Weed Identification

[JediKnigt2]

I am trying to get my yard in shape...the soil SUCKS as they hauled it in when they built the subdivision...not the best soil so its compacted. I have plug aerated and I have started dragging one of the slit aerators behind my mower when I mow to try and loosen up the soil. I have also cleared out a huge ditch and am trying to plant some grass in there. I planted bermuda so hopefully it will take off...

Photo one is of the ditch...I couldn't till the soil because the angle tips any equipment over...so I have been pulling weeds along it manually..

photo 2 and 4 are of something growing in the ditch now...not sure what the two leaf thing is and I probably need to know..I think the smaller dark green stuff is bermuda...

Photo 3, not sure...

Photo 5 is crabgrass I think

Photo 6...not sure

photo 7...not sure.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Hey Jed,

I think the last three are mostly crab in different stages of growth...

The dual leaves are cotyledons or seed leaves so hardly definitive, but there are some true leaves on one near the left bottom that make me think vetch... at least it fixes nitrogen...


Probably right about the bermuda...

All and all this is a textbook example of why I only seed in fall (although bermuda does a good deal better than most turf grasses in hot season). Weeds will jump in hard (most are C4 hotweather types) while most of our turf is C3 cool weather growers... I'd think about slit seeding in fall with some tall turf type fescue and mow high next season (and the one after that, and the one after that...)

HG

[applestar]

I could be wrong, but if equipment can't be used along the ditch, won't you have a hard time maintaining it -- such as mowing -- once the grass grows there? I think that's why folks tend to plant low-growing, -maintenance ground covers on a steep slope.....

I would plant wildflowers or even vegetables, but that's me.....

[The Helpful Gardener]

And me...

[imafan26]

I avoid Bermuda, it is a nice grass to walk on and look at, but it has the most problems with pests, fungal disease, requires above average water, and it does not hide weeds well.

Usually when I did put in new grass, I roto-tilled in 3-4 inches of compost into the top 6 inches first. It helped with aeration, water and nutrient holding capacity, and fluffed up the hard clay soil.