North Texas Lawn Problems Identification Guide

Texas Weed Identification Guide

Weeds are one of the most persistent and frustrating problems Texas homeowners face when dealing with their lawns. Weeds not only diminish curb appeal but also directly compete with turfgrass for essential resources like sunlight, nutrients, and water. Over time, weeds weaken lawns, making them more vulnerable to drought stress, pests, and disease.

In Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth, weeds thrive almost year-round because of the region’s unique climate. The combination of scorching summers, occasional heavy rains, and dense clay soils creates ideal conditions for both grassy and broadleaf weeds to spread. Once established, they can quickly overtake thin or stressed turf, turning a well-kept lawn into a patchy, uneven landscape.

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Why Weed Identification Matters in North Texas

Not all weeds are the same, and misidentifying them can lead to wasted time and money. For example:

Applying the wrong herbicide may have little effect or even damage surrounding healthy grass.
Pulling weeds without addressing their underground roots or tubers, such as those in nutsedge, allows them to return, sometimes even stronger.
Ignoring early signs of invasive grasses like crabgrass or dallisgrass can allow them to multiply and overtake the lawn in just one season.

By correctly identifying the specific weeds affecting your lawn, you can apply the most effective treatment, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and restore turf health more quickly.

The Purpose of This Guide

This guide highlights the most common lawn weeds in North Texas, explains how to recognize them, and outlines proven strategies for control. From fast-spreading annuals like crabgrass to stubborn perennials like dallisgrass and clover, understanding their growth habits is the first step toward effective lawn care.

See our full North Texas Lawn Problems Identification Guide.

Crabgrass

Crabgrass is one of the most widespread and aggressive weeds in Texas lawns. Once it establishes, this warm-season annual grass spreads quickly and competes heavily with turfgrass for water, sunlight, and nutrients. In Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth, crabgrass is especially problematic during late spring and summer when temperatures rise and turf is under stress from heat or drought.

Identification

Crabgrass is easy to spot once you know what to look for:

Low-growing growth habit: Sprawls outward close to the ground, making it difficult to mow effectively.
Wide leaves: Blades are broader than most turfgrass varieties and often lighter green in color.
Clump formation: Stems radiate outward like crab legs, creating a spreading appearance.
Seasonal growth: Appears in late spring, flourishes through the summer heat, and dies off after the first frost, but not before reseeding itself heavily for the following year.

Because one crabgrass plant can produce thousands of seeds, ignoring it even for one season can result in a much larger problem the next year.

Why Crabgrass Is a Problem

Competes with turf: Steals water and nutrients, weakening healthy grass.
Reduces curb appeal: Creates uneven patches of coarse, light-green clumps.
Difficult to eradicate: Seeds remain viable in the soil for years, making crabgrass a recurring issue without consistent prevention.

Control

The best strategy for crabgrass is prevention combined with consistent lawn health practices:

Pre-emergent herbicides: Apply in early spring before soil temperatures reach 55°F to block seeds from germinating.
Maintain thick turf: A dense, healthy lawn shades the soil and prevents crabgrass seeds from sprouting.
Post-emergent herbicides: Spot treat visible crabgrass plants during summer before they produce seeds.
Proper mowing and watering: Mow at the correct height for your grass type and water deeply but infrequently to promote stronger turf.

Protect your lawn with our Fertilization & Weed Control programs.

External link: Texas A&M Crabgrass Management.

Dallisgrass

Dallisgrass is one of the most stubborn and unsightly weeds found in North Texas lawns. Unlike crabgrass, which is an annual, dallisgrass is a perennial grassy weed, meaning it returns year after year if not properly controlled. In Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth, this invasive grass is especially problematic because it thrives in clay soils, spreads quickly, and disrupts the uniform appearance of turf with coarse, clumpy growth.

Identification

Dallisgrass is often mistaken for crabgrass, but there are key differences that make it easy to identify once you know what to look for:

Clump-forming growth habit: Grows in coarse-textured clumps that stand out from surrounding turf.
Seed heads: Produces tall stalks with multiple branches, each containing black specks (fungal sclerotia) that make it distinctive.
Spreading system: Propagates both by seeds and underground rhizomes, making it especially difficult to control.
Persistence: Remains green longer into fall than many turfgrasses and quickly reappears each spring.

Because it grows so aggressively, even a small patch of dallisgrass can expand into large areas if ignored.

Why Dallisgrass Is a Problem

Disrupts lawn appearance: Clumps stand out sharply against the smooth texture of Bermuda or St. Augustine grass.
Outcompetes turf: Steals nutrients, sunlight, and space from healthy grass.
Hard to eradicate: Rhizomes underground allow it to survive herbicide applications and regrow.
Spreads rapidly: Each plant produces numerous seeds, further increasing infestations each season.

