Annual vs Perennial Weeds: What's the Difference?

Weeds are a common nuisance for lawns in Florida, but did you know that there are different types? Annual and perennial weeds are two types that can grow on your lawn, and while they both cause problems, they have some key differences. Annual weeds complete their life cycle in one year and die off at the end of the season. Perennial weeds, on the other hand, can live for multiple years and will continue to grow back if not dealt with. To keep your lawn free of these weeds, you should enroll in a weed control program. These programs typically include both pre- and post-emergent treatments to eliminate existing weeds and prevent new ones from sprouting.

What are annual weeds?

Annual weeds are those that complete their life cycle within one growing season. They germinate, grow, flower, produce seeds, and die all within one year. Because they don't live very long, they tend to spread quickly and take over your lawn if left unchecked. Some common examples of annual weeds include crabgrass, doveweed, and spotted spurge.

Because they only live for one season, annual weeds tend to be easier to get rid of than perennial weeds. However, they can still be problematic because they can produce a lot of seeds during their short lifespan. If you don’t address them right away, they could end up spreading across your entire lawn.

What are perennial weeds?

Perennial weeds are those that can live for multiple years. They typically start growing in the spring and continue throughout the summer and fall. Once winter rolls around, they enter a dormant state where they stop growing but remain alive. Then, they start growing again and continue the cycle the following spring, regrowing from their extensive root system or rhizomes. Some common examples of perennial weeds include dollarweed, clover, and nutsedge.

Because they live for multiple years, perennial weeds tend to be more difficult to deal with. That’s because they keep coming back year after year, spreading through multiple methods, such as seeds, rhizomes, and tubers. If you don’t take action against them, they could end up causing lasting issues for your grass.

Keep Your Lawn Free of Annual & Perennial Weeds by Enrolling in a Weed Control Program

To keep your lawn free of both annual and perennial weeds, you should enroll in a weed control program. These programs typically include both pre- and post-emergent weed control treatments to effectively eliminate existing weeds and prevent new ones from sprouting. Not only will pros utilize both to combat them at either end of their life cycle, but they also know when to administer them to yield the best results.

Pros will apply pre-emergent treatments to your lawn before weeds grow through the surface, timing them to coincide with germination. That way, they create a barrier in the soil that prevents newly germinated weeds from breaking through the surface. This helps prevent them from ever becoming an issue in the first place. On the other hand, post-emergent weed control treatments are applied directly to any existing growth, where they'll seep into the soil and kill it at the root. When you take advantage of a professional weed control program, you can keep your lawn free of both annual and perennial weeds!

Call us to sign up for our weed control service.

If you want to ensure your lawn stays weed-free year-round, look no further than our weed control service at FertiGator Lawn Care! This service includes a pre-emergent treatment in early spring to get ahead of weeds before they surface, as well as post-emergent weed control throughout the year to stay on top of the existing population. With us, you can trust that we use high-quality products to target both annual and perennial weeds, keeping them from stealing vital nutrients from your grass.

Our weed control service is offered to residential properties in The Villages, Lady Lake, Wildwood, FL, and nearby areas. Call us today at (352) 314-2867 to sign up!