Lawn weeds come in all shapes, sizes, and… colors. I have seen green weeds, red weeds, weeds with white flowers, and even weeds with blue flowers. But the weeds I see everywhere are lawn weeds with yellow flowers! Yellow weeds are by far the most common lawn weed and I will help you identify the 10 most infamous offenders. You’re highly likely to see at least one of these pop up on your lawn at some point.
Most Common Lawn Weeds with Yellow Flowers (Short Answer)
Common lawn weeds with small yellow flowers are Yellow Sorrel, Purslane, Black Medic, and Golden Clover. Some creeping lawn weeds with yellow flowers are Creeping Buttercup and Creeping Cinquefoil. Other lawn weeds with yellow flowers include Dandelions, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Black-Eyed Susans, Lesser Celandine, Marsh Yellowcress, Narrow-Leaf Plantain, and Wild Parsnip.
A Closer Look at Lawn Weeds with Yellow Flowers
If there is one color that creeps onto a lawn like no other it is yellow. From dandelions in cracks to buttercups popping up throughout the green, that sun-colored distortion in our lawns can be frustrating. Quick rooting, hard to control, and in some cases harmful to touch, these common lawn weeds with yellow flowers can be a real headache.
Fortunately, I can teach you what they do, what they look like, and ultimately how to get rid of lawn weeds with yellow flowers.
Yellow Sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
What It Does: This lawn weed with little yellow flowers is one of the latest germinating weed seeds. After an early spring treatment of herbicide has killed off other broad-leafed plants such as these weeds that look like clover, Yellow Sorrel pops up and takes their spots. Once established, this lawn weed can form colonies connected by tough rhizomes. They can also spread by seed and produce isolated yellow weeds.
What It Looks Like: Blooming in late summer and early fall, Yellow Sorrel has small yellow flowers that form a cup shape. It grows more upright than other sorrels and can reach up to 15 inches. The leaves are light green and heart-shaped. It closely resembles a clover.
How to Get Rid of It: The easiest way to get rid of Yellow Sorrel is to hand pull it. If you can find it and pull it before it produces seeds then you can quickly eliminate this yellow lawn weed. A pre-emergent herbicide that prevents germination is one of the most effective ways to prevent this yellow weed.
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
What It Does: Another lawn weed with tiny yellow flowers, this weed is actually a succulent. It stores water in its leaves and can withstand drought and other arid conditions. They grow quickly in the summertime heat and can crowd out a heat-stressed lawn. Purslane can propagate via root, leaf, and seed making it a tough yellow weed to get rid of.
What It Looks Like: Purslane grows low and wide, creating a mat up to 3ft wide. It has multiple stems and smooth, fleshy, oval-shaped leaves. Both the stems and leaves are tinted with reddish-purple. The tiny yellow flowers that cover most of this weed open only on hot summer days.
How to Get Rid of It: Like most succulents, this yellow lawn weed can be removed easily by digging it up at the roots. Make sure to remove the entire plant as any leaves or stems left behind could re-root. Purslane will be killed off by the first frost if you live in a cooler climate.
Black Medic (Medicago lupulina)
What It Does: This lawn weed with tiny yellow flowers grows in areas with low nitrogen. You can often find them growing alongside white clover in your turf. Black Medic stays low to the ground and mats. It can grow around 2ft wide and chokes out surrounding turf. It produces a deep taproot making it hard to hand pull. It produces seeds under normal mowing conditions and can remain on your lawn for a long time.
What It Looks Like: A member of the pea family, Black Medic closely resembles clover. It has teeth in the leaf margins and a tooth at the tip of each rounded leaf end. Those teeth are the best way to distinguish them from clover. It produces small yellow flower clusters throughout the growing season.
How to Get Rid of It: Black Medic, once identified, can be hand-pulled after the ground is softened by water. If there are only a few lonely plants, this is the best course of action. If you have a larger problem with these yellow weeds, you can apply a broad-leaf herbicide in late spring and again in early fall.
Golden Clover (Trifolium aureum)
What It Does: Another common lawn weed with yellow flowers, Golden Clover invades thin patches of turf. It crowds out the surrounding lawn and steals precious resources. This weed can grow up to 2ft tall and can spread its seed far.
What It Looks Like: Golden Clover is a tall field plant that has flowers resembling hops. It can encroach on lawns and stays low due to mowing. It can be identified by its dark green leaves and thick stem. It produces large clusters of flowers from the center stem and drops seeds in the fall.
How to Get Rid of It: As this yellow weed takes moisture and nutrients from the surrounding turf you will start to take notice. If you manage to find it before it seeds, you can easily hand pull it and remove it from the yard completely. You can prevent Golden Clover from returning by fertilizing your lawn in the spring to allow your turf to outcompete any remaining seeds.
