth habit upright.
- Found commonly along roadsides.
- Small clumps of leaves will form in early spring and the blue flowers will appear on long stems shortly thereafter.
Common Vetch
- Winter annual weed.
- Growth habit upright or vining.
- Leaves are very narrow, alternately arranged and compound. Tendrils form on the ends of the leaves.
- Long stems arise from fibrous roots and flowers are purple.
Hairy Vetch
- Summer annual, winter annual or biennial weed
- Growth habit vining
- Leaves are oblong with 5-10 pairs of leaves per leaflet
- Purple flowers form in mid to late summer
Wild Violet
- Winter annual or perennial weeds.
- Growth habit rosette that grow in clumps.
- Most often found in shady habitats.
- The flowers usually appear in early spring and summer, usually purple but can appear white or yellow.
Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis)
- Perennial weed.
- Growth habit upright.
- The plant has a shallow taproot, and hairy stems that are 4-10 inches tall.
- The leaflets are heart shaped and partly folded.
- Two to nine flowers are formed together with each being bright yellow with five petals. Blooms in early spring.
Turgrass Diseases
Brown Patch
- Host: Cool season turfgrass; Tall fescue is most susceptible
- Appearance: Roughly circular patches that are brown, tan, or yellow ranging in size from a few inches to several feet in diameter.
- Most common in closely cut grasses
Damping Off
- Host: Turfgrass seedlings, warm or cool season grasses.
- Appearance: Seedlings appear flaccid and twisted as if wilted. The seedlings will continue to decline, turning dark in color and greasy in appearance and then quickly disintegrate, leaving areas of bare soil.
- Most common during germination and seedling emergence.
Dollar Spot
- Host: All cool and warm season turfgrass.
- Appearance: Small spots the size of a dollar coin, that are bleached white or light tan. They may expand up to 6inches or more in diameter.
- Most common in the spring and fall, when warm, humid days and cool nights lead to heavy dew formation. This disease is also encouraged by drought stress, low mowing, excessive thatch accumulation, frequent irrigation, and low air movement.
Fairy Ring
- Hosts: All cool and warm season turfgrass.
- Appearance: Patches, rings, or arcs that ae initially a few feet in diameter but expand year after year reaching up to several hundred feet in diameter in old turf stands.
- Fungi that cause fairy rings are common inhabitants of forested areas. They begin growing on organic matter such as old stumps, waste lumber or dead tree roots. Turf produces thatch and organic matter which provide a food source for the fungi.
Gray Leaf Spot
- Hosts: St. Augustinegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass.
- Appearance: Initially appears on grass leaves as round or oval tan spots that have a dark brown border. When the leaves are wet, or humidity is high the leaf turns gray and fuzzy with profuse spore production.
- Gray leaf spot is most severe in newly established turfgrass stands. It generally appears from June to August sometimes through September.
Heminthosporium Diseases
- Hosts:
- Creeping bentgrass – red leaf spot
- Kentucky bluegrass – leaf spot/melting out
- Tall fescue – net blotch
- Perennial ryegrass – brown blight
- Bermudagrass – leaf spot/melting out
- Appearance: These diseases are caused by a group of fungi that produce large, cigar shaped spores. The lesions enlarge and girdle the leaves resulting in a light tan or brown turf. These fungi are most active during periods of cool and wet weather. They are most severe on turf that is growing slow due to adverse weather conditions or improper management practices.
Large Patch
- Hosts: All warm season turfgrasses.
- Appearance: Roughly circular patches that are yellow, tan, or straw brown. Initially 2to 3 feet in diameter but can expand rapidly to 10 or more feet.
- Most evident during periods of cool, wet weather in the fall and spring. Large patch is favored by excessive nitrogen in the fall and spring, poor soil drainage, over irrigation, or excessive thatch accumulations.
Pink Snow Mold
- Hosts: All cool season turfgrasses.
- Appearance: Generally, appears during months of snow cover, with evidence of the disease appearing when the snow melts. Roughly circular white or light tan patches from 4inches to 2 feet in diameter. A ring of pink colored growth is present on the outer edge of patches.
- Excessive thatch buildup and excessive foliar growth are the most important factors encouraging development of pink snow mold.
Powdery Mildew
- Hosts: Kentucky bluegrass, hard fescue, red fescue.
- Appearance: White or gray powdery growth is evident on infected leaves.
- Typically, more severe in heavily shaded areas. If left untreated leaves will turn yellow or red and die.
Red Thread
- Hosts: All cool season grasses.
- Appearance: Develops in roughly circular patches from 4inches to 2 feet in diameter. Affected leaves within these patches are tan or bleached white yet appear red from a distance due to the presence of thick red strands of fungal growth.
- Red thread affects grass that is growing slowly for any reason, inadequate fertilization, drought stress, cool weather, low light intensity, excessive traffic or many other pest or environmental stresses.
Summer Patch
- Hosts: Annual bluegrass, fine fescues, creeping bentgrass.
- Appearance: Circular patches or rings, ranging from 6 inches to 3 feet in diameter. Turf within these patches is initially off colored, prone to wilt, growing poorly or sunken in the turf stand. The outer edge of the patch may be orange or bronze in color. Heat and drought stress during summer induce the expression.
- Generally, appears in early to mid-July.
Take-All Patch
- Host: Creeping bentgrass.
- Appearance: Circular patches that are off colored, growing poorly or highly prone to wilt.
- As temperatures increase, turf within the patches becomes thin and turns yellow, orange or bronze and eventually collapses to the ground.
- In North Carolina take-all patch only occurs at high elevations in the western part of the state. It most effects newly established turf, especially in soil that has been fumigated prior to establishment.
Request A Free Estimate Today!
