Even though dandelions are one of the most delightful indicators that spring is finally on its way, they can quickly become unsightly. In a similar way, ragweed, Queen Anne’s lace, and crabgrass can all take their turns dominating your lawn as spring and summer progress. Unfortunately, many people believe that the only way to get rid of weeds and fungal infestations is to use harmful herbicides. Depending on the type of weed you are trying to control, you may not need any chemicals at all!

Lawn Height

In many cases, if you wait for the right time in the weed's life cycle, one good cutting with the lawn mower will eliminate them. For example, if you check with your county extension agency or local lawn and garden center, they should be able to tell you when cutting a weed will prevent it from growing back and developing seeds for the next year.

Controlling rampant weeds can be hard to do, especially if your weeds are the strong and resilient type (think Dandy loins). Once a particular weed as set up shop in your lawn removing it can be a long and trying ordeal, and many people simply give up. This is when you see houses with front lawns that are more weed than lawn- your first reaction might be to frown upon the homeowner for keeping their property in a state of disrepair, but the reality is that they simply might not know what to do.

You're faced with a few decisions when you get an infestation: go buck wild with weed killer and spray the whole lawn; try “natural” techniques for removal; pick them out by hand; or spot spray and pray with the weed killer. Unfortunately there is never a single, universal solution.

Dandelions are one of the most persistent weeds that gardeners face in their quest for the "perfect lawn". Dandelions are the most common type of weed in the United States and Europe, and they are very hard to deal with, as they do not die once the growing season is over and thus quickly reappear the following spring. They are green broadleaf weeds that eventually produce a yellow flower. This flower then forms a sphere of white seeds as it matures. These seeds are than spread throughout your lawn through wind pollination resulting in multiple patches of dandelions throughout your yard.

Buckthorn originated from Europe and was brought to the United States in the 1800s. It was originally used for hedging, but it was soon found to be an invasive plant. Buckthorn damages your lawn by taking most of the nutrients, water, and sunlight meant for your lawn plants. Once buckthorn grows on your lawn, it forms a strong layer that prevents desirable plants from getting to the things they need in order to survive. Buckthorn is also conducive to the growth of pests such as crown rust fungus and aphids. Because of these reasons, landscapers consider buckthorn to be a threat to a lawn's health.

Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) can be identified as having the following features:

The Creeping Charlie (also known as ground ivy) is a perennial weed that thrives in shaded, moist soils - although it is also known to survive in the presence of some sunlight. It reproduces through scattered seeds and creeping stems that develop roots at the nodes. Because of its mode of reproduction, the Creeping Charlie is a very persistent weed that is difficult to get rid of in its entirety.Ground Ivy

It is fairly easy to identify the Creeping Charlie. It has round leaves that are roughly half an inch (0.5 in.) to an inch and a half (1.5 in.) in diameter. The leaves are usually of a dark green or purplish color, with round-tooth edges. The leaves may even contain hairs. It has an almost square-shaped stem that can grow from a few inches to two feet. The Creeping Charlie also has bluish-purple flowers that are shaped like funnels.