South Central Oklahoma is a generally dry region, with cold winters and warm summers. Its basic crops include wheat, corn and millet. Oklahoma is also home to a large variety of grasses and lawn weeds that can keep gardeners busy all year long with maintenance. Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda grass are popular lawn grasses for homeowners in this region of the state.
Proper identification of weeds helps gardeners in the control of unwanted plants in their lawn. Crabgrass, goosegrass and barley are all common infiltrators of private gardens and can be difficult to remove. The longer these weeds are allowed to establish root systems in the lawn or garden, the harder it becomes to control them.
Shape and Color
The first step in identifying weeds or unknown plants is to notice both the color and shape of the plant. Dandelions are dark green plants that have ragged leaves and whose blossoms form into puffballs in the summer to spread their seeds. Dallas grass is a tall grass that is extremely light in color. Crabgrass is a flat grass that spreads densely, producing strong root systems that can be difficult to remove.
You must be able to identify different growth patterns of plants within the growing area. Foxtails germinate during late spring until around September. All foxtails form hardened tips at the end of their stems, known as the "callus." Goosegrass will often wait until October to begin spreading seeds, growing into short fingerlike branches from dark-brown-hulled seeds. Crops such as corn grow into easily identifiable fruits that even inexperienced gardeners recognize. Summer is the typical growing season for these types of South Central Oklahoma plants.
Oklahoma winds are known for easily drying out plants unaccustomed to the region. Native plants often have a drought resistance that is unusual in their species. With proper fertilization, Oklahoma Bermuda grasses can easily crowd out weeds even during times of water stress. Maintaining healthy plants is the first step in eliminating difficult-to-remove weeds in the region.
When in doubt, it might be cost-effective to deal with professional or university agricultural services. They may help you select the proper elimination materials for difficult-to-deal-with weeds. Also, these agencies often help in identifying environmentally safe alternatives to weed or plant control that you may be unaware of.