OK, we all know the problem weeds can cause on our lawns. But did you know some might even look cute? Indeed, some species might produce attractive purple flowers. And while you might think about leaving them there, you should know how to recognize them. After all, some varieties can be aggressive and cause severe damage to your garden. Of course, the weed species that might attack your lawn change depending on where you live. And if you want to learn about purple weeds in Michigan, keep reading.
Here, we made a list of all species you should know about when maintaining a lawn in this state.
Purple Weeds in Michigan
Not all weeds look unattractive. However, most will damage your lawn in the long run. It is rarely a good idea to leave them where they are. So, you must learn to recognize them and be able to tell harmful species to less damaging ones. Here is a list of some species you must be aware of.
Wild Violets
Wild violets are common flowering weeds that might also appear in shades of white or yellow. Yes, they look great but be careful! These plants will deprive your lawn of the essential nutrients to thrive and spread incredibly fast. Failing to control them will allow these weeds to take over your garden in the blink of an eye.
The problem with wild violets is that they spread through underground rhizomes, which might make getting rid of them challenging. Some people won’t remove wild violets from their garden and use the plant’s peals to make teas or in their salads. But if you like your lawn to look tidy, we recommend you hand-pull them as soon as you see them.
Ground Ivy
You may know this weed as “creeping Charlie,” but the substance doesn’t change. Ground ivy is a relative of mint and will adapt to various growing conditions. In most cases, getting rid of ground ivy will take time and effort.
Don’t expect to remove it by mowing your lawn! Similar to wild violets, ground ivy spreads through thick roots underground. And since they don’t have issues competing for nutrients, they might deprive your grass (and other existing plants) of what it needs to survive.
Identifying creeping charlie isn’t challenging. The plant produces four-petaled flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer.
Speedwell
Speedwell is a popular type of weed in Michigan. It is common for gardeners having to deal with it between March and May. Despite looking almost cute and attracting plenty of beneficial pollinators, this plant isn’t as delicate as you think. Avoid allowing it to grow undisturbed, or it will take over your garden in a few weeks.
The weed is a low-growing plant species that grow into a dense mat and produces bright blue flowers. There are various types of speedwell, but the most common in Michigan is the “slender variety.” However, you may also encounter (but more rarely) the Germander and the Ivy-leaved ones.
Forget-Me-Nots
Gardeners tend to have different opinions on this subject. Some people consider forget-me-nots invasive weed species, while others grow them as ornamental ground covers.
But no matter how you want to look at them, if your objective is to have a healthy lawn, allowing forget-me-nots to spread around your garden might be counterproductive. Indeed, this plant will quickly get out of control and deprive your grass of several essential nutrients.
Depending on the severity of the infestation, you may be able to solve the issue by hand-pulling the weed when you see it in your garden.
Indeed, we always recommend our readers to use chemical herbicides as their last resort. After all, using synthetic products might harm other plants and kill beneficial pollinators.