Also called Japanese clover, lespedeza is a type of perennial weed that will easily take over a lawn and kill wanted turf. It features purple and white flowers, and is commonly found in open fields, pond and swamp borders, and wooded areas. Lespedeza originally came to the southwestern United States as a forage crop. In 1930s Kansas, the plant was used in wildlife habitats as well as for erosion control. The plant's semi-woody root grows close to the ground, making it difficult to cut with a mower that is not set at a certain height.
Control lespedeza through mowing. Increase the mowing height on your lawn mower so grass is not cut shorter than 3 inches. Grass that is shorter than this provides an ideal environment for lespedeza to flourish, as lespedeza requires thin turf that grows in dry, compacted areas to do well. Mow your lawn once a week to discourage lespedeza seed production and interfere with current plant growth.
Check your soil's pH and fertility levels. Keep them at what is recommended for your type of turf to discourage the growth of lespedeza.
Remove lespedeza infestations manually. Hand-pulling is especially recommended should lespedeza be near plants and flowers you would like to keep, as the use of non-selective herbicides will kill desired greenery in addition to the lespedeza. Wear gloves, and dispose of lespedeza in a garbage can. Pull the plant up slowly from its base in order to remove the roots as well as the stems and leaves. Remove all roots to avoid plant re-growth.
Use an herbicide that contains the following: 2,4-D, dicamba and/or mecoprop. Broad-spectrum weed killers such as these are recommended for control of lespedeza if repeated manual removal and mowing do not suffice. Pour your selected herbicide into a garden sprayer, and spray affected areas thoroughly until the weed killer is dripping off the lespedeza. Repeat the herbicide application after 10 to 14 days if the lespedeza has not been eradicated.
Things You Will Need
- Lawn mower
- Garden gloves
- Garbage can
- Garden sprayer
- Observe your yard for lespedeza growth in July, August and September. Early detection is one of the best defenses against lespedeza.
- Do not mow your lawn for 48 hours following an herbicide application.
- Do not apply any herbicide to your lawn if rain is predicted for the next few days, as herbicides typically require a dry plant surface to work effectively.
- Do not use herbicides in early spring or when temperatures are at 90 degrees F or higher as turfgrass damage can occur.