How to Identify Garden Weeds & Grasses
- 1). Press a screwdriver into the first 6 inches of topsoil. Place a soil thermometer inside the hole to measure the soil temperature. Broadleaf weeds such as dandelions germinate and grow when soil temperatures are at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Grassy weeds such as crabgrass sprout when soil temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If the soil temperatures favor a specific weed, you can narrow down the list of possible weeds you are dealing with in the yard.
- 2). Dig a 6-inch hole in the yard. Collect 1/2 cup of soil from the bottom of the hole. Conduct a soil pH test, using a kit. Weeds such as clovers grow at a soil pH of 6.4. Finding out your existing soil pH aids in weed identification.
- 3). Examine the tips of the weed. Grassy weeds have triangular tips, and sedges grow rounded tips. Broadleaf weeds are typically more colorful than grass or sedges.
- 4). Walk across the lawn, looking for weeds that are disrupting the uniform texture of the lawn. Dig up the weeds in question and place them in plastic bags. Take the weeds to a local nursery to obtain a positive identification.
- 5). Grab a handful of dirt next to a weed. Squeeze the dirt in your hand. Dirt that is crumbly suggests that your soil is sandy. Soil that releases water indicates the soil is clay. If the soil is malleable in your hand, it is loam. Weeds prefer to grow in certain soil types. Discovering the makeup of your soil can help you to identify the weed growing in the yard.
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