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mann_alex15

Need help

I have a lawn full of an unknown weed. Can anyone help me identifying and how to control them?

Comments (6)

  • 10 years ago

    I'm sure someone could if you had a picture.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    They bloom with a white flower on top

  • 10 years ago

    Mustard family for sure. Maybe field pepperweed, Lepidium campestre.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Thank is for the response Atlamol. How wood you go about treating this in New England. The lawn has pretty sandy soil. But the weeds came from compost out of a field in screened

  • 10 years ago

    Like many annual lawn weeds this is an opportunists the invades bare soil. If you can improve the lawn these plants won't be able to get a toe hold so easily.

  • 10 years ago

    Where in New England? Most every University there does soil testing and that is where you need to start, with a good reliable soil test for soil pH and major nutrients. Then these simple soil tests may also help you determine what you need to do to make that soil into a good healthy soil tht will grow strong and healthy plants that will help keep those unwanted plants ("weeds") under control.

    1) Soil test for organic
    material. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in
    a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and
    replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24
    hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight.
    For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the
    bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above
    that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

    2) Drainage. Dig a hole
    1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains
    away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain
    away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains’ too quickly and needs
    more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the
    soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

    3) Tilth. Take a handful
    of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is
    released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a
    finger that clump should fall apart.

    4) Smell. What does your
    soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant
    odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria
    will be and the nicer your soil will smell, to a point. Too much organic matter
    can be bad as well.

    5) Life. How many
    earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5,
    according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that
    is not healthy.

    A good healthy turf is your best defense against unwanted plant growth.

    kimmq is kimmsr