Virginia buttonweed, a common nemesis in Louisiana landscapes, often appears as a deceivingly small plant, growing up to around 7 inches in length. This pervasive weed typically spreads horizontally, with stems that ascend to about two inches above the ground. Recognizable by its small, white, star-shaped flowers that bloom in June, Virginia buttonweed is notorious for its resilience and tenacity.

In Louisiana, Virginia buttonweed thrives not only in wet, swampy environments reflective of the state's natural landscape but also in well-maintained lawns. This weed is adaptable, managing to survive even in drier conditions. Its reproduction strategies are particularly robust, featuring seeds that can float and disperse widely across different terrains. Furthermore, Virginia buttonweed's extensive root system is capable of spawning new plants through rhizomes or from cut stems—making it a frequent, unwelcome guest each time you mow your lawn.

Selective herbicide control is your best option, aside from killing your existing yard with Glyphosate and restarting from scratch with sod. (DO NOT use Glyphosate on your turf unless you want your turf to die also.) Selective herbicides with some of the following active ingredients work to an extent: 2,4-D, MCPP, Dicambia. 

The herbicide Image  works better the earlier in the year you use it. So will Weed Stop for Lawns. Both Image and Weed Stop for Lawns should not be used when it is hotter than the specified temperature on their product label or your lawn will suffer damage. Products we use are Celsius by Bayer or Avenue South by PBI-Gordon Turf. Both work very well, even in warm temperatures. All of the Virginia buttonweed herbicides that we have seen require a second application around 4 weeks after the initial treatment. This is due to how easily Virginia buttonweed reproduces. Virginia buttonweed is a challenge so remain patient.

For those in the greater Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and surrounding areas such as Slidell, Prairieville, and Covington, professional assistance is available. GreenSeasons specializes in lawn fertilization and weed control, offering expert services tailored to maintain the health and appearance of your green spaces. If you suspect a weed problem or simply aspire for a lush, vibrant lawn, consider reaching out to GreenSeasons for a free quote on weed control solutions, ensuring your yard remains beautiful and buttonweed-free.
Give us a call at (225) 752-2333.

​In the heart of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, homeowners take pride in their lush, well-manicured lawns that not only beautify their properties but also contribute to the overall charm of their neighborhoods. However, the battle for a perfect lawn is often challenged by the invasive presence of Carolina geranium (Geranium carolinianum), a common weed that can detract from the lawn's appearance and health. GreenSeasons, a leader in lawn care and landscaping services in Baton Rouge, offers comprehensive strategies to control Carolina geranium and restore the beauty of your lawn.

Understanding Carolina Geranium
Carolina geranium, also known as cranesbill, is a winter annual weed recognizable by its dissected leaves and small, pink to purplish flowers. It typically emerges in the cooler months and can spread rapidly, competing with grass and ornamental plants for nutrients, water, and space. Its resilience and ability to produce numerous seeds make it a formidable opponent for homeowners aiming for pristine lawn conditions.

The Impact of Carolina Geranium
While Carolina geranium might not be the most aggressive weed, its presence signals that your lawn might not be in optimal health. It tends to invade areas where the grass is weak or sparse, creating unsightly patches that can diminish curb appeal and the overall aesthetic of your outdoor space. Furthermore, its ability to spread quickly can lead to more significant infestations if not addressed promptly.

GreenSeasons' Expert Control Strategies
1. Promote Lawn Health
The foundation of effective weed control, including against Carolina geranium, lies in maintaining a vigorous, healthy lawn. GreenSeasons recommends a comprehensive lawn care routine that includes proper fertilization, regular mowing, and adequate watering. A well-fed and properly maintained lawn can outcompete most weeds, including Carolina geranium, by providing little space for them to establish.

2. Correct Mowing Techniques
Mowing your lawn to the right height can significantly deter Carolina geranium growth. Grass that is too short can weaken and create opportunities for weeds to take over. Keep your lawn at a height of approximately 2.5 to 3 inches to encourage dense growth and reduce the light available to weed seeds on the soil surface. Regular mowing also helps remove weed flowers before they can produce seeds, reducing future infestations.

3. Manual Removal
For small infestations, manual removal of Carolina geranium can be effective. Ensure you pull out the entire plant, including the root, to prevent regrowth. This method is most efficient when the soil is moist, such as after a rain, making it easier to remove the weed completely. GreenSeasons advises wearing gloves and using a tool, like a dandelion fork, to make the task easier and more effective.

4. Targeted Herbicide Use
In cases where Carolina geranium has spread widely, a selective herbicide may be necessary. Selective herbicides can target broadleaf weeds without harming your grass. GreenSeasons recommends using these products in the early stages of growth for best results. It's crucial to follow the manufacturer's instructions for application rates and safety precautions to protect your lawn, yourself, and the environment.