Control

Controlling dallisgrass requires persistence and often a multi-pronged approach:

Spot treat with selective herbicides: Use products designed for grassy weed control, applied carefully to avoid turf damage.
Dig out small infestations: Hand removal, including roots and rhizomes, works best when patches are still small.
Prevent seed spread: Mow regularly to remove seed heads before they mature.
Maintain dense turf: A thick, healthy lawn shades the soil and reduces space for dallisgrass to establish.
Professional programs: Severe infestations may require ongoing treatments from lawn care professionals for long-term suppression.

Protect your yard with our Fertilization & Weed Control programs.

External link: Texas A&M Weed Identification Guide.

Nutsedge (Nutgrass)

Nutsedge, often called nutgrass, is a fast-spreading weed that plagues many lawns in Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth. While it looks similar to grass, nutsedge is actually a sedge, which means it behaves differently and is much harder to control than typical turf weeds. This invasive plant thrives in overwatered or poorly drained soils, making it especially common in North Texas yards with heavy clay soils and irrigation problems.

Identification

Nutsedge can be distinguished from turfgrass and other weeds by its unique growth features:

Bright green color: Appears lighter and more vibrant than surrounding grass.
Triangular stems: Unlike grasses, which are round, nutsedge stems are triangular when rolled between your fingers.
Rapid growth rate: Grows faster than turf, often sticking up above the lawn just days after mowing.
Thrives in soggy areas: Common in lawns with poor drainage, irrigation leaks, or low spots where water collects.

Because of its fast growth and underground structure, nutsedge quickly spreads and overtakes stressed lawns if not addressed early.

Why Nutsedge Is a Problem

Invasive growth habit: Spreads through underground tubers called “nutlets,” which can remain dormant and regrow even after removal.
Difficult to eradicate: Standard weed killers have little effect, requiring sedge-specific herbicides.
Exploits lawn weaknesses: Appears in areas where turf is thin or struggling due to drainage or overwatering.
Reduces curb appeal: Creates uneven, patchy lawn appearance since its bright green shoots stand out above healthy grass.

Control

Managing nutsedge requires both horticultural practices and targeted treatments:

Improve drainage: Fix low spots, compacted clay soils, or irrigation leaks that create soggy conditions.
Reduce overwatering: Water deeply but infrequently, always in the morning to allow soil to dry out.
Apply sedge-specific herbicides: Use professional-grade products formulated to kill nutsedge without harming turf.
Monitor consistently: Nutsedge spreads aggressively, so repeated spot treatments and monitoring are often necessary to prevent reinfestation.
Professional support: Severe infestations may require a long-term treatment plan and drainage improvements from lawn care experts.

Solve drainage issues with our Smart Drainage Solutions.

External link: Texas A&M Weed Identification Guide.

Clover

Clover is one of the most recognizable broadleaf weeds found in North Texas lawns, including those in Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth. While some homeowners tolerate its small flowers, clover is generally considered undesirable in turf because it disrupts the uniform, lush look of a healthy lawn. Its ability to grow in low-nitrogen and compacted soils makes it a strong competitor, especially in lawns that are thin, stressed, or under-fertilized.

Identification

Clover is easy to spot, even for homeowners without lawn care experience:

Leaf shape: Small, rounded leaves grouped in threes, often with faint white markings.
Flowers: Produces clusters of white or light pink blooms in spring and summer, attracting pollinators.
Growth habit: Low-growing and spreading, creating dense mats that crowd out turfgrass.
Soil preference: Most common in compacted or nutrient-deficient soils, particularly those low in nitrogen.

Why Clover Becomes a Problem

Uneven texture: Its broadleaf growth stands out against fine-bladed grasses like Bermuda or St. Augustine.
Competitive spread: Once established, clover patches spread rapidly, reducing turf density.
Soil indicator: Its presence often signals underlying soil health problems that weaken turfgrass.
Seed production: Frequent flowering allows it to reseed itself, ensuring long-term persistence if untreated.

Control

Effective clover control requires improving soil health as well as direct removal:

Balanced fertilization: Feeding your lawn regularly restores nitrogen levels, helping turf outcompete clover.
Broadleaf herbicides: Spot treatments can eliminate clover without harming surrounding grass.
Regular mowing: Keeping clover from flowering reduces reseeding and helps limit its spread.
Soil aeration: Loosening compacted soils improves turfgrass growth and prevents clover from dominating weak areas.

Protect your lawn with our Fertilization & Weed Control programs.

External link: Texas A&M Weed Identification Guide.

