How To Get Rid Of Beggarweed
Beggarweed can be a pesky weed that invades lawns and gardens. The good news is, with a little effort and the right information, you can control and eventually get rid of beggarweed in your yard. In this article, we'll discuss how to inspect for beggarweed, how to identify it, how to control it, and how to prevent it from invading your lawn again.
Key Takeaways
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Beggarweed is sometimes also known as creeping beggarweed.
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It features a sizable taproot and is difficult and frustrating for homeowners looking to hand-pull this weed.
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In many cases, spot-treating beggarweed is effective.
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Beggarweed prevention is achievable through regular yard maintenance, including mowing, watering, and fertilizing.
Beggarweed Identification And Inspection
Characteristics Of Beggarweed
Beggarweed (Desmodium incanum) is a creeping perennial weed that actively grows in the spring and summer, and can invade lawns and gardens. It has a large taproot, making it difficult to hand-pull. Its leaves are hairy, trifoliate (three leaves per bunch), and appear in clusters on square stems. The flowers are small purple or pinkish with five petals.
Beggarweed Inspection
Inspecting the lawn for beggarweed should be done on a regular basis. Early detection is important in order to prevent its spread and to quickly remove it from the lawn. When inspecting, look for any signs of creeping beggarweed, such as its distinctive stems and leaves. You can find this weed in turfgrass or in disturbed areas.
Control Beggarweed
How To Get Rid Of Beggarweed
There are several options available when controlling beggarweed in your yard. Treating with selective herbicides can be effective in killing off the weed while leaving surrounding plants unharmed. If physical removal is desired, it is best to use a shovel or hoe to dig up the root system of the plant before pulling it out by hand. In more difficult cases, it may be necessary to use non-selective postemergence herbicides to eliminate the beggarweed.
View our safe products for your specific variety of grass:
Beggarweed Selective Herbicide Recommendations
SpeedZone Herbicide EW (Red): Excellent for when quick visual results are needed, Speedzone lives up to its name. Speedzone works great as a broadleaf herbicide for turf, and it contains 2, 4-D 2-Ethylhexyl Ester as its active ingredient.
Prime Source Triclopyr 4E Select: Using Triclopyr 61.6% as its active ingredient, this herbicide is also excellent at quickly killing and controlling woody plants and broadleaf weeds, including creeping beggarweed.
Q4 Plus Turf Herbicide: Becoming rain fast in just 6 hours, Q4 Plus is a highly versatile option for controlling grassy and broadleaf weeds. It contains dimethylamine salt 1.49%, Sulfentrazone 0.69%, 2,4-D, Quinclorac 8.43%, and dimethylamine salt 11.81% Dicamba to effectively destroy beggarweed.
Non-Selective Herbicide Recommendations
Warning: Non-selective herbicides kill everything and should only be used with extreme caution in areas that are away from desirable plants.
Eraser Max Herbicide: This is an Imazapyr and Glyphosate-based product that works to kill weeds quickly when applied correctly. Eraser Max is a concentrated formula of glyphosate and imazapyr that can be very effective against many weeds, vines/grasses. It's perfect for use outside on non-crop areas or bare ground where you want total vegetation control; it also works well as a spot treatment when targeting specific issues such as fence rows near barns.
Beggarweed Prevention
Maintaining a healthy lawn is one of the most effective defenses against beggarweed. Regular mowing at relatively high length, deep watering, and fertilizing will strengthen a lawn's health and help it to defend itself against weeds. Using mulch in flower beds can also provide protection from beggarweed growth.
Finally, spreading grass seed with a broadcast spreader is an effective way to fill in bare spots that weeds may be prone to grow into. By following these steps and investing in recommended products, your lawn should have better defenses against beggarweed growth.
Recommended Beggarweed Prevention Products
Investing in a quality fertilizer can help strengthen the lawn against weeds. We recommend the use of turf fertilizers as they contain a blend of nutrients and weed-controlling compounds to keep lawns healthy.
Do-It-Yourself Pest Control Can Help You Eliminate Beggarweed
By following the steps outlined in this guide and using the recommended products, you can successfully get rid of beggarweed on your own. With proper identification, an effective treatment plan, and preventative measures put into place, you'll have a weed-free lawn in no time.
Good luck with tackling those weeds!
For more in-depth information about how to get rid of beggarweed or for help with your lawn care regimen, contact the experts at Do-It-Yourself Pest Control. We're here to answer all of your pest and gardening questions and make sure you have the best lawn on the block.