College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• MSU Soil Testing Update

  Published on May 15, 2023
  Join Michigan State University Extension educators to learn what’s new in the soil testing process from Michigan State University (MSU).

• Orchardgrass

  Orchardgrass is a competitive perennial grassy weed of cool-season turf. It has a very well developed fibrous root system and can be difficult to remove once established.

• Yellow Rocket

  Yellow rocket is a rosette-forming winter annual that is usually associated with bare, disturbed soil or new establishments (prefers nutrient-rich, medium-textured soils).

• Field Horsetail

  Field horsetail is most often a weed of landscape beds and low-lying areas. Horsetail can survive in turf, but often will not persist with routine mowing.

• Bermudagrass

  Bermudagrass is a warm-season perennial that spreads by stolons (above ground runners). Bermudagrass is a not widely considered to be cold tolerant, however, several selections exist that can overwinter in Michigan.

• Field Bindweed

  Field bindweed is a common weed in subdivisions that were converted from agricultural land. Bindweed has an aggressive rhizomatous root system with trailing stems that spread quickly and can overtake mulched beds, bushes and fence rows. It is common to see bindweed smothering junipers and other bushes. The white and pink flowers are distinctly from the morningglory family. The veins are conspicuous on the arrowhead shaped leaves (sagitate or hastate).

• Large Crabgrass

  Large crabgrass is a common invader of manicured turf. Large crabgrass has hairs on all surfaces. It can be identified by its light green appearance and swollen, zig-zag nodes.

• Red Thread

  Red thread is a disease of slow growing turf. Red thread is easily recognized by the red to coral-pink fungal strands (stromata) produced on leaf blades and sheaths.

• Gray Leaf Spot

  Gray leaf spot is considered a problem on primarily perennial ryegrass and St. Augustinegrass. The disease first appears as tiny brown spots that enlarge and become oval or elongated.

• Redroot Pigweed

  Redroot pigweed is a summer annual broadleaf weed that is typically associated with new establishments and other areas of disturbed soil (compost piles, gardens).

• Prostrate Spurge

  Prostrate spurge is a late-germinating, low growing, mat-producing summer annual. Spurge is very often found in un-irrigated bark mulch common to parking lot tree islands, crevices and boulevards.

• Black Medic

  Black medic is a low-growing creeping weed that is well adapted to many lawn situations. In particular, black medic can be an indication of low soil nitrogen. It is most common to find medic in full sun , low maintenance situations. Black medic and white clover grow in similar situation and are often found growing together.

• Orange Hawkweed

  Orange hawkweed is a creeping perennial of low maintenance turf, roadsides and native areas. It can be an indicator of low soil fertility or slightly acidic soils. Hawkweed spreads by stolons and rhizomes creating colonies that form patches.

• Canada Thistle

  Canada thistle is a creeping perennial that always colonizes in patches. Plants can reach 1-3 feet high. Canada thistle has an extremely well developed creeping root system that can grow several feet deep.

• Yellow Foxtail

  Yellow foxtail is a clumping annual grass that commonly invades Michigan turfs. Young plants can be difficult to distinguish from other grasses like crabgrass. Yellow foxtail produces a characteristic 'foxtail'-like seedhead.

• Wild Carrot

  One of the two most common weeds of Midwestern roadsides. Wild carrot (Queen Anne's-lace) is a biennial that forms a carrot-like taproot that allows it to survive the harsh, gravely, nutrient deficient conditions that it thrives in.

• Brown Patch

  Brown patch appears as circular patches, ranging from a few inches to several feet in diameter.

• Creeping Speedwell

  Creeping speedwell is a low growing perennial that prefers shade, moist soils, good fertility and a low mowing height.

• Yellow Patch

  Yellow patch, also known as cool season brown-patch, is a Rhizoctonia pathogen similar to that of brown patch.

• Common Purslane

  Common purslane is a mat-forming summer annual that thrives in all soil types. Common purslane has multi-branched red stems with thick fleshy leaves that cluster at the end of the branches.