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).

• Curly Dock

  Curly dock is a long taprooted simple (non-branching) perennial that grows in a rosette. The 6-8" long elliptical or lance-shaped leaves of curly dock have entire but wavy margins (not toothed). The youngest leaves smooth margins that get progressively more rippled as the leaf matures. The appearance of the mature leaves resembles leaf lettuce (very curly).

• Chicory

  Chicory is a simple (unbranched) perennial with a jagged fleshy taproot. The coarsely-toothed basal leaves are 6-8" long and form a rosette.

• Creeping Woodsorrel

  Creeping woodsorrel is a spreading perennial weed with a reddish-purple color that frequently roots at the nodes.

• Silvery Thread Moss

  Silvery thread moss is the most common species found in turfgrass, usually appearing on putting greens and in shaded back yards.

• 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.

• Pythium Blight

  Pythium first appears as circular reddish brown spots in the turf, ranging in diameter from 1 to 6 in. In the morning dew, infected leaf blades appear water soaked and dark and may feel slimy.

• Bacterial Wilt

  Bacterial wilt is characterized by tiny red-copper-colored spots first appearing about the size of a dime. As more plants die, spots become larger. Small, yellow leaf spots, streaked tan to dark brown spots, dark green, water soaked lesions, shriveled blue to dark green leaves, and yellow elongated leaves are all symptoms that have been associated with bacterial wilt.

• Annual Bluegrass

  Annual bluegrass is unique among weeds. There is probably no other weed that is so widely adapted to variations in mowing height, site conditions and cultural practices.

• Ground Ivy

  Ground ivy, also known as creeping Charlie, is an aggressive perennial that is ideally suited to many landscape situations. It prefers moist, well-fertilized, shades sites maintained at a low mowing height.

• Mouseear Chickweed

  Mouseear chickweed is a low-growing perennial that can tolerate extremely low mowing heights (even at greens height). It can tolerate a wide variety of soil and growing conditions. The leaves of mouseear chickweed are typically very thick, dark green and covered with hairs.

• Common Milkweed

  Milkweed is easily identified by its upright growth habit and large (entire) leaves. All plant parts will exude a milky white latex when broken.

• 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.

• Heal All

  Heal All is a low growing, spreading, perennial of the mint family. It has very distinctive 'puckered' leaves with an opposite arrangement on square stems.

• Broadleaf Plantain

  Broadleaf plantain is probably the second most common broadleaf weed of turf after dandelion. It is extremely well adapted to most sites including dry or wet conditions, heavy soils and very low mowing heights.

• Wild Strawberry

  Wild strawberry is a trifoliate (three leaflets) weed that spreads by aggressive stolons. The leaves and fruit of wild strawberry are smaller than that of its cultivated cousin. Wild strawberry is usually found in low maintenance areas and prefers well-drained soils.

• Gray Snow Mold

  This disease is important in northern regions of the United States, where snow cover remains on the ground for extended periods, usually 3 months or more.

• Microdochium Patch

  This is the most important disease in areas with extended periods of cool wet weather. Symptoms appear as reddish brown to copper-colored spots in the turf.

• Bull Thistle

  Bull thistle is a clumping biennial that forms a thick taproot in its first growing season. The leaves of bull thistle are covered with 'soft' hairs and needle-like spines on the margin.

• Common Mullein

  Large oblong densely-hairy leaves growing from a rosette in the first year. Leaves have alternate arrangement in second year. Mullein is commonly found in headlands and boundary areas.