5. Soil Health and Aeration
Compacted soil can hinder the growth of healthy grass and encourage weeds like Carolina geranium. GreenSeasons offers professional aeration services to improve soil structure, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the ground. This process encourages deeper root growth of your lawn grass, enhancing its ability to compete with and suppress weed growth.

6. Professional Lawn Care Assistance
Managing Carolina geranium and maintaining a healthy lawn can be challenging and time-consuming for many homeowners. GreenSeasons provides professional lawn care services tailored to the specific needs of Baton Rouge lawns. Our expert team can develop a personalized plan that includes weed control, fertilization, aeration, and more to ensure your lawn remains vibrant and weed-free.

Conclusion
Carolina geranium can be a persistent problem in Baton Rouge lawns, but with the right approach, it is possible to control this weed and achieve a lush, beautiful lawn. By focusing on lawn health, using proper mowing techniques, and considering professional lawn care services, homeowners can effectively manage Carolina geranium and other common lawn weeds. GreenSeasons is committed to helping Baton Rouge residents enjoy their outdoor spaces to the fullest, with healthy, weed-free lawns that reflect the pride of homeownership.

For more information on controlling Carolina geranium or to schedule a lawn care consultation, visit GreenSeasons' website or contact us directly. Let our team of lawn care professionals help you achieve the perfect lawn you've always dreamed of.

In the lush landscapes of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, homeowners pride themselves on their vibrant, healthy lawns that add beauty to their homes and the community. However, amidst the verdant green, an uninvited guest often makes an appearance: white clover. While some may find its white flowers charming, white clover can be more than just an aesthetic nuisance; it's a sign of underlying lawn health issues. GreenSeasons, a leading lawn care and landscape company in Baton Rouge, offers homeowners expert advice on controlling white clover and maintaining the health and beauty of their lawns.​

​Understanding White Clover
White clover (Trifolium repens), a perennial weed, is known for its distinctive trifoliate (three-leaf) leaves and white, ball-shaped flowers. It thrives in lawns that are low in nitrogen since it can fix its own nitrogen, giving it an advantage over traditional grasses. This ability makes white clover a common sight in lawns that are undernourished.

Why Control White Clover?
While some homeowners may not mind the appearance of white clover, it can quickly spread and take over a lawn, competing with grass for space, light, and nutrients. Additionally, white clover attracts bees, which, while beneficial for pollination, can be a concern for families with young children or those allergic to bee stings. Proper management and control of white clover are essential for maintaining a lush, uniform lawn that enhances your home's curb appeal.

Expert Tips from GreenSeasons
1. Maintain Lawn Health
The first step in controlling white clover is to address the underlying cause of its proliferation. GreenSeasons recommends a soil test to determine your lawn's nutrient levels. If your soil is low in nitrogen, consider applying a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to help your grass compete more effectively against white clover. Regular feeding, proper mowing, and adequate watering are critical to maintaining a healthy, dense lawn that can resist weed invasion.

2. Proper Mowing Practices
Mowing your lawn at the right height can also help control white clover. Grass that is too short may become stressed and thin, creating opportunities for white clover to spread. GreenSeasons suggests keeping your lawn at a height of about 2.5 to 3 inches. This height helps the grass shade out weeds and encourages deeper root growth, making your lawn more resilient.

3. Weed Removal and Control
For immediate white clover removal, hand-pulling can be effective, especially if the problem is localized. Ensure you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth. For larger infestations, GreenSeasons recommends selective herbicide treatments that target broadleaf weeds without harming the grass. It's essential to follow the product instructions carefully and apply during optimal conditions to avoid damage to surrounding plants and maximize the herbicide's effectiveness.

4. Consider Clover's Benefits
In some cases, homeowners may choose to embrace white clover as a part of their lawn. Its ability to fix nitrogen can improve soil health, and its flowers are attractive to pollinators. If you decide to keep some clover, GreenSeasons advises managing its spread to maintain a balance with your grass and ensure a diverse, healthy lawn ecosystem.

5. Professional Lawn Care Services
Controlling white clover and maintaining a healthy lawn can be time-consuming and requires ongoing effort. GreenSeasons offers professional lawn care services tailored to Baton Rouge's unique climate and soil conditions. Our team of experts can provide customized fertilization, weed control, and lawn maintenance plans to keep your lawn looking its best all year round.

