‘Opportunistic’ cool-season weeds that must be dealt with in autumn

Cool season weeds like henbit start sprouting in Autumn (Image: Getty) In autumn, many gardeners choose to forgo tasks like weeding in the hope the frost will do the work for them – but cold-season weeds may still need tending to. Many plants prepare to enter a dormant state – and while weeds have little chance of surviving subzero temperatures, their sproutings do.  Gardening experts frequently warn cool-season weeds start sprouting in autumn, meaning they’ll be ready to invade by the following spring. These weeds are a nuisance because they’re unsightly and cause significant harm to outdoor landscapes when left unchecked. Speaking to Martha Stewart, Lynsey Nielson, a horticulturist with Red Butte Garden, warned: ‘There are a lot of cool season weeds that come out at the end of the season. ‘They only had a small window so they can go from seed to plant to flowering to seed again in a very, very short period of time.” Even if the cold kills off weeds you see at present, the plant’s offspring will be around next year, the expert explained. Common cool-season lawn weeds include chickweed, dandelion, ground ivy, Henbit, and clover, some of which produce beautiful flowers. The longer these plants are left to their own devices, the more chance they will have to take over a garden completely. Cool season weeds should be dealt with in autumn (Image: Getty) Their fast-spreading nature means they will compete with other plants for nutrients and moisture. The more space they take up, the more plants are likely to die. Fortunately, because cool-season grass weeds are typically broadleaf plants, they’re easy to spot in a lawn because they look different to other grasses. Killingsworth Environmental warns: ‘The bad news is, these types of weeds can be tough on your lawn because they’re aggressive and opportunistic and will sprout anywhere possible.’ Preventing their growth starts first and foremost with good maintenance of your lawn. The experts at Killingsworth Environmental add: ‘While most of these weeds can be removed by hand pulling or tweaking your soil’s nutrient levels, they generally need to be treated with some type of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides.’