Georgia’s terrain spans coastal beaches, farmland, and mountains, enabling the Georgians to enjoy the diversity of plants & grass all season long.
With hundreds of different grass & plant types that find a home in the Georgian environment, different weed types shall appear too.
In this Lawn Advisors guide, you’ll have a closer look at the Common Weeds in Georgia, learn more about them, how tall they grow, and how useful they can be.
If you’re not fazed by their usefulness, you’ll already have the most effective ways of protecting your lawn/grass against them, alongside the methods of removing Common Weeds in Georgia at Lawn Advisors.
Once you don’t feel familiar with spotting different weed types, this video explains the method:
Weed Types
There are two main categories in which we categorize most weed types: the Annual and Perennial grass/broadleaf.
Annual Grass/Broadleaf
The annual grass and annual broadleaf weed types are known to grow throughout a specific period.
When this growing period ends, they die.
If you want to grow this type of plant, you’ll have to do it every year, thus the “annual” in the name.
For example, many plants complete their growth cycle throughout the summer months and die when the winter comes.
You’ll have to wait until the start of the growth cycle comes to re-plant again.
Perennial Grass/Broadleaf
Perennial Grass and Perennial Broadleaf plants and weeds grow for successive years, unlike their annual counterparts.
They reach their top growth level throughout the year and grow bigger and healthier as the next years come by.
They die if you take less care of them and leave them for diseases, or you just dispose of them.
Top 10 Most Common Weeds in Georgia
Here are the Top 10 Most common weeds in Georgia at Lawn Advisors, among hundreds of other well-known weed types you may find in the Georgian environment:
- Bittercress
- Dandelion
- Wild Onions
- Oxalis
- Plantain
- Doveweed
- Clover
- Kudzu
- Crabgrass
- Nutsedge
1. Bittercress
Bittercress is one of the most common weeds in Georgia and is considered part of the Annual Broadleaf weed category.
It can grow to as high as 3-12 inches, depending on how well it’s feeding off the environment, and which growth phase it has reached.
It’s an edible weed that is often used in green salads in Georgia.
The best way to protect your lawn against Bittercress is by maintaining healthy, and thick grass, as it thrives on thin grassy areas.
Additionally, pre-emergent can provide more control of Bittercress growth.
2. Dandelion
Part of Perennial Broadleaf Weeds, Dandelion is a 2-6 inches high weed that grows in masses in Georgia.
If you’d like to know more about the Dandelion weeds and how to get rid of them, check this article, where we put the yellow flower weed under the spotlight.
However, despite the infamous Dandelion invasions of lawns, every part of the weed is edible.
3. Wild Onions
Wild Onions are part of the Perennial Grass Weeds, and they can grow up to 18 inches.
The main task you need to carry out while seeking to control Wild Onions growth, is treating it with post-emergent weed control methods.
No pre-emergent weed control methods can prevent their growth.
Despite that aggressive growth pattern, Wild Onions are edible and can be pickled, used in seasoning, and eaten as a vegetable.
4. Oxalis
The fourth weed on the list of Common Weeds in Georgia is the Oxalis.
It’s a Perennial Broadleaf Weed, that can grow up to 10 inches.
It’s native to North America, and you can learn more about it, how to get rid of it, and more in this article.
Want to help protect your lawn against it? Keep your lawn healthy & dense, mow effectively, and Oxalis won’t be able to find shelter in your yard.
Oxalis’ flowers, seed pods, and leaves are all edible.
5. Plantain
Plantain is another Perennial Broadleaf Weed that thrives in a compacted soil environment.
It can grow to nearly 12 inches long.
The best practice to prevent its growth is aerating the lawn properly, reducing the compaction, and providing the Plantain with a less-suitable environment to grow in.
Plantain weed is edible, as it’s high in multiple calcium and vitamins.
6. Doveweed
Back to Annual Grass weeds, the Doveweed is a poisonous weed that can grow to nearly 12 inches tall.
Fighting against this poisonous weed is a must, and it can be easily won if you follow the proper maintenance practices.
You’ll need to water wisely, mow properly, and fertilize according to your lawn’s needs.
The Doveweed isn’t edible and can be poisonous if ingested by humans or animals. Only birds can feed off their seeds.
7. Clover
Clover is a Perennial Broadleaf Weed that grows to 4-8 inches depending on its growth.
The best practice against Clover’s growth is maintaining a healthy, dense, and fertilized lawn, depriving it of preying over thin grass suffering from low-maintenance.
Applying pre-emergent in the fall will also provide another layer of protection against Clover.
Is Clover Edible? Not in large quantities, No.
It’s only edible in small quantities and can be potentially beneficial too.
8. Kudzu
The odd one out on our list of Common Weeds in Georgia is the Kudzu Perennial Vine Weed.
It’s a common weed that grows in all directions and can take over a lawn pretty quickly if it faces fighting back.
Want to fight back against Kudzu? You’ll need to carry out mechanical control by cutting the weeds off and uprooting them off the ground.
Add to that the chemical control of herbicide application to the stem.
Kudzu’s leaves, roots, vine tips, and flowers are edible, but the seeds and seed pods aren’t.
9. Crabgrass
Crabgrass is an Annual Grass Weed that doesn’t grow past 2 feet, but will surely take advantage when it encounters bare areas in the lawn or thin grass.
Crabgrass is invasive but can be easily defended against by maintaining a healthy lawn, using the aforementioned protective measures.
Is Crabgrass edible? Yes, it is edible, and it’s nutritious to a high extent, as it’s used in cereals around the world.
10. Nutsedge
The last Common Weed in Georgia on our list is the Nutsedge.
It’s a Perennial Sedge weed that can grow to 30 inches high.
Fighting against Nutsedge is easy, and similar to fighting against Crabgrass, as all you need to do is water wisely, mow properly, and fertilize according to your lawn’s needs.
Nutsedge is also edible, and they have a sweet and nutty flavor too. Some would roast it or boil it to enjoy that flavor.
Common Weeds in Georgia FAQ
Summary
Here are the top 10 most common weeds in Georgia at Lawn Advisors, with Bittercress, Dandelion, and Wild Onions being the most common weeds in Georgia as the Top 3.
However, there are still hundreds of other weed types that appeared in Georgia, and you can tell us more about them in the comments section if you’ve encountered them in your yard.
