Green thumbs, what is this?

[Mrroo]

I have a bunch of this stuff that grows in the grass. Looks nice at first with the little purple flowers. But it's thick and is over taking areas of the grass. I applied weed and feed several times. Some of it seems to be drying up. But what is it and what can I do to prevent it? I live in SW Michigan FYI.


Sent from a engineering facility...

 

[493 scamp]

We call it creeping charlie and it takes over in areas that grass grows poorly,especially in shaded ares. It is hard to control. Treating it now might weaken it but I think you need to hit it very heavy in the fall right before winter and again in spring and do everything you can to promote healthy grass in that area. Look for a product with dicamba in it.

 

[jkwilson]

That doesn't look like creeping Charlie to me with those big splits in the leaves.

Send a picture to your local MSU extension office.

This is creeping Charlie:

 

[wrench409]

Henbit?

 

[lostmind]

False geranium

 

[mrrooG8]

I was thinking Henbit at first. But the leaves don't match and this stuff grows only about 2" tall. Henbit seems to grow tall. Its not creeping Charlie. One landscaper was saying MollyWeed. But that doesn't match either. I just sent my local MSU extension a pic of it. See what they say. My brother actually works for MSU farming in Lansing area doing weather/farming research. He's a big ****. Lol. I showed it to him a couple weeks ago but have not heard anything yet.

 

[matt_i]

Nice Pontiac Love those things!

Does your standard "broadleaf weed killer" take care of it?

I would think that and trying to improve the tilth of the soil there would help normal grass get back in and take over again.

 

[mrrooG8]

Nice Pontiac Love those things!

Does your standard "broadleaf weed killer" take care of it?

I would think that and trying to improve the tilth of the soil there would help normal grass get back in and take over again.

I love my G8!! Great cars. One thing I am doing is getting the grass I have in better shape. Hopefully it will start to grow thicker and the weeds will start to die out. It seems the Scotts Weed and feed has helped. One big patch (25x25) completely dried up and I raked the area last night. Just trying to figure out exactly what it is for future prevention.

 

[Kevin54]

Ditto on the False Geranium http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...c3e53dfe7643632af1c914f2183d292fo0&ajaxhist=0

 

[ynned]

I guess I just don't get it with lawns. Why would you want rid of that? It looks better and grows better than grass, only gets 2 inches tall so shouldn't need mowed, what's not to like?

 

[sublimate]

I guess I just don't get it with lawns. Why would you want rid of that? It looks better and grows better than grass, only gets 2 inches tall so shouldn't need mowed, what's not to like?

Probably doesn't need watering or fertilizing either.

 

[mrrooG8]

I guess I just don't get it with lawns. Why would you want rid of that? It looks better and grows better than grass, only gets 2 inches tall so shouldn't need mowed, what's not to like?

It would be fine if it didn't dry up and leave bare spots half the year. One area I didn't apply any weed killer and it dried up last week. It seems to come and go. Other than that i'd leave it and not worry about it. Im all about simple, organic and cheap lawn maintenance. But hate the huge dry spots left behind.

 

[csp]

Spray it with a broadleaf herbicide, not weed & feed.

 

[mrrooG8]

MSU just emailed me back. Talk about quick!! They said it is geranium pusillum. It’s commonly known as small-flowered crane’s bill or small geranium. And to treat and prevent it use a specific Weed B Gon that is labeled for chickweed, clover and oxalis. Here is a link they sent me. Thanks guys for your input.

http://michiganflora.net/species.aspx?id=1408

 

[ynned]

It would be fine if it didn't dry up and leave bare spots half the year. One area I didn't apply any weed killer and it dried up last week. It seems to come and go. Other than that i'd leave it and not worry about it. Im all about simple, organic and cheap lawn maintenance. But hate the huge dry spots left behind.

Now I get it. Too bad, those little flowers are pretty.