Conclusion
White clover control is more than just a cosmetic issue; it's about maintaining the health and vitality of your lawn. By understanding the reasons behind clover's appearance and taking proactive steps to improve lawn health, Baton Rouge homeowners can enjoy lush, beautiful lawns that enhance their property's value and appeal. Whether you choose to tackle white clover on your own or seek professional assistance from GreenSeasons, the key is consistent care and attention to your lawn's needs.

For more information on our lawn care services or to schedule a consultation, visit GreenSeasons' website or contact us directly. Let us help you achieve the beautiful, clover-free lawn you deserve.

Green kyllinga is a perennial sedge weed. It will return next year unless you do something about it. Green kyllinga invades by both seed and underground stems known as rhizomes. The weed generally has three long leaves that form on the end of a hard triangular stem. Green kyllinga also makes a spiky green seed head. The seed head will fade to brown if left untreated.

Cultural control is the best long term solution for weed control. Creating an environment where your grass thrives and out competes weeds makes for an easier life. Green kyllinga thrives in poorly drained soil. Proper drainage will greatly improve your lawn. Additionally, proper mowing heights will keep your grass in the best position to edge out weeds. 

We deal with a few grass types around Baton Rouge and New Orleans: St. Augustine, Centipedegrass, Zoysia, and Bermudagrass. Luckily, there are a lot of good options for chemical control in these grass types. Look for products containing any one of the following active ingredients: sulfosulfuron, imazaquin, sulfentrazone, halosulfuron, bentazon). Read and follow the label for application instructions. Some herbicides take multiple applications. 

Ensuring proper drainage and following up with a control product will take care of your weed problem in no time.

Carpetgrass is a desirable grass type in parts of the country. Not so in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Carpetgrass will blend in with centipede grass throughout the year. Then summer comes and the seed heads pop out. Carpetgrass seed heads  make a mess of your well manicured lawn.

Carpetgrass looks sort of like centipede grass. They have grow in a similar manner. The easiest way to identify carpetgrass is to wait until late June and throughout the end of summer. Carpetgrass seed heads shoot out and form a distinctive shape. It is usually described as a Y with one extra offshoot. Checkout the picture above to see it.

Herbicide control products include either Celsius or Finale. Both require licensing in Louisiana. These products work, but may take two applications. Contact us for help.

Carpetgrass does not do well with salt. If you have a salt tolerant grass like certain varieties of St. Augustinegrass, then you may have another option. While we have not attempted this remedy, numerous other sources have found success with it. Attempt at your own risk. The mix is 7 to 10 gallons of water and two cups of table salt. Let it sit in a large bucket for a couple of days to dissolve. Pick a day when there is no expected rain for 3 days out. Using a watering can, lightly water the areas with carpetgrass weeds. You should see the effect in three days.

Lespedeza is an open branched annual weed which is present between late spring and the end of summer in Louisiana. There are other varieties of lespedeza, but common lespedeza is what most people have a problem with in their yards. The stems harden and become woody the longer this weeds stays in your lawn. It grows outward into prostrate mats mixed in with your grass.

Good cultural practices help. The best deterrent to lespedeza is a healthy lawn. Deep and infrequent watering helps to develop strong grass roots. Mowing your lawn at the correct height allows it to photosynthesize enough food. Taller grass provides more shade which denies new weeds sunlight. Cutting your grass too low weakens your lawn while allowing more sunlight to fresh weeds.

Beyond cultural changes, pre-emergent herbicides can prevent lespedeza weeds from appearing in your lawn. The main caveat here is you have to do it before the weed is growing each year. Plan to do before next spring. A few pre-emergent herbicides work well against lespedeza. Products with the active ingredient atrazine, simazine, or dithiopyr work very well at prevention. Read the label to make sure you are applying it correctly.

Once you have a lespedeza weed problem, your go to solution is selective post-emergent herbicides. Luckily, there are a number of post-emergent herbicides available that take care of lespedeza. Products with the active ingredient atrazine, dicambia, metsulfuron, or simazine to name a few. There are plenty more herbicide choices. Read the label before purchasing and be certain it is labeled for your grass type, else you may end up damaging the plants you want to keep.

It is summer time and you are outside admiring the great looking lawn you cut a few days ago when you spot it, crabgrass. Crabgrass weeds blend in with your lawn when cut, but will quickly grow taller than the surrounding turf. Many people cut their grass more often to maintain the uniform appearance, only to have this weed pop up and drive them batty. Let's figure out how to get rid of crabgrass so you can get back to a normal mowing routine.

