Cudweed Control: How To Get Rid of Cudweed

This page is a general cudweed control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of cudweed. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of cudweed.

There are many different types of cudweed that can be found in North and South America. Depending on its type, cudweed can be either an annual or biennial weed. This weed is often found growing in warmer climates and some tropical regions.

Cudweed is easily identified by its flat, shiny green leaves. The glossiness of the leaves actually helps in its resistance to herbicides, which makes it very difficult to control.

If you want to get rid of cudweed in your lawn, follow our DIY guide for product suggestions and methods for a quick and effective treatment.

Identification

Before proceeding with a treatment program, you will need to be certain that you are dealing with a cudweed infestation. Careless identification can lead you to using the wrong treatment methods which can be a waste of time and money. Below are the following characteristics to know what cudweed looks like.

• These weeds emerge and overwinter as basal rosettes. By spring, they’ll grow upright stems over 1 foot tall.
• Cudweeds are covered in woolly hairs. Depending on the species, wooly hairs can grow around the leaves, the stems, or the seedheads.
• The leaves are often narrow, and ovular in shape.
• Many cudweeds grow composite flowerheads at the ends of their stems, but some species may grow flowerheads all along the stem.

Use the description and image above to help you properly identify cudweed on your property. If unsure, contact us and send a photo of your weed through email or in person at one of our stores to help you identify the weed and suggest treatment options.

Inspection

Once confirmed that you are dealing with cudweed, you can then move on to inspection. During this phase, you will locate areas where cudweed is thriving and observe the conditions that are allowing it to thrive. This information will help you in knowing where to focus your herbicide application.

Where to Inspect

Depending on the species, cudweeds are considered summer annuals, winter annuals, or biennials. These plants stay low during winter and grow as it gets warmer.

Common sites where this plant grows include but are not limited to, lawns, roadsides, forests, pastures, and other areas with open space and disturbed soil.

What to Look For

Cudweed has green glossy leaves with a fuzzy underside. It will generally start to grow a long stem in the spring. They are active until the end of summer. At this time, cudweed will begin a process called "overwintering". The weed and its seeds will remain dormant in winter until temperatures warm up.

Treatment

After identifying cudweed and inspecting where it is most active in your lawn, you can begin to treat your area. Be sure to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) before handling or applying any product.

The best way to kill cudweed is to use a post-emergent herbicide containing either dicamba, sulfentrazone, or clopyralid as its ingredients. 

Step 1: Mix the Herbicide

We recommend you check out Expel Turf Herbicide. Expel Turf Herbicide is a Sulfentrazone-based product used to control a variety of weed species on cool-season and warm-season turf.

Before applying any products, calculate the square footage of the area you want to treat to determine how much Expel Turf Herbicide to use.

You can do this by measuring the length and width in feet then multipying them together (length x width = square footage). For acreage, take the square footage and divide it by one acre (square footage / 43,560 sq. ft. = acres). 

To get rid of cudweed in warm-seasoned turf, use 8 to 12 oz. of Expel Turf Herbicide per 10 gallons of water per acre.

To get rid of cudweed in cool-seasoned turf, apply 4 to 8 oz. of product per 10 gallons of water per acre.

Once you've measured how much product you will need, you are ready to create a solution. Fill your spray tank halfway with the desired amount of water. Add your measured amount of Expel Turf Herbicide, then add the remaining amount of water to the spray tank.

Secure the lid tightly and shake thoroughly to finish creating your solution.

Step 2: Apply Expel Turf Herbicide

After diluting Expel Turf Herbicide in water, you can begin to apply this solution to the area you want to treat.

Use a fan-spray setting for even coverage, keeping the nozzle held steady. You want to spray your area until it is wet, but not to the point of runoff.

If the cudweed infestation is still present, you may apply a second application when 35 days have passed from the previous application. 

Visible results of cudweed death will be seen within 24 hours of spraying. 

Prevention

Once cudweed has been eliminated from your property, you will need to implement some preventative measures which will ensure that this weed does not return.

• Cudweed will grow best in damaged or short lawns. You can prevent this weed from returning by making sure your grass is mowed at a height that is not too short.
• Sometimes lawns are susceptible to weeds because they are malnourished. We recommend using Solutions 15-5-10 Weed & Feed Fertilizer with Trimec to promote thicker turfs. For most applications you will need to apply 3.2 to 4.0 pounds of product per 1,000 sq. ft. of treatment area. Adjust your push or broadcast spreader to the proper setting then spread the granules evenly across your treated area. Wait for 1-2 days after application then water the granules in. 

Key Takeaways

What is Cudweeds?

• Cudweed is a persistent weed with glossy leaves that makes it hard to control.

How to Get Rid of Cudweeds

• Control cudweed by diluting Expel Turf Herbicide in water and spraying the solution when this weed is present.

Preventing Cudweed Reinfestations

• Avoid cutting your grass too short and consider applying fertilizer like Solutions 15-5-10 Weed & Feed Fertilizer with Trimec to your lawn to prevent cudweed from returning.