Spurge

Spurge is a fast-spreading warm-season annual weed commonly found in North Texas lawns, especially in Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth. Known for its ability to grow flat against the ground, this weed often slips under the mower and escapes regular maintenance, allowing it to spread rapidly if untreated. Spurge thrives in thin, stressed, or bare areas of turf, where it quickly forms dense mats that choke out healthy grass.

Identification

Spurge is easily recognized once you know its unique traits:

Growth habit: Prostrate weed that spreads flat along the ground, creating mats across weak turf areas.
Stems: Reddish in color, branching outward from a central point.
Sap: Produces a distinctive milky white sap when stems are broken.
Preferred locations: Found in thin or bare turf, compacted soil, or areas under stress from heat or poor fertility.

Because of its low, mat-like growth, spurge often survives mowing and continues to expand unchecked unless specifically treated.

Why Spurge Is a Problem

Competes with turf: Dense mats block sunlight and crowd out grass.
Rapid spread: Each plant produces thousands of seeds, ensuring widespread infestation if left untreated.
Hard to remove by hand: Breaking stems leaves seeds behind, which germinate quickly.
Indicator weed: Its presence often signals weak turf and poor soil fertility.

Control

Spurge can be managed with consistent prevention and targeted treatments:

Apply pre-emergent herbicides in early spring to prevent seeds from germinating.
Spot spray with post-emergent herbicides to kill existing spurge plants without damaging turfgrass.
Improve turf density by overseeding thin areas, fertilizing properly, and maintaining healthy irrigation practices.
Reduce soil compaction with aeration to encourage deeper turfgrass roots that resist weed invasion.

Keep your lawn protected with our Fertilization & Weed Control programs.

External link: Texas A&M Weed Identification Guide.

Henbit

Henbit is a common winter annual broadleaf weed that invades lawns throughout Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth. It thrives in the cooler months when warm-season turf like Bermuda and St. Augustine is dormant, making it one of the first weeds homeowners see in late winter and early spring. Henbit can quickly cover bare or thinning areas of turf, reducing lawn uniformity and making spring green-up more difficult.

Identification

Henbit has several distinct features that make it easy to spot in Texas lawns:

Stems: Square stems, typical of the mint family, that grow upright before sprawling outward.
Leaves: Rounded leaves with scalloped edges that grow in pairs along the stem.
Flowers: Small, tubular purple blooms that appear in early spring.
Growth conditions: Thrives in cool, moist soils during late winter and early spring, especially before turfgrass begins active growth.

Because it grows and flowers quickly, henbit often sets seed before homeowners begin their spring lawn maintenance.

Why Henbit Is a Problem

Competes with dormant turf: Steals water and nutrients when warm-season grasses are weakest.
Rapid seed production: Reseeds easily, ensuring it returns year after year if not controlled.
Unsightly appearance: Its purple flowers stand out in otherwise dormant, brown turf.
Spreads in bare spots: Quickly fills in thin or compacted soil areas, making it difficult for turf to recover.

Control

Effective control of henbit requires both fall prevention and spring management:

Apply pre-emergents in fall: Prevent seeds from germinating when temperatures begin to cool.
Hand pull before seed set: Remove plants manually when infestations are small.
Encourage early grass growth: Fertilize in late winter to help turf green up quickly and outcompete henbit.
Mow regularly: Frequent mowing reduces seed production and keeps infestations in check.

Protect your lawn with our Fertilization & Weed Control programs.

External link: Texas A&M Weed Identification Guide.

Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)

Annual bluegrass, scientifically known as Poa annua, is one of the most common cool-season grassy weeds in Texas lawns. It typically appears during late winter and early spring, when warm-season grasses such as Bermuda and St. Augustine are dormant or just beginning to green up. In Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth, annual bluegrass thrives in compacted soils and damp areas, quickly outcompeting weakened turf and leaving behind unsightly patches.

Identification

Annual bluegrass has several unique characteristics that make it easy to distinguish from turfgrass:

Color: Light, almost lime-green color that contrasts sharply with darker turf.
Seed heads: Produces small white seed heads quickly, even when mowed at short heights.
Growth habit: Forms small, tufted clumps that blend together into larger patches.
Soil preference: Common in moist, compacted soils and shaded areas where turf struggles to grow.

Its ability to produce seeds even under frequent mowing makes Poa annua a particularly persistent invader.

Why Annual Bluegrass Is a Problem

Weakens turf: Competes with desirable grass for sunlight, nutrients, and water during early spring.
Short life cycle: Dies out in hot summer weather, leaving bare patches that invite weeds like crabgrass.
Unsightly appearance: Seed heads give lawns a patchy, uneven look.
Prolific seeding: Produces thousands of seeds per plant, ensuring its return year after year without proactive management.

