| Key Takeaways |
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| • Weed categories: Grassy weeds, broadleaf weeds, and sedges. • Treatment windows: Different for West and East Tennessee. • Prevention: Dense, healthy lawns prevent weed seed germination. |
Spotted something in your Tennessee lawn that doesn’t belong? Weeds in Tennessee range from dandelions to crabgrass, and the Volunteer State has no shortage of uninvited guests.
Identifying weeds in Tennessee correctly is the first step toward controlling them. Different weed types require different herbicides, and using the wrong product wastes time and money. This guide covers 17 common weeds and how to eliminate them.
Weed control requires proper timing, the right products, and consistent follow-through. If you would rather skip the hassle, LawnStarter’s local lawn care pros can handle the lawn treatment for you.
Types of Weeds in Tennessee
Before you reach for any herbicide, you need to know which of these 3 categories your weed falls into, because each one requires a completely different product.
| Weed Category | How to Identify | Herbicide Type Needed |
| Grassy Weeds | Narrow blades, resemble turfgrass | Grassy weed herbicide |
| Broadleaf Weeds | Wide leaves with visible veins, often flower | Broadleaf herbicide |
| Sedges | Triangular stems, glossy leaves | Sedge-specific herbicide |
Quick Reference: Tennessee’s Most Common Weeds by Category
| Grassy Weeds | Broadleaf Weeds | Sedges |
| Smooth crabgrass, dallisgrass, goosegrass, annual bluegrass, Johnsongrass, green foxtail | Wild violet, dandelion, broadleaf plantain, chickweed, henbit, yellow woodsorrel, spotted spurge | Yellow nutsedge, green kyllinga |
Sources: UT Extension W1068, Lawn and Landscape Weed Control for Homeowners, TSU Extension Fact Sheet ANR-9, Lawn Weed Management
Always check if herbicides are safe for your lawn. Tennessee’s transition zone means warm-season Bermuda and Zoysia dominate the hotter west, while fescues prevail in northern counties and the Cumberland Plateau, so a product safe on a Memphis Bermuda lawn can kill a Knoxville fescue lawn.
See Related: Best Grass Seed for Tennessee
Common Grassy Weeds in Tennessee
Grassy weeds look a lot like your lawn (narrow blades, similar color), which makes them easy to mistake for turfgrass. You need a grassy-weed-specific herbicide to kill them; a standard broadleaf weed killer won’t work.
1. Smooth Crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum)
Smooth crabgrass is more prevalent in Tennessee lawns than large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), according to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA). It germinates in spring, grows through summer, and produces seed in fall before dying at the first frost.
Life cycle: Summer annual
Where it thrives: Full sun to part shade; bare, moist soil
How to identify crabgrass:
Light green leaves, nearly hairless
Zig-zag stems bending at the nodes
No rooting at the nodes
How to get rid of crabgrass: The best time to apply pre-emergent is late February to early March in West Tennessee and mid-March to early April in East Tennessee, according to UTIA.
See Related: How to Get Rid of Crabgrass in Your Yard
2. Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum)
According to UTIA, dallisgrass is one of the most difficult weeds to control in Tennessee lawns, and removal typically takes 2 growing seasons. It spreads through both seeds and underground rhizomes, so a single missed plant can re-establish an entire patch.
Life cycle: Perennial
Where it thrives: Full sun and partially shaded areas. Prefers wet soil conditions.
How to identify dallisgrass:
Grayish-green leaves with a mid-rib
Seed heads consist of hairy spikelets
How to get rid of dallisgrass: Plan on 2 seasons. Apply post-emergent herbicide each fall as plants enter dormancy, and mow before seedheads form in mid-June. Tall fescue lawns have few options: fluazifop, or spot-treat with glyphosate, then reseed.
3. Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)
Goosegrass is rarely found in healthy lawns. If you’re seeing it, you likely have compacted soil. Emerging in late spring, it grows close to the ground, resists mowing, and produces prolific seeds.
Life cycle: Summer annual
Where it thrives: Compacted soils with poor drainage
How to identify goosegrass:
Grows in clumps from a central root
Leaves with a white base and smooth texture
How to get rid of goosegrass: Aerate to relieve compaction. Apply a pre-emergent from February to early March in western Tennessee and from mid-March to early April in eastern Tennessee, with a second application 6 to 8 weeks later.
Hand-pull small infestations or apply a post-emergent from May to August.