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
What It Does: These are creeping lawn weeds with yellow flowers that can quickly invade your turf. Creeping Buttercups grow low to the ground and can spread by rhizomes. These yellow weeds love wet areas of turf and can be toxic if ingested in large amounts.
What It Looks Like: A relative of the buttercup, this weed looks like its namesake flower connected by vines. Its leaves resemble parsley or cilantro and the yellow flowers burst out of the stems.
How to Get Rid of It: The number one way to control Creeping Buttercup is to keep your lawn well-drained and thick. If there is only a small number of these weeds you can pull them out by hand. It is best to remove them in the fall when the roots are stronger and less likely to break off. Broad-leaf herbicide can also be administered if there is too much to hand pull.
Creeping Cinquefoil (Creeping CinquefoilI)
What It Does: Another lawn weed with yellow flowers that can invade your lawn is the Creeping Cinquefoil. This weed is a perennial and a relative of the rose. It grows low to the ground and is a heavy producer of seeds. One of the most common ways it is spread is by runners picking them up on their shoes and depositing them onto a lawn. It can choke out neglected areas of a yard.
What It Looks Like: Creeping Cinquefoil has dark green leaves that splay out like the five fingers of a hand. The leaves have jagged edges and each stem can produce a small yellow flower. The creeping stems can root and grow new offshoots.
How to Get Rid of It: One of the most effective ways to get rid of lawn weeds with yellow flowers is to hand pull. However, this weed is best weakened by consistent raking while strengthening the surrounding turf. If needed, you can use a herbicide like glyphosate. A repeat treatment may be needed to completely kill Creeping Cinquefoil.
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale)
What It Does: The most common and one of the most difficult to completely be rid of, the Dandelion reigns supreme. These yellow weeds are perennials that quickly develop a deep taproot and produce a large number of seeds that are easily spread on the slightest breeze. They will crowd out turf if left unchecked.
What It Looks Like: Dandelions can grow up to 20in tall and produce medium-sized flowers. The leaves of this weed are deep green and large. Each thick stem produces one flower that becomes a cluster of seeds. The flowers open during the day and close up at night.
How to Get Rid of It: This common lawn weed with yellow flowers is very hard to get rid of. Pulling Dandelions by hand is difficult due to the 10 inch taproots they grow. The seeds spread easily and they can regrow when cut back. Spot treatment of a broadleaf herbicide can be effective at controlling Dandelions without damaging your turf.
Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
What It Does: A member of the clover family, this weed grows quickly and self-seeds abundantly. It can spread by rhizome and chokes out surrounding turf with its matting growth pattern. It prefers acidic solid in areas with lots of moisture. It is difficult to completely remove.
What It Looks Like: The first sign that you have Birdsfoot Trefoil is uneven patches spreading across your lawn. They grow 2-8in tall but can produce stems up to 20in. The leaves are divided into narrow leaflets and the yellow flowers form a whorl pattern.
How to Get Rid of It: The large networks of rhizomes this yellow weed produces make it difficult to remove. If detected early, you can remove it by hand as long as you remove the entire root. If there are larger patches, you can use a selective chemical treatment to target the weed. A second application may be needed.
Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)
What It Does: This wildflower turned weed is very common in yards, both as a flower in the garden and as a weed on the lawn. They are drought resistant and can become established during a hot dry summer. Black-Eyed Susans can steal resources from your turf and drop hundreds of seeds if left unattended.
What It Looks Like: Like most weeds, this plant puts up a central green stalk and sprouts in an alternating leaf pattern. The stems are thin and dark green and reach a height of about 2ft. The weeds put forth large yellow flowers that have clusters of tiny brown flowers at their center. These clusters become seeds that spread in the fall.
How to Get Rid of It: The easiest way to remove this yellow weed is to hand pull whenever you see it. If you cut the heads off the flowers before they seed you can prevent Black-Eyed Susans from returning in the spring.
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
What It Does: This lawn weed with little yellow flowers can cause real problems. Wild Parsnip can crowd out plants and grow an extensive root system. It produces flowers in its second year of growth, making it hard to detect early. The biggest issue this weed presents is that touching the sap can cause burning and irritation to the skin. This makes it dangerous if not correctly identified.
What It Looks Like: Wild Parsnip resembles Queen Ann’s Lace and produces abundant leaves and roots in its first year. The carrot-like leaves grow out in a matting pattern. The plants put up a flower stalk in the second year that can reach 5 feet. Each plant produces hundreds of small yellow flowers that bloom from June to July.
How to Get Rid of It: To remove Wild Parsnip, you need to dig up the entire root system. The rhizome network can be as large as 6ft and the sap is caustic, so wear gloves and be careful. Remove this plant as soon as you identify it.
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