What Are Lawn Weeds Trying to Tell You?

Ugly Reminders

Photo by Wally Eberhart/Visuals Unlimited/Getty

These opportunistic plants pop up in response to a particular growing condition, one that's good for them but bad for your lawn's health. Use them as a guide to fixing the state of your soil and taking back your turf.

Crabgrass

Illustration by Rodica Prato

Condition: Scalped turf

Fix: Raise the height of your mower blades.

Common Plantain

Illustration by Rodica Prato

Condition: Wet or slow-draining soil

Fix: Reduce watering and regrade for better drainage. Or replace the area of lawn with a rain garden.

White Clover

Illustration by Rodica Prato

Condition: Low soil fertility

Fix: Run a soil test and apply organic fertilizer as recommended.

Creeping Charlie

Illustration by Rodica Prato

Condition: Too much shade

Fix: Overseed with shade-tolerant grass varieties.

Knotweed

Illustration by Rodica Prato

Condition: Compacted or heavy soil

Fix: Aerate areas prone to heavy foot traffic yearly.