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Aesops97 · Aug 3, 2009, 09:36 AM

My yard has a weed which grows like a carpet and spreads quickly. It has no flowers or buds so apparently spreads via the roots. Can anyone tell me what this weed is called and how is it controlled?

grandadm44 · Aug 3, 2009, 09:45 AM

I looked this up and I believe it is called carpet weed. It can be hand pulled or use a broadleaf herbicide in early to midsummer.

Prevention
Pre emergent herbicides applied in mid spring will prevent carpetweed from developing. Keep the lawn vigorous through a regular fertilization program and good mowing practices.

Hope this helps.

Aesops97 · Aug 3, 2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by grandadm44

I looked this up and I believe it is called carpet weed. It can be hand pulled or use a broadleaf herbicide in early to midsummer.

Prevention
Pre emergent herbicides applied in mid spring will prevent carpetweed from developing. Keep the lawn vigorous through a regular fertilization program and good mowing practices.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the response. I thought it was carpet weed also but the close up leaves of my weed and the carpet weed don't appear to match as the attached reveals.

grandadm44 · Aug 3, 2009, 11:52 AM

Maybe check out these two others I found.
Spurge Prostate and Spotted Spurge

Aesops97 · Aug 3, 2009, 03:39 PM

I thought you'd got it this time. <g> Spotted Spurge came close. I've taken two more jpgs of the individual stem showing leaf detail and included the Spotted Spurge.

KUXJ · Aug 4, 2009, 04:28 PM

Looks like a type of privet.

You say there are no blossoms?
Have you actually dug up the root system?
Can you post pix of roots?
Does it get taller than 2feet?
Hardy during drought?
Die off over winter?
Do you have a freeze?
What State?
Near the ocean? (Saltiness)

K

Aesops97 · Aug 4, 2009, 05:21 PM

Thanks for the response.
I originally said there were no blossoms but I stand corrected. Today, I found some older growth and it had a few very small (1/4 inch dia) blossoms in a horn shape. Outside edges were light purple and inside was a shade darker. I'll try to find some more, but as you can see from one of the posted JPG's, no blossoms are visible.

Root pixes attached.

It hugs the ground but when they grow on top of each other, it can get up to 4 to 6 inches. Grabbing into it and pulling brings up many roots.

It is hardy during drought but plenty of rain this year give it too much growth. :-(

It dies off during first frost. It always starts from scratch each Spring

It's hardy in NE Tennessee near the Virginia border.

No Salt water here. :-)

KUXJ · Aug 5, 2009, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Aesops97

Thanks for the response.
I originally said there were no blossoms but I stand corrected. Today, I found some older growth and it had a few very small (1/4 inch dia) blossoms in a horn shape. Outside edges were light purple and inside was a shade darker. I'll try to find some more, but as you can see from one of the posted JPG's, no blossoms are visible.

Root pixes attached.

It hugs the ground but when they grow on top of each other, it can get up to 4 to 6 inches. Grabbing into it and pulling brings up many roots.

It is hardy during drought but plenty of rain this year give it too much growth. :-(

It dies off during first frost. It always starts from scratch each Spring

It's hardy in NE Tennessee near the Virginia border.

No Salt water here. :-)

Your welcome! I didn't forget you...

This bugger is a hard one to find.

This is, but one Site I'm checking:
Image Gallery Results | USDA PLANTS
There's four pages to go.

K

Aesops97 · Aug 5, 2009, 12:51 PM

Returned to the large area shown in one of the pixes above looking for a flower but couldn't find one. The flowers I found yesterday was near another bush and it's possible the flower was not part of this unknown carpet-like weed. Hopefully, as the days pass, a flower will show up.

Aesops97 · Aug 5, 2009, 01:02 PM

A friend in Athens, AL where I used to live apparently has found the same weed in his yard. It's warmer down there than in NE TN and his has flowers. The light purple flower with a darker area is shown in his weeds. So, If I can stop these things from going to seed, perhaps I can stop the spread. I'll try 2-4-D but it's a huge area. I really hate putting that much herbicide on my yard.

KUXJ · Aug 5, 2009, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Aesops97

I'll try 2-4-D but it's a huge area. I really hate putting that much herbicide on my yard.

If your not in a rush, say a couple of weeks. Why not try a salt brine, you could even add some bleach to it. 2-4-D is good, but it'll still take a week 10 days. Organic 14... try a test area.

Here's a rundown of herbicides for sumac see post #3:
killing-sumac-roots

K

Aesops97 · Aug 5, 2009, 06:27 PM

My friend in Athens, AL provided this close up of the flower. If it can't be ID now, I'm out of luck. :-(

Thanks to all who tried.

KUXJ · Aug 5, 2009, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Aesops97

My friend in Athens, AL provided this close up of the flower. If it can't be ID now, I'm out of luck. :-(

Thanks to all who tried.

Ask your friend. When these come to fruition do they have seed pods like green peas?

Like near the bottom of this page?
Desmodium paniculatum page

Look at the flower leaves and stem on this:
Whitealt/Lespedeza_cuneata_inflorescence.jpg

It also has some caricature of Vinca and Fabaceae.

I know I've seen these somewhere.

Aesops97 · Aug 6, 2009, 04:59 AM

A friend sent me the attached jpg of the weed growing in his yard in North Alabama near Huntsville.

Aesops97 · Aug 6, 2009, 05:06 AM

Sorry for the double posts. I used a bookmark going directly to my posting and it stopped updating. :-(

Aesops97 · Aug 6, 2009, 05:08 AM

This is the closest yet. Might just be it. My AL friend has more mature flowers (I have none yet probably because it's cooler in NE TN).
Thanks.

Aesops97 · Aug 6, 2009, 06:12 AM

These 4 additional jpg's should be sufficient info to ID this pesky little critter. KUXJ may well have ID's it.

KUXJ · Aug 6, 2009, 09:28 PM

Hi! Aesops97...

Take a look...
Lespedeza striata

Lespedeza intermedia

It's gettin' late I'll touch base with you tomorrow.

K

Aesops97 · Aug 7, 2009, 04:38 AM

Kudos to you, KUXJ. You've save the day!! Japanese Clover? One URL advised how to get <seeds> and grow the stuff. Interesting!! Why would anyone want to <grow> that stuff? <g>

It appears Roundup and 2-4-D kills it and pre-emergence in the Spring.

Thanks again, KUXJ, and to all others who participated. You've made my day.

KUXJ · Aug 7, 2009, 05:23 AM

Three varieties. It is considered a Legume, and is a valuable food source for Stock animals and wildlife, see the fed.us.database.
Brought into the country in 1910 from Japan for that reason.

It is also used in some states for highway erosion control (who was getting the upper hand? :rolleyes:)

Lespedeza striata
polyploid.net: IN Plants
Lespedeza striata page

Lespedeza intermedia
polyploid.net: IN Plants

Lespedeza cuneata
Sericea Lespedeza
Common Lespedeza or Japanese Clover

Lespedeza striata CONSIDERATIONS

Turf & Weed ID Information for lespedeza, common (Lespedeza striata)

Suggested herbecides
Turf Weed Management Decision Aid

K