If you’ve looked out at your lawn lately and thought, “Where did all that come from?” — you’re not alone.
Winter in Austin is weird. One week it’s 38 degrees and damp. The next it’s 74 and sunny. Your Bermuda is asleep, but the weeds? Wide awake. While your turf is taking a well-earned nap, winter weeds are busy filling every thin spot they can find.
This time of year in Central Texas, a “green lawn” usually isn’t your lawn at all. It’s henbit. Or rescue grass. Or clover throwing a quiet little party across your yard.
Before we get into how to identify and control the most common winter weeds around Austin, let’s clear something up:
A weed isn’t some evil plant sent to ruin your life. It’s just a plant growing where you don’t want it.
That could be in the middle of your lawn. In your flower beds. Or popping out of the crack in your driveway like it pays rent.
Some weeds are aggressive. Some are harmless but messy. Some are actually kind of pretty (until they take over). The problem isn’t that they exist — it’s that they compete with your turf for space, light, and nutrients.
And in Central Texas, if you don’t manage them now, they’ll set seed and make next winter even more exciting than you’d like.
Let’s walk through the most common winter weeds we see in Austin and how to deal with them the right way.
1. Annual Bluegrass (Poa Annua)
Annual Bluegrass, also known as Poa Annua, is a common winter weed found in lawns throughout Central Texas. It has a light green color and a fine texture that often causes it to blend in with the surrounding grass. The seed heads of Poa Annua are distinctive because they have a white, cloudy appearance.
To control Poa Annua, you can use a pre-emergent herbicide that targets the seeds before they germinate. It’s important to apply this herbicide early in the fall or late winter before the seeds have a chance to grow. If you already have an outbreak of Poa Annua in your lawn, post-emergent herbicides can be used to target and kill the plant. These herbicides should be applied during the cooler months of fall or early spring when the plant is actively growing.
It’s important to note that over-fertilizing your lawn can actually encourage the growth of Poa Annua. To prevent this weed from taking over your lawn, it’s important to follow proper fertilization practices and avoid using too much nitrogen fertilizer.
2. Henbit
Henbit is a common winter weed found in lawns throughout Central Texas. It has a square stem and leaves that are arranged in opposite pairs. The plant produces small, purple flowers that can spread quickly in the wind.
To control henbit, you can use a broadleaf herbicide that targets the plant without harming your grass. It’s best to apply herbicide in the fall or early spring when the plant is actively growing.
3. Chickweed
Chickweed is a common winter weed found in lawns throughout Central Texas. It has a low-growing habit and can quickly take over large areas of your lawn. The leaves are small and have a distinctive oval shape.
To control chickweed, you can use a broadleaf herbicide that targets the plant without harming your grass. It’s best to apply herbicide in the fall or early spring when the plant is actively growing.
4. Spurge
Spurge is a common weed found in lawns throughout Central Texas. It has a spreading growth habit and can quickly take over large areas of your lawn. The leaves are small and have a distinctive oval shape.
To control spurge, you can use a broadleaf herbicide that targets the plant without harming your grass. It’s best to apply herbicide in the fall or early spring when the plant is actively growing.
5. Nutsedge
Nutsedge is a perennial weed that grows in wet areas of your lawn. It has a triangular stem and leaves that are arranged in sets of three. The plant produces small, brown seed heads that can spread quickly in the wind.
To control nutsedge, you can use a herbicide that targets the plant without harming your grass. It’s best to apply herbicide in the summer when the plant is actively growing.
6. Dandelion
Dandelions are a common weed found in lawns throughout Central Texas. They have a deep taproot and a rosette of leaves that can grow up to 12 inches wide. The bright yellow flowers turn into fluffy seed heads that can spread quickly in the wind.
To control dandelions, you can pull them by hand or use a broadleaf herbicide that targets the plant without harming your grass. It’s best to apply herbicide in the fall or early spring when the plant is actively growing.
7. Crabgrass
Crabgrass is an annual weed that grows in warm, sunny areas of your lawn. It has a spreading growth habit and can quickly take over large areas of your lawn. The leaves are light green and have a distinctive shape that looks like crab legs.
To control crabgrass, you can use a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents the seeds from germinating in the spring. You can also pull the plants by hand or use a post-emergent herbicide that targets the plant after it has started growing.
In conclusion, dealing with winter weeds in your lawn can be a challenge, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can keep your lawn looking healthy and beautiful all year round. Remember to always read and follow the instructions on any herbicide you use, and wear protective clothing and gloves when applying chemicals to your lawn.
Let Us Help
We spend a lot of time thinking about this and making sure your yard gets exactly what it needs. That’s why we partner withlocal fertilizer and weed control wizards (experts) to take care of your yard the right way. We handle the customer service. They handle the application.
Our fertilization and weed control program includes:
- Custom-blended fertilizers tailored for Central Texas soils and your specific type of grass.
- Pre-emergent treatments to stop future weeds before they sprout.
- Targeted weed control every time we’re there—feeding your lawn and attacking weeds.
- Free callbacks if those pesky weeds dare to return.
The way I see it…You have three options:
- You can take care of this yourself (6 home depot runs and some new equipment)
- Ignore it and shrug (weeds, weeds and more weeds)
- Ask us to help 🙂
**Special Offer: Sign up for the full-year program, and get your first treatment for just $1.**