Broadleaf Lawn Weeds

What is a Broadleaf Weed?

'Broadleaf' describes a category of weeds that are commonly found in NZ lawns and gardens. Dandelion, hawksbeard, catsear, clover, lamb’s tongue, chickweed, plantain, fleabane, mallow and dock are amongst the 'usual suspects' you're likely to encounter. 

Stereotypically, broadleaf weeds have wide, flat leaves, that hug the ground closely. Active growth periods vary: some are summer weeds, some thrive during winter. Some of these weeds are perennials (weeds that don’t die after one growing season) that become dormant at certain times of the year. Examples of winter perennials are white clover and dandelion; summer examples are curly dock and plantain.

How to Protect Your Lawn

The best time to control winter broadleaf weeds is in autumn. For summer broadleaf weeds, deal with them during spring.

If you leave weeds to mature until they produce seed, that means you'll have even more weeds to deal with next year! Weed seeds can remain viable in soil for several years, before popping up to plague you in the future. But if you consistently control weeds in your lawn, after a couple of seasons it reduces their seed bank in the soil...so it becomes much easier to maintain a clean looking lawn.

Unfortunately, weed seeds are very easily dispersed, so seeds from offsite will still sneak into your lawn. Tiny seeds can be transferred in from elsewhere, on shoes, in bird and animal droppings, in the breeze, or even by lawn mowers. For this reason, you'll get much better results from getting into the habit of treating your lawn 2-3 times per year. If you proactively apply a weedkiller in early spring (and late spring if necessary) and early autumn, you'll suppress a wide range of weeds before they're big enough to become noticeable.

Pro Tip: It's easiest to control broadleaf weeds while they're still small, but actively growing. This is when weedkillers are most effective against weeds.

Fortunately, most broadleaf weeds are easy to get rid of. To control broadleaf weeds in lawns, choose a selective weedkiller. This type of weedkiller is designed to kill off broadleaf weeds, but doesn't harm your lawn grass.

The easiest and fastest option is Yates Weed'n'Feed hose-on. Simply click it onto the garden hose and turn on the water, to apply a gentle fan of spray onto your lawn. Weed'n'Feed products are dual-use: they kill weeds, but they also deliver nutrients to feed the grass. If you're time-poor, this is the product for you.

Yates Turfix is also a go-to choice for keen lawnies. Turfix contains 3 active ingredients to target a wider range of weeds, but leaves your grass looking pristine.

For garden beds, spot spray broadleaf weeds with Yates Zero Super Concentrate (this isn't a selective weedkiller, so be careful not to get overspray on your precious plants).

Pro Tip: Warm-season grass types like kikuyu or couch are sensitive to selective weedkillers and may be damaged if they're sprayed while under stress, or during warm weather. Yates Weed'n'Feed Granular is a safer choice for these lawn types.