See Related: Best Time to Aerate and Overseed a Lawn in Tennessee
4. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)
Annual bluegrass commonly invades Bermudagrass lawns when they go dormant in fall, and its seeds can form persistent seed banks that compromise turf for years.
Under Tennessee’s seed regulations, annual bluegrass is restricted in lawn and turf seed to 300 seeds per pound, so check the label before buying budget seed mixes. The state requires it to be declared if present.
Life cycle: Winter annual
Where it thrives: Shaded areas with moist soil
How to identify annual bluegrass:
Greenish-yellow leaves
Grows in patches or clumps that stand out from surrounding turf
How to get rid of annual bluegrass: Hand-pull small plants or overseed in fall. Apply pre-emergent herbicides in late August.
5. Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Johnsongrass can accumulate prussic acid when stressed by drought or early frost, which can poison livestock that graze it. It is classified as an invasive plant in Tennessee. It spreads aggressively through thick rhizomes and abundant seeds.
Life cycle: Perennial
Where it thrives: Various soil conditions; thrives in full sun and fertile soils
How to identify johnsongrass:
Narrow leaves with a center vein
Stems pink to reddish near the base
How to get rid of johnsongrass: Hand-pulling works best on young seedlings. For established stands, several post-emergent applications are required. Thicken your lawn to prevent regrowth.
6. Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis)
This summer annual grows tall, with seed heads up to 4 inches long and leaves reaching 12 inches long. It spreads aggressively, producing multiple generations in a single season.
Life cycle: Summer annual
Where it thrives: Moist, high-fertility soils in full sun or partial shade
How to identify foxtail:
Mature seed head is a green tapered cylinder covered with barbs
Leaves grow erect rather than lying flat
How to get rid of foxtail: Mow before seed production to limit spread. Combine mowing with repeated post-emergent herbicide applications for active infestations.
Common Broadleaf Weeds in Tennessee
Broadleaf weeds have wide leaves with visible veins and often produce flowers. A standard broadleaf herbicide handles most of them, but safe spraying starts with checking your product label to confirm it’s compatible with your grass type.
7. Wild Violet (Viola spp.)
Wild violets spread aggressively from rhizomes, so they often bounce back after post-emergent herbicides burn the top growth. You’ll need multiple applications to control this Tennessee weed.
Life cycle: Perennial
Where it thrives: Shaded, moist areas
How to identify wild violet:
Heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges
Purple, white or blue flowers
How to get rid of wild violet: Apply a triclopyr-based herbicide in the fall; multiple applications may be needed.
8. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion’s taproot can grow 10 inches deep into the soil and regenerate new plants. It’s hard to kill and spreads fast through seeds.
Life cycle: Perennial
Where it thrives: Nearly any condition, but flourishes in thin lawns with compacted soil
How to identify dandelion:
Yellow flowers
Toothed leaves in a rosette
Fluffy seed heads
How to get rid of dandelion: Hand-pull entire taproot or apply herbicides in fall and spring. Mow before seedheads form.
See Related: How to Get Rid of Dandelions
9. Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)
Plantain’s upward-pointing stems can reach 12 inches tall and are easily spotted anywhere. It can indicate damp and compacted soil in your lawn.
Life cycle: Perennial
Where it thrives: Compacted soils with heavy foot traffic
How to identify broadleaf plantain:
Oval leaves with prominent parallel veins form a flat rosette
Slender flower spikes rise from the center
How to get rid of broadleaf plantain: Aerate soil, hand-pull, or apply herbicides in spring and fall.
10. Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Chickweed spreads through seeds that germinate in late summer and early fall. The plant grows during winter when warm-season turfgrasses are dormant and cannot outcompete the weed.
Life cycle: Winter annual
Where it thrives: Moist, shaded areas with fertile soil
How to identify common chickweed:
Small oval leaves
Tiny white flowers with notched petals
How to get rid of common chickweed: Hand-pull or apply pre-emergent herbicides in late summer to early fall.
See Related: How to Get Rid of Chickweed
11. Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
Henbit germinates in the fall, flowers in spring, and then seeds and shrivels in the summer heat. Adaptable and with a short life cycle, it’s a common nuisance in many Tennessee lawns.
Life cycle: Winter annual
Where it thrives: Thin, weak lawns with moist soil and shaded areas
How to identify henbit:
Square stems and scalloped leaves
Pink to purple flowers
How to get rid of henbit: Apply pre-emergent herbicides in early fall or post-emergent in late winter.