Crabgrass Prevention
Prevention is the name of the game with crabgrass. Crabgrass is an annual weed. This means it will die off on its own each year (yay!). It also leaves a lot of seeds that will grow again next spring (boo!). If you want to really control crabgrass weeds in the long run, you need to use a pre-emergent herbicide. We use a product called Dimension which contains the active ingredient dithiopy​r. Search your local hardware store for a pre-emergent product with either this active ingredient or any grassy weed pre-emergent labeled for both your turf type and crabgrass. Time the pre-emergent application for late fall and/or mid-winter depending upon the product label. Pre-emergents need to go down before the new weeds sprout or they will not work.

Prevention can also occur by keeping the rest of your grass healthy. Don't leave thin areas since this creates an opening for weeds to take root and grow. Fertilizer and water are your best option here. Keep healthy grass and the weeds can't get sunlight.

Crabgrass Control
Prevention is great for next year, but what about the weeds in your yard today? Luckily, there are a lot of options available to consumers that are readily available at the hardware store or through the internet. Be certain to check which turf grasses the product can safely be applied over. You don't want to be the guy that has a brown yard because he didn't check the label first. (This happens more often than you would think.) Don't spray your whole yard if you only have a spot of crabgrass. No need to risk an accident when it is unnecessary. Additionally, most products require a second application a few weeks after the first for proper crabgrass control, but check the label to be certain.

If all else fails, grab a shovel and a few pieces of sod. It can be labor intensive, but the results are both guaranteed and immediate.

Spring time in Baton Rouge brings nice temperatures and excessive rain. The warm and wet weather leads to a large influx of new weeds popping up in your lawn. The weed seeds have waited underground all winter to rise up and show off. Poa annua, aka annual bluegrass, can be an eye sore for many lawns in Louisiana. The weed is an annual, meaning it will die off on its own each year, which is good. Each weed produces hundreds of seeds, which is bad. The seeds can also lay dormant for multiple years, so you will have to have a good treatment plan in place over a long period of time.

How to Control Poa Annua
Poa annua is best treated by preventing the large amount of seeds in the ground from sprouting. Poa annua seeds start to germinate in late fall, so you need to have a pre-emergent down before that and throughout the winter into spring. Since the seeds can stay dormant, this will need to be done for a few consecutive years to get close to eradicating the Poa problem. 

Step 1 - Pre-Emergent Herbicide
We recommend using a pre-emergent that has pendimethalin as an active ingredient in September. Follow that up with another round of pre-emergent containing the active ingredient dithiopyr in November and again in either late January or early February. Be sure to check the product label for usage rates, timing between applications, maximum annual rates, and which types of grass your product can be used on.

It is winter in Baton Rouge which means your grass is dormant and the clover looks very healthy! You may be tempted to let the clover take over so you have a very lush, green lawn. If you want to get rid of the clover without killing your grass, we have your solution. It is also an easy fix. Let's get your lawn clover free.

Clover Control
While it matters less when your grass is dormant, you need to know what type of grass you have. Typical desired grass types here are centipede grass, St. Augustine grass, zoysia grass, or bermudagrass. This is important. When you select a selective herbicide at the store, you need to be certain your grass type is listed as a type of grass that the product will not hurt. An old go to active ingredient for clover control is 2,4-d. There are a quite a few other products that will work well to achieve your goal. Follow the label for the product you purchase and spray or spread it over the top of grass.

Stop Them Before They Start
When dealing with clover, as well as most weeds, you should attempt to stop the clover before it spreads. Regular fertilization with nitrogen during the warm months will encourage your grass to spread and get thicker. Thicker grass will block out the sun from weed seeds. Another solution to stop clover is to use pre-emergent herbicides in late fall to prevent the seeds from ever germinating.

Natural Weed Control
A natural solution is to use corn gluten meal. Apply twenty pounds of corn gluten meal per thousand feet of clover weeds. After applying the corn gluten meal, water thoroughly and allow to dry. The meal then dries out the clover seeds so that it will continue to spread.

People worry about weeds in their lawn in the summer, but the best time to inspect your lawn for weeds is in the winter. Grass tends to go dormant in the the winter and turn yellow. Weeds keep their green color and stick out for you to easily spot. Some winter weeds to look out for are white clover, henbit, common chickweed, and annua poa. You should use a selective herbicide labeled for these weeds to take them out easily during the winter. These selective herbicides usually contain atrazine or 2,4-D, but not both. You can use a small amount of product and get rid of the weeds without treating your whole lawn.

You will not see certain summer weeds like crabgrass since they go away for winter since it is an annual weed. If you know you had a problem with crabgrass in the summer, the winter is a great time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent the seeds left from sprouting during the warm season. You can use a pre-emergent to treat many of the annual weeds you see in the summer that go away in winter. If you remember where they grew, you can treat those areas for better control.

Also, do not add any weed and feed for your lawn. Nitrogen promotes growth, and your grass should not be growing.