Description:
There are two hawkweeds, a yellow and an orange. The vegetative
characteristics are similar, but the color of the flowers is different.
Hawkweeds are winter perennials. Hawkweed grows from a basal rosette,
forming patches from rhizomes and stolons. The leaves, stems and
flower stalks are covered with hair. The leaves are oblong and club
shaped. The margins of the hairy leaves are smooth.
- Cultural
Practices: Hawkweed appears differently if the turf is
thick or thin. It will appear in clusters when the turf is thin
and as individual plants in thicker turf. It will spread by seed
if allowed to flower and by rhizomes or stolons under close mowing.
It is usually more common in low-maintenance turf. It persists
more in lighter drier soils. Hawkweed does best in acidic soils.
Proper fertility and monitoring of the soil pH will help the turf
compete with hawkweed.
- Herbicide:
Repeat applications may be necessary to control this hairy-leafed
weed. Make your postemergent herbicide application to hawkweed
that is actively growing and in the rosette to flower stage of
growth to optimize control. Refer to the State
Noxious Weed Control Board site
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