The correct identification of lawn and turf weeds can be difficult, as many resemble each other and have similar characteristics. This handy weed identification page covers many of the most common turf weeds, with images and info to help with identification and management of weeds.
Daisy Bellis perennis
Daisy Bellis perennis Daisies are perennial weeds and are also known as the common daisy, lawn daisy and bruisewort. The daisy of the most common and recognisable of all lawn…
Silverweed Potentilla anserina
Silverweed also known as goosewort and silvery cinquefoil is a perennial weed. It spreads rapidly via stolons (overground runners) and thrives in most conditions, especially moist soils. It is common…
Catsear Hypochoeris radicata
Catsear is a perennial broad-leaved weed that is very common in all types of turf. It takes it name from the shape of the lobes on the edge of the…
Autumn Hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis
Autumn hawkbit is a perennial weed that forms as a basal rosette. It often referred to as fall dandelion. It spreads by seed and has a deep fleshy taproot. It…
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Red clover is a short lived, creeping perennial weed, it is sometime referred to as purplewort and dutch clover. Although it will tolerate close mowing, it is not as common…
Smooth Hawksbeard Crepis capillaris
Smooth hawksbeard can be both an annual or biennial weed and with its long toothed leaves and bright yellow flowers, it is similar in appearance to the dandelion. However this…
Bristly oxtongue Picris ecchioides
Bristly oxtongue is an annual or biennial weed that is often found on waste areas and rough ground. At times it can be a problem weed in utility lawns and…
Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium vulgatum
Mouse-ear chickweed is a perennial weed that forms a dense mat in lawns and turf. It is also referred to as common mouse-ear, It can spread quite quickly via seed…
Common Chickweed Stellaria media
Common chickweed is a shallow rooted annual weed, it is very common on waste ground, bare areas and newly seeded areas. It is also known as chicken-wort and is often…
Black Medic Medicago lupulina
Black medic is an annual or biennial weed, it is very similar in appearance to lesser trefoil (yellow suckling clover). They are so similar, that it is sometimes very difficult…
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
Selfheal is a low growing perennial weed that is part of the mint family and is easily recognisable with its distinct purple flowers. It spreads by rhizomes (underground runners) rooting…
Procumbent Pearlwort Sagina procumbens
Procumbent pearlwort is a low growing perennial weed, that is very common in managed turf. Pearlwort forms as a low growing mat, it takes advantage of bare ground and weak…
Doves-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle
Doves-foot cranesbill is an annual weed that is common on bare areas, waste ground, hedgerows and occasionally in turf. It is sometimes called doves-foot geranium. Leaves The leaves form from…
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Common sorrel is a herbaceous perennial weed that is part of the dock family of plants, it is often found in grassy areas such as fields and pastures. It is…
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans
Creeping cinquefoil is a creeping perennial weed also known as European cinquefoil and Creeping tormentil. It is rarely troublesome on managed turf. It is usually confined to utility lawns that…
Parsley Piert Aphanes arvensis
Parsley piert is an annual weed that is common on waste land, pastures as well as lawns, especially on dry soils, lacking in nutrition. It is sometimes called western lady’s…
Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris
Meadow buttercup is a perennial weed often found in meadows and grassy areas. Although it will occasionally invade lawns, it is not as common as Creeping and Bulbous buttercup in…
White Clover Trifolium repens
White clover is a herbaceous, perennial weed found throughout Europe and the UK. It is sometimes referred to as Dutch Clover. It was initially introduced as a pasture crop, but…
Lesser trefoil – Yellow suckling clover Trifolium dubium
Lesser trefoil is also known as yellow suckling clover and lesser hop trefoil. It is an annual weed that is a member of the clover family. It is quite often…
Lesser trefoil – Yellow suckling clover <i>Trifolium dubium</i>Read More
Birds-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Birds-foot trefoil is a herbaceous perennial plant that is part of the pea family. If is sometimes called ‘Bacon and Eggs’ due to the colour of the flowers, it is…
Yarrow Achillea millifolium
Yarrow is an invasive perennial weed with feathery, fern like leaves. It also known as common yarrow, nosebleed plant, devils nettle, thousand leaf and milfoil. This weed can quickly colonise…
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
This perennial weed is one of the most common and recognisable weeds found in turf due to its distinct yellow flowers. If forms a flat rosette and is anchored into…
Slender Speedwell Veronica filiformis
Slender speedwell Veronica filiformis is a perennial weed, frequently found in closely mown turf throughout the UK. It is also called creeping speedwell and threadstalk speedwell. Of all the speedwell…
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys
Germander speedwell is a perennial weed and one of many plants in the speedwell family. It is also known as ‘cat’s eye’ and ‘birds eye’, both names referring to the…
Greater Plantain Plantago major
Greater plantain is easily identified with its flat, broad leaves. They are sometimes called ‘Rats Tail’ because of the tail like appearance of the flowers. This herbaceous, perennial weed can…
Ribwort Plantain Plantain lanceolata
Ribwort plantain is a rosette forming perennial weed, sometimes known as narrow-leaf plantain, rib grass. If is commonly found in grassland, roadside verges and cultivated land. It is also frequently…
Bucks-horn plantain
Bucks-horn plantain, sometimes called starweed can be annual, biennial and a perennial weed. It is very common on coastal sites, on dry, light soils. It anchors itself to the ground…
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens
Creeping buttercup is a herbaceous perennial weed, which is also known as creeping crowfoot and sitfast. It spreads via stolons (overground runners), rooting at the nodes. It is especially troublesome…
Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus
Bulbous buttercup is a common perennial weed, also known as yellow weed, blister flower and St Anthony’s turnip. It can be found in grassy areas including turf, although it is…
Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria
Lesser celandine, also known as ‘fig buttercup’ is a member of the buttercup family is a perennial turf weed. It is very common in roadside verges, ditch banks, woodland and…
Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea
Ground ivy, which is a perennial weed and also known as creeping charlie is a member of the mint family. If it is crushed or rubbed together it gives off…