Be the envy of the street

With the right tools and know-how, growing your dream weed-free lawn is easy.

Want to know the secret to growing a lush, weed-free lawn?

There’s no magic product, but there is a magic formula—regular feeding, mowing, and watering. These three simple steps keep your lawn healthy and resilient, creating a strong defense against weeds. Occasionally, stray weeds might sneak in, but tackling them early stops them from taking root and spreading. By learning to correctly identify and treat weeds, you can maintain a lush and beautiful lawn.

 

Weed out the problem

Small lawn weed issues are easily tackled with a two-pronged hand weeder, which removes roots and all in one swift motion. For larger areas, a selective lawn herbicide will eliminate weeds without harming your grass. For a more proactive approach, you can use pre-emergent herbicides that target certain weeds before they become established. Not all selective herbicides work on every type of weed. The key is in correctly identifying the weed and in choosing the right product for the job.

Products you can use

To control most broadleaf weeds in lawns, look for products containing the active ingredient bromoxynil (safe for use on buffalo lawns) or MCPA/dicamba.

• Yates BuffaloPro Lawn Weed Killer (bromoxynil)

• Amgrow Kleen Lawn (MCPA/dicamba)

 

Did you know? 

A product labelled as a ‘weed killer’ is typically a non-selective herbicide, meaning it will kill anything it touches, including your lawn. Always read the label carefully before purchasing to ensure you’re choosing the right product, whether it’s a generic weed killer or one specifically formulated for lawns.

Broadleaf weeds

You’ll often see many lawn weeds referred to as ‘broadleaf weeds’. This refers to weeds that typically have wide, flat leaves as opposed to grass-like blades. Common broadleaf weeds include clover, dandelion, plantain, cudweed, creeping oxalis, catsear, thistle and bindii.

BINDII

Also known as jo jo or onehunga, bindii must be controlled when it appears in autumn or early winter as tiny, lime green fern-like plants. If untreated, it can produce three generations of spiny seed heads by spring, making it a painful nuisance for bare feet and a persistent problem for your lawn. Early intervention is key to stopping it from spreading and ensuring your lawn stays comfortable and weed-free.

CLOVER

This is one of the easiest weeds to recognise with its three distinct heart-shaped leaflets, each featuring a creamy-white marking at the centre, all attached to a single stem. It forms a low-growing clump that spreads quickly across the lawn with small white or pink flowers. It can be difficult to hand-weed due to its deep and fibrous root system, so it's best to use a selective herbicide for fast and effective control.

DANDELION

With its bright yellow flowers and deeply toothed leaves, dandelion should be controlled as soon as it appears. If left untreated, it quickly develops a deep taproot and produces seed heads that can disperse hundreds of seeds with the slightest breeze (a delight for kids but a headache for your lawn!). A handful of plants can easily be manually removed—ensure you pull the entire taproot for effective control.

CREEPING OXALIS

This is often confused with clover due to the arrangement of its leaves. However, creeping oxalis does not have the distinct creamy-white marking at the centre of the leaflets, and the flowers are bright yellow. It spreads quickly via creeping stems that root at multiple points, forming dense mats across your lawn. Like clover, it is difficult to hand-weed, so treat infestations with a selective lawn herbicide.

"Regularly feed, mow and water for a lush weed-free lawn."

 

Grassy weeds

Grassy weeds are another common type of lawn invader but unlike broadleaf weeds, they resemble grass in appearance with narrow, long blades. These weeds often blend in with your lawn, making them harder to spot. Common grassy weeds include winter grass, summer grass, crab grass and crowsfoot.

WINTER GRASS

This is a cool-season weed that often appears in lawns during the colder months. It forms clumps offine, soft, lime green leaves with distinctive triangular seed heads. While it’s more common in autumn and winter, it can persist into spring if not managed.



To control winter grass in most lawn types, except kikuyu or fescue, look for products with the active ingredient endothal. Additionally, pre- and post-emergent herbicides with the active ingredient propyzamide can be effective but they are not suitable for kikuyu, bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue or bent grass lawns. Always check the product label to ensure compatibility with your lawn type before use.

 

CROWSFOOT GRASS

A fast-spreading grassy weed, crowsfoot is characterised by its flat, clumping growth habit and distinctive seed heads that fanout like a bird’s foot. This weed is particularly problematic in summer, as it tolerates heat and drought.



To control most grassy weeds, like crowsfoot and summergrass, before they emerge use a pre-emergent herbicide such as Oxafert or Spartan, to prevent their germination. It’s safe for use on most lawns, however it doesn’t control existing weeds, only new ones appearing in autumn.