See Related: How to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides
12. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
Ragweed pollen is the top cause of weed-pollen allergic rhinitis and a major trigger for asthma, according to the Allergy & Asthma Network. Tennessee’s warm, humid summers create ideal conditions for this weed.
Life cycle: Summer annual
Where it thrives: Disturbed soils and thin lawns. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions.
How to identify ragweed:
Deeply lobed, fern-like leaves
Grows 1 to 3 feet tall.
How to get rid of ragweed: Mow regularly, hand-pull before flowering, or apply broadleaf herbicides.
13. Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
Often mistaken for clover, wood sorrel has heart-shaped leaflets and yellow flowers, while clover has round leaflets and white or pink flowers.
Life cycle: Perennial or annual
Where it thrives: Thin or stressed lawns, flower beds, and shaded areas
How to identify yellow wood sorrel:
3 heart-shaped leaflets
Yellow flowers
Explosive seed pods shaped like mini-okra
How to get rid of yellow wood sorrel: Pre-emergent herbicide applications can control this weed. When plants are young, non-selective herbicides work effectively.
See Related: Clover vs. Oxalis: What’s the Difference?
14. Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)
Spotted spurge has a low growth habit that helps it escape mower blades. This weed grows during the warm months and spreads rapidly by seed.
Life cycle: Summer annual
Where it thrives: Hot, dry areas with thin turf. Often found in cracks in driveways and sidewalks.
How to identify spotted spurge:
Small oval leaves with a reddish center
Milky sap
Mat-forming habit
How to get rid of spotted spurge: Apply pre-emergent herbicides in early spring. Hand-pull or apply a post-emergent in late spring and early summer.
15. Spiny Sowthistle (Sonchus asper)
Spiny sowthistle, or prickly sowthistle, is an aggressive-growing wildflower that spreads through seeds and has deep roots that are a handful to remove.
Life cycle: Annual or biennial
Where it thrives: Disturbed soils, garden beds, and thin lawns
How to identify spiny sowthistle:
Spiny leaves, yellow flowers
Hollow stems; grows 2 to 4 feet tall
How to get rid of spiny sowthistle: Hand-pull before flowering or apply herbicides to young plants.
Sedges
Sedges look like grass but are a separate plant family. Standard grassy weed herbicides won’t work on them.
16. Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Yellow nutsedge is prevalent in East Tennessee, while purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is more common in western areas. These weeds emerge in late spring from rhizomes and underground tubers, spreading rapidly in wet lawns during summer.
Lifecycle: Perennial
Where it thrives: Wet areas with full sun. Often indicates excess watering or poor drainage.
How to identify nutsedge:
Light green or yellow glossy leaves
Triangular stems and yellow spikelets
How to get rid of nutsedge: Hand-pull tubers or apply herbicides May-August. Fix drainage issues.
See Related: How to Control Nutsedge in Your Yard
17. Green Kyllinga (Kyllinga brevifolia)
Green kyllinga persists even with regular mowing due to its low-growing habit. Dense mats form through short rhizomes spreading through turfgrass.
Life cycle: Perennial
Where it thrives: Warm soils with excessive moisture. Indicates poor drainage and overwatering.
How to identify kyllinga:
Waxy leaves shorter and finer than other sedges.
Triangular stem characteristic of the sedge family.
How to get rid of kyllinga: Fix drainage, maintain dense turf, and apply post-emergent herbicides May-August.
Tired of Fighting Weeds on Your Own?
Identifying and controlling weeds in Tennessee is challenging, especially with stubborn invaders like dallisgrass and nutsedge. Professional weed control typically costs $50 to $210. If you are tired of spending weekends pulling weeds, let LawnStarter’s local lawn treatment pros take it off your plate.
We have trusted lawn care pros in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Franklin, and many more cities across the Volunteer State.
FAQs
Johnsongrass, wild violet, and yellow nutsedge are Tennessee’s toughest weeds. They spread through underground rhizomes and tubers that regrow after top growth is killed. If 2 or more applications of the correct herbicide haven’t knocked them down, consider bringing in a professional.
To identify weeds, check the leaves: Grassy weeds have narrow blades resembling turfgrass and emerge with a single leaf. Broadleaf weeds emerge with 2 leaves, have wider foliage with net-like veins, and often produce visible flowers.
Yes. Johnsongrass is poisonous to livestock, and Tennessee’s seed regulations prohibit its seed from being sold in the state. Yellow and purple nutsedge seeds are also prohibited. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture maintains the noxious-weed seed list.
Main Image: Wood sorrel flowers. Photo Credit: tdlucas5000 / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
