How to Identify & Kill Common Lawn Weeds in New Albany, MS

If you were to survey the average New Albany, MS homeowner about their biggest lawn gripes, we’d bet that lawn weeds would be high on the list. In many cases, it’s homeowners’ biggest complaint.

Unfortunately, our climate makes lawn weeds a prevalent problem. Because we sit in a warm-season transition zone, we are plagued with both cool-season and warm-season weeds.

The good news is there are solutions.

Jump to Section

• What Are the Most Difficult Weeds to Kill in North Mississippi?
• How to Get Rid of Weeds in Mississippi Lawns
• FAQs About Common Lawn Weeds in North Mississippi
• Choosing Weed Control in Tupelo, Oxford or New Albany, MS
  

The first step to getting a weed-free Mississippi lawn is knowing how to identify weeds.

If you want to attack weeds (without attacking your lawn), understanding what’s growing in your yard can help you to implement the best control solution.

What Are the Most Difficult Weeds to Kill in North Mississippi?

Unfortunately, there are many common lawn weeds in North Mississippi. While there are dozens that can pop up, here are the five that we hear the most gripes about, largely because they spread like crazy and are difficult to kill.

Dallisgrass

Often mistaken for crabgrass, dallisgrass grows in clumps and has thick, coarse leaves with seed heads that look like they’ve been dusted with pepper. It begins to grow in the late spring and can persist through the fall.

One reason it is hard to control is that dallisgrass spreads via rhizomes and seeds, returning year after year. It loves moist, compacted soil and lawns that are cut too short. Dallisgrass also resists many standard pre-emergents, so post-emergent treatments will be necessary.

Nutgrass

Nutgrass, aka “nutsedge,” is another weed commonly found in our region.

Though it looks like a grassy weed (and is commonly misidentified sometimes as crabgrass), nutgrass is a perennial weed that is actually part of the sedge family. Sedge weeds tend to be aggressive weeds, and it’s no different with nutsedge.

The underground growth pattern is a key reason why nutgrass is so hard to kill. This weed has a complex underground system of nutlets and rhizomes that can spread beneath your lawn. Additionally, nutgrass is resistant to most weed-control products and requires specialized control measures. Overwatering can also make this weed spread like crazy.

Buttonweed

Buttonweed is another rapidly spreading weed. This one can grow flat and form dense mats. It is commonly identified by its thick, lance-shaped leaves and star-shaped white flowers.

This weed spreads through rhizomes and fragments left after mowing. It tolerates low mowing and quickly overtakes thin areas. There is no effective preventive treatment, and overwatering can cause it to spread rapidly.

Annual Bluegrass

Annual bluegrass, aka poa annua, is a light green, soft grass with fine blades and boat-shaped tips. It grows in tufts and has small white seed heads. Annual bluegrass competes well in thin or overwatered lawns, especially in shaded areas.

While we used to treat it preventively with pre-emergents, this weed has become increasingly resistant to many of these products. That makes proper knowledge and management of this weed critical.

Bermudagrass

You might be surprised to see Bermudagrass on this list of common lawn weeds in North Mississippi, as it’s a great turfgrass - as long as that's what you want it for.

But the downside is that it outcompetes many grasses and will start to grow in areas where you don’t want it at all (like flower beds, cracks in the concrete, and more).

It is heat-loving, drought-tolerant, and an aggressive spreader. And once it reaches a non-Bermuda lawn, it competes heavily with the desired grass. That means if your neighbor has Bermuda, and you don’t, you could have some problems.

How to Get Rid of Weeds in Mississippi Lawns

Everybody wants to know how to get rid of weeds. While we wish there were a single answer to this question, the truth is that multiple steps often need to be taken to truly reduce weed growth.

Good cultural practices, such as avoiding cutting the lawn too short and watering appropriately, are important. Anything you do to promote thick, healthy turf will also naturally choke out weeds.

But at the end of the day, it’s important that you’re also investing in professional New Albany, MS weed control services. That’s because you want to make sure you’re getting professional-grade products that effectively attack unwanted weeds.

To achieve the most effective control, look for a program that takes a customized approach and offers a robust range of control options.

At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we offer tailored lawn care through our Lawn 360 program, which includes:

• Pre- and post-emergent weed control

• Seasonally appropriate fertilization

• Aeration to improve your soil & make it harder for weeds to compete

• Experienced technicians who understand regional weed identification

Our team doesn’t just spray and go—we assess, treat, and follow through, helping you get a lawn that makes the neighbors jealous.

FAQs About Common Lawn Weeds in North Mississippi

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions that we get about weeds.

What are the most common lawn weeds in North Mississippi?

The North Mississippi region is plagued by many weeds. Our warmer climate and soil conditions make weed growth rampant.

Some of the most common North Mississippi weeds include crabgrass, dallisgrass, nutgrass, buttonweed, annual bluegrass, spotted surge, Japanese clover, white clover, dandelion, broadleaf plantain, and bermudagrass.

When should I apply pre-emergent herbicide in New Albany, MS?

Pre-emergent products are typically an important part of weed control services in New Albany, MS. Pre-emergent herbicides inhibit germination. They form a barrier that prevents germination, thereby stopping certain weeds before they even start to grow.

Because we deal with so many different types of weeds, pre-emergents can play a vital role in proactively addressing weeds.

But these products must be applied PRIOR to germination to be effective. This window is determined by soil temperature rather than the calendar.

Generally, at Lawn & Pest Solutions, we apply pre-emergent herbicides in the January/February time frame and again in late March/early April. But this can differ from year to year.

How do I get rid of Virginia Buttonweed in my Mississippi lawn?

Buttonweed is known as one of the most frustrating weeds because it is difficult to control. Pre-emergent controls do not prevent buttonweed, and it often requires repeated, targeted applications to get it under control.

Since it thrives in wet, compacted soils, improving turf conditions can help improve control.

What is the bright green grass-like weed that grows faster than my lawn?

Most likely it’s annual bluegrass. Annual bluegrass (aka poa annua) has a lime green color and outgrows typical turfgrass. This is the most common culprit when homeowners ask us this question.

But nutgrass and crabgrass are also possibilities. These two weeds can also have a bright green appearance and grow faster than desired turfgrass.

Why do I have yellow flowers in my Mississippi yard during winter?

If you have yellow flowers growing in the winter, it’s very likely that you have hop clover. This is a common winter annual weed that pops up from late winter through early spring.

Choosing Weed Control in Tupelo, Oxford or New Albany, MS

Weeds like those discussed in this Mississippi lawn care weed identification guide can be a major source of frustration. If you’ve already been dealing with weeds for a while now, you might be feeling as though nothing you’ve tried has worked. Weed control can sometimes feel like an endless cycle.

But instead of taking on the hassles and headaches of weed control on your own, let a pro handle it for you.

If you’ve already searched for lawn care in Tupelo, Oxford or New Albany, MS, you know you have options. But it’s important that you choose wisely if you’re serious about getting the best control.

At Lawn & Pest Solutions, we’re here to help. We know homeowners can become frustrated with lawn care companies if they’ve had past struggles. But we’ve built our company to be different.

If you have any questions, you can always reach out. Whether you choose our company or someone else, we want you to be happy with your decision.

Want to improve your lawn’s health and create a thicker, greener lawn that is more resistant to weeds? Lawn & Pest Solutions can help you with lawn care in North Mississippi. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll customize a plan that gives you the most attractive lawn on the block.