Common Weeds & Lawn Diseases
Adam’s Weed and Lawn Disease Information Library is your home for information about the most common weeds and lawn problems in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, their biology, behavior, and of course, how to control them.
Common Chickweed
Common Chickweed is a winter annual plant producing smooth stems and leaves that typically sprawl throughout turf, landscape, and vegetable gardens forming dense patches. The stems of Common Chickweed are…
Crabgrass
Crabgrass (digitaria) is in the grass family and is an annual grassy weed that can spread rapidly and will suppress the growth of other plants. With the capacity to spread…
Foxtail
Foxtail (Setaria) is an annual that grows quickly during the warmth of summer. A foxtail is a spikelet or cluster of grass that disperses its seeds as a unit, meaning…
Creeping Charlie
Creeping Charlie (ground ivy) is an invasive, aromatic, evergreen creeper. It is a perennial of the mint (Lamiaceae) family and thrives in moist, shady areas, but it will also tolerate…
Dandelion
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a common perennial from the Asteraceae family or Sunflower family. Dandelions grow freely especially in areas that are moist with full sun.
Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed is an herbaceous perennial that can be more readily seen during mid-summer and early autumn. This shrub-like plant develops large, dense clumps that are between 3’ – 9’…
Leafy Spurge
Leafy Spurge is a perennial standing 2-3 ½’tall with smooth stems branching out from a deep vertical root. When stems, flowers, and leaves are broken, a milky-white sap is released.…
Tall Fescue
Tall Fescue grows in clumps, is coarse-textured with wide blades, and can reach up to 6 ½’ high. Tall fescue is often misidentified as crabgrass, but they are very different…
Yellow Nutsedge
Yellow Nutsedge can be found wild, as a weed, or as a crop. It is an invasive species and is often found in wet soils such as rice paddies and…
Thistle
Thistle is the name used for a group of plants characterized by sharp prickles all over the plant including the stem and the flat parts of the leaves. Most thistles…
Wild Violet
The Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia) is an annual or short-lived perennial that grows up to 6” wide and 4” high. The flowers are a bit taller than the leaves…
White Clover
White Clover (Trifolium repens) is a long-lived perennial legume or winter annual legume. White Clover is a popular choice for systems that are “living mulch” and are planted between rows of…
Leaf Spot and Melting Out
Leaf spot and melting out are different diseases with similar symptoms, caused by different fungi. Melting out (caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana) usually appears in April and May during cold, rainy…
Necrotic Ring Spot
Necrotic ring spot (Leptosphaeria korrae) is caused by a parasitic form of plant life called fungi. Fungi live in the soil, thatch and dead leaves. Necrotic ring spot spreads throughout…
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease most often found in shady areas of the lawn. Powdery mildew can occur throughout the growing season but is usually most noticeable in…
Not Sure What Weed or Lawn Disease is Bugging You?
Ask our lawn expert. Email us a photo and/or description, and we’ll identify your weed or lawn disease. Our lawn expert will tell you how Adam’s can eliminate it from your home or property.