What is this grass-like weed? (lawns, mowing, weeds, how to)

[sullyguy]

Attached (click on the thumbnail) is an image I just took of a weed that is new for this lawn (in fact, it is present in a number of lawns up and down the block and I do NOT remember it having shown up before).

In any case, do you know what it is and how to get rid of it?

Thanks in advance - I'll be google image searching as well and WILL update here if I find the answer.

[Debsi]

It might help with responses if you would post your location.

[sullyguy]

Originally Posted by Debsi

It might help with responses if you would post your location.

Lol! Sorry about that! Since I'm new to the Garden forum I just assume everyone "knows" I'm in Northern Virginia...the "other" forum.

In any case, a quickie Google Image Search by image (just pasted into GIS the image - what a fantastic search tool!) suggests it is this:

Nutsedge

or some variant of it.

[DocD357]

That's doesn't look like nutsedge. I'll dig out the Weeds of the Northeast book once I find it (just moved).

Yellow and purple nutsedge is in your area, however. The stems are distinctly triangular (virtually nothing else is), and the leaves come out at those angles. Nutsedge doesn't have above-ground stems like that weed does, either (or so it appears from your photo).

Yellow Nutsedge

[DocD357]

My first thought was bermudagrass or centipedegrass, but I am but a silly northerner who doesn't see that too often! Any southern turf and garden folks have an idea?

[sullyguy]

Originally Posted by DocD357

My first thought was bermudagrass or centipedegrass, but I am but a silly northerner who doesn't see that too often! Any southern turf and garden folks have an idea?

Nah, it doesn't quite look like those. The attached thumbnail below is a closeup I just took inside my house (handheld with an LED flashlight handheld off to the side; pardon blur); this piece of one of the weeds may have been chopped off at the "top" since it is post-mowing (unlike the first post's pre-mowing image).

BTW- that's a centimeter scale below it.

[azoria]

Shotweed.

As it matures the seed pods will become dry, and when disturbed it shoots little seeds all over everywhere.

I actually try to keep my head turned when pulling this stuff out, I've been torpedoed in the eyeball too many times with the projectile seeds.

And it's not grassy. Each one of those is its own individual plant.

[sullyguy]

Originally Posted by azoria

Shotweed.

Yes! That's it - after you said the thing about the seeds exploding I remember that I have posted somewhere about this before WITH the exploding part as well.

Here's a link to an online image/site: The Dean's Greens Gazette: The Weed with Exploding Seeds!

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by DocD357

My first thought was bermudagrass or centipedegrass, but I am but a silly northerner who doesn't see that too often! Any southern turf and garden folks have an idea?

It isn't centipede.

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by azoria

Shotweed.

As it matures the seed pods will become dry, and when disturbed it shoots little seeds all over everywhere.

I actually try to keep my head turned when pulling this stuff out, I've been torpedoed in the eyeball too many times with the projectile seeds.

And it's not grassy. Each one of those is its own individual plant.

I believe we have a winner^^^

It goes by various names in different areas; Bittercress aka Snapweed aka Shotweed
bot name :Cardamine hirsuta