Texas Weeds: Identification And Control Tips

As a Texas homeowner, do you get frustrated by how often you have to manage weeds in your lawn? While our weather is a positive for many residents, the warm weather and unpredictable rain in Texas make the Lone Star State a haven for weed growth. 

Weeds can affect the health of your lawn in a number of ways. For example, they compete with your plants for nutrients, making it harder for your plants to thrive. They can also degrade your lawn’s aesthetics and can attract pests.

This guide covers how to identify, prevent and control the most common weeds across Texas landscapes. Meet your guide: J Zambo, the Lawn and Tree Division Manager at ABC Home & Commercial Services who has over 20 years of experience. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor.

The Three Major Weed Categories in Texas

There are three categories of weeds that Texas homeowners deal with: 

• Broadleaf weeds: non-grassy plants with wide leaves
• Grassy weeds: weeds with a grass-like texture that spread via seeds or underground stems
• Sedges: weeds with triangular stems

According to J, in the spring here in Texas, you’re going to see your grassy weeds, such as crabgrass, dallisgrass and goosegrass. You’ll also see nutsedge in the sedge category. Then, in the broadleaf category in the summer, you’re gonna find a lot of spurge and clovers.

J also mentioned that in the fall, you’ll see broadleaf weeds, such as henbit, chickweed, bittercress and dandelions. As far as grassy weeds go, annual bluegrass is the biggest problem in the winter. 

The type of weeds you’ll deal with in Texas also depends on the region. 

North and Central Texas Weeds

In North and Central Texas, the most common weeds are crabgrass, dallisgrass and henbit. Weed growth in these regions depends on factors like rainfall amounts and the timing of germination.

The best way to control weeds in North and Central Texas is to apply herbicide to your lawn before they emerge. To beat springtime weed growth, apply herbicide in February or March. To beat the fall and winter growth, consider reapplying herbicide in August or September.

East Texas Weeds

The most common types of weeds in East Texas are nutsedge, Virginia buttonweed and chamberbitter. These weeds thrive in the warm, humid environment East Texas offers.

East Texas weeds also love moist, poorly drained soil and germinate quickly due to the humidity. To make your lawn less hospitable to weeds, improve your soil’s drainage to reduce moisture levels. Keeping your grass on the tall side can also reduce weed germination by providing shade for your soil and lowering humidity.

South and Gulf Coast Texas Weeds

The most common types of weeds in the South and Gulf Coast of Texas are doveweed, sandbur and annual bluegrass. While doveweed and sandbur are warm-season weeds, annual bluegrass is a cool-season weed that takes advantage of compacted or overwatered soil. 

Since this region of Texas remains hot and humid for most of the year, homeowners have to manage weed growth year-round. Don’t count on your lawn giving you a winter break. Consistent maintenance and pre-emergent weed control are essential for managing weeds in the South and Gulf Coast regions of Texas. 

Another thing to consider in this region is that coastal air and soil often contain higher salt levels, which certain types of weeds appreciate. However, salt can put stress on your turf, so it’s important to choose a grass type that is more salt-tolerant, such as Bermuda or zoysia grass. 

Next, watering your lawn deeply and frequently will flush salt buildup and create a less hospitable environment for weed growth. You should also avoid overfertilizing your lawn, as this adds more salt to your soil.

West Texas and Hill Country Weeds

The most common types of weeds in West Texas and the Hill Country are bindweed, spurge and field sandbur. These weeds thrive in dry soil and hot and dry weather. Field sandbur, which produces burs that can stick to your shoes and your pets’ paws, grows well in dry, sandy soil.

Since this region of Texas receives limited rainfall, it’s important to manage water scarcity and choose drought-resistant grasses, such as buffalo, zoysia or bermuda grass. Plus, the healthier your soil is, the harder it will be for these drought-loving weeds to grow. Watering your lawn deeply but infrequently is key to maintaining a healthy turf and discouraging weed growth. 

To adopt the right watering strategy, consult an ABC lawn care professional who can help you set up an effective plan.

Texas Weed Identification Tips

The easiest way to determine what type of Texas weed you’re dealing with is to use visual cues. For example, look at the leaves to assess whether they’re hairy, smooth or serrated. Next, what is the growth pattern? There are three types of growth patterns:

Rosette: the leaves spread out flat and close to the ground from a central point (example: dandelion)

Stolon: the weeds’ stem grows horizontally above ground and has nodes that send out roots (example: strawberry plant)

Rhizome: the weeds’ stem grows horizontally underground and shoots up roots (example: quackgrass)

The last visual cue you can use to determine what type of weed you’re dealing with is whether or not the weeds produce flowers or seedheads. Seedheads look more like dried-out flowers or tufts of fluff. 

Another way to identify weeds is to dig below the surface and inspect their root systems. There are two types of weed root systems: taproot and fibrous. Taproot systems grow deep into the soil while fibrous root systems remain near the surface.

To determine whether you’re dealing with taproot or fibrous roots, do a simple pull-resistance test. Gently tug on the weed to see if you can pull the root out easily or if it has resistance. You’ll quickly learn how anchored the roots are and what weed-removal method you’ll need to use. 

Finally, you can identify weeds by their lifecycle. For example, are they annual weeds that complete their life cycle in one growing season, or are they perennial weeds that return year after year? You should also note if they grow during the warm months or the cold months to identify their growing season.

Texas Weed Prevention and Control Strategies

The most sustainable way to control weeds is through maintaining healthy turf density and proper irrigation schedules. Aerating your lawn and overseeding are also important components in weed control. For more guidance, check out our lawn care calendar. 

If you don’t want to go the DIY route, call in a local lawn care expert to set up a lawn maintenance routine that deters weed growth.

Another way to control weeds is to pull them out yourself. However, it’s important that you handle them with care and dispose of them properly to prevent reseeding. 

A lawn care expert can also advise you on when you should consider using herbicides to control weeds. There are two categories of herbicides: pre-emergent, which treat your lawn before weeds sprout, and post-emergent, which deal with pre-existing weeds.

Manage Texas Weeds All Year Long With Expert Help

Texas weeds are resilient, but with proper identification, consistent prevention and professional support, your lawn can thrive year-round. For the best results, contact a local lawn care service to schedule a free lawn health inspection and put a weed management plan in place.

Why Homeowners Trust ABC

For over 75 years, ABC Home & Commercial Services has been a trusted partner for Texas homeowners who want reliable, professional lawn care. Our certified experts bring decades of experience and local knowledge to every yard, ensuring solutions that fit Texas’s unique climate and soil conditions.  

When it comes to your lawn, you can count on ABC to treat your property like our own.