As Kansas City homeowners walk through their springtime lawns, they all have the same question.  What is this strange little weed???  In the springtime, lawn barespots will be filled with one of Mother Nature’s little winter surprises.  Winter broadleaf weeds: henbit, chickweed, oxalis, dandelions, and an occasional thistle have sprouted in the lawn wherever there is a bare spot.  Some have little flowers: purple, yellow or white.  No matter how cold, how much snow and ice, or how good your lawn looked last fall, it now looks like the salad bar at Denny’s.

These small winter broadleaf weeds can be controlled with the right weed control program.  They are not controlled by pre-emergents.  A traditional Step #2 Weed and Feed will not work well until cold soil temperatures warm up in April.  Likewise, their small leaves make them a difficult target for weed spray.

Uncle says the best way to kill these little winter broadleaves is with a cold weather liquid weed killer:  Trimec or Speed Zone.  Uncle says make sure to use Gordon’s Spreader Sticker to help the spray stick to the small waxy leaves and use the stronger mixing formula.  Also, be patient.  At cold soil temperatures, these plants die more slowly and you may need a second application after seven to ten days.