Control

Managing annual bluegrass requires prevention as well as cultural practices to strengthen turf:

Apply pre-emergent herbicides in fall: Stops seeds from germinating when temperatures cool.
Maintain proper mowing and watering: Mow at the correct height for your turf type and avoid excessive watering, which encourages Poa annua.
Overseed thin lawns: Fill in bare spots to reduce open soil where bluegrass seeds take hold.
Aerate compacted soils: Loosens dense clay soils common in North Texas, making it harder for weeds to establish.

Strengthen your lawn year-round with our Fertilization & Weed Control programs.

External link: Texas A&M Weed Identification Guide.

Seasonal Weed Activity in North Texas

Weeds in North Texas don’t appear all at once, different species thrive during different parts of the year. Homeowners in Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth can stay ahead of lawn problems by knowing which weeds to expect each season and when to apply preventive treatments.

Spring

Crabgrass: Germinates as soil warms in late spring and spreads aggressively in thin turf.
Dallisgrass: Begins to push growth as temperatures rise, forming coarse clumps.
Henbit: Winter annual that flowers in early spring before turf greens up.

Best practices: Apply pre-emergent herbicides in early spring, fertilize to strengthen turf, and mow regularly to reduce weed competition.

Summer

Nutsedge (Nutgrass): Thrives in soggy, poorly drained areas and grows faster than turf.
Spurge: Spreads flat across thin or bare patches during hot, sunny weather.
Dallisgrass: Continues expanding through seed production and underground rhizomes.

Best practices: Manage irrigation to avoid overwatering, spot spray post-emergent herbicides, and monitor lawns weekly for fast-moving infestations.

Fall

Clover: Appears in compacted or nutrient-deficient soils and spreads quickly as turf growth slows.
Nutsedge: Remains active in poorly drained areas until cold weather sets in.

Best practices: Apply balanced fall fertilization, overseed thin areas to reduce openings, and apply a fall pre-emergent to block winter weeds.

Winter

Henbit: Grows vigorously in dormant turf, producing purple flowers that stand out in brown lawns.
Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua): Germinates in fall and continues spreading through cool months with its light green tufts and quick seed production.

Best practices: Apply fall pre-emergents to prevent germination, minimize foot traffic on dormant turf, and prepare soil for spring growth.

Get year-round weed prevention with our Residential Lawn Care services.

When to Call a Professional

Weed infestations in Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth often spread faster than most homeowners can manage on their own. By the time weeds are noticeable, they may have already produced seeds, ensuring another wave of growth the following season. While DIY products and treatments can help with small patches, larger or recurring problems require the expertise of a professional lawn care team.

Why Professional Lawn Care Makes the Difference

Identify weed species accurately
Many weeds look similar at first glance. Professionals distinguish between grassy weeds like crabgrass, sedges like nutsedge, and broadleaf weeds like clover, ensuring the right treatment every time.
Apply advanced herbicides safely
Licensed lawn care experts have access to commercial-grade herbicides that are more effective and longer lasting than store-bought products. They also know how to apply them safely to protect surrounding turf, pets, and family members.
Improve soil conditions to reduce recurrence
Weeds thrive in compacted, nutrient-deficient, or poorly drained soils. Professionals not only remove weeds but also address the root causes by improving soil fertility, recommending aeration, and adjusting watering practices.
Provide ongoing monitoring and prevention
Seasonal check-ins and treatments ensure that weeds are caught early and managed before they spread. This proactive approach keeps lawns weed-free year-round rather than relying on reactionary spot treatments.

The Value of Professional Weed Control

Hiring a lawn care team saves homeowners time, effort, and money in the long run. Instead of repeatedly treating the same weeds with limited success, a professional approach restores turf health, prevents future outbreaks, and delivers the consistently green lawn homeowners want.

Contact our Commercial Lawn Care team for business properties.

Conclusion

From crabgrass and dallisgrass to nutsedge, clover, and henbit, weeds in Keller, Southlake, and Fort Worth can quickly spread and overtake even the best-kept lawns if left untreated. Because different weeds thrive in different seasons, it’s important for homeowners to not only recognize the signs but also act quickly with the right control methods.

The key to a healthy lawn is accurate weed identification and timely treatment. By applying pre-emergents in spring and fall, fertilizing properly, and maintaining thick turf, you can reduce the conditions that weeds exploit. Still, some weeds, especially stubborn varieties like dallisgrass or nutsedge, often require professional intervention for long-term success.

At Conroy’s Lawn and Landscape, we provide customized lawn care programs tailored to North Texas conditions. Our team delivers expert fertilization, weed control, irrigation adjustments, and soil improvement, ensuring your lawn stays green, healthy, and weed-free throughout every season.

If you’re ready to reclaim your yard and keep weeds under control year-round, let our experts help you build the lush, resilient lawn your property deserves.

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