Front lawn completely consumed by unknown weed.

18 years ago

I bought a foreclosed home that had been vacant for over a year, and now that the winter rainfall has come a weed completely covered the front lawn (which was basically dirt before I moved in.)

I think I've dealt with this weed before, but in small amounts in an already established lawn. This infestation is complete and there's little to no grass to salvage, so I want to know the best method for elimiating this weed and starting a lawn.

Please let me know if you know what this weed its; it has clover-like leaves, has slender hairlike roots, grows little burr seeds, and has long stalks that can run along the ground or stand straight up if there's no mowed grass to compete with. And let me know the best way to deal with it. My neighbor suggested mowing/weed-eating it down and then spraying the lawn with weed killer.

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Comments (4)

rosa_alba
18 years ago
I think it might be Burr Medic (Medicago ploymorpha L.). Take a look at the site below and see if it's the same stuff. They're recommending hand-pulling, but someone may be more familiar with its removal than I.

Here is a link that might be useful: Burr Medic
Kimmsr
18 years ago
Before doing anything contact your local office of the University of California USDA Cooperative Extension Service and get that properly identified and inquire about having a good, reliable soil test done (they do not do that but can recommned labs that will) because most of these types of "weeds" grow best in soil lacking nutrients, and/or the soil pH, that good, healthy stands of grass need to grow well.
It may be all you need do is increase the amount of organic matter in that soil.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
18 years ago
It certainly sounds and looks like Burr Medic. It's often used as a cover crop (you can see why, can't you) as well as a pasture crop. It's quite happy to escape into lawns, however....and the soil has nothing to do with it.

DO take a sample to your extension office, however, to make certain. They should be able to help you with a program to get rid of it.
debbysunshine
18 years ago
I'm here in San Diego and have what looks like perfect clover all through my grass but in my case the landscapers were mowing my lawn too short. You might get away with digging it up and putting down a pre-emergent all depending on what you're going to do with that area. Our weeds were up to my chin when we bought this house. The thick clay and huge rocks are not that much fun either. Have fun !