My lawn is infested with henbit weed

[kmbrandon]

My lawn is infested with what I have identified to be Henbit weeds. Clumpy plants with stalks that grow up & out from the center with round, scalloped edge leaves, with purple flowers.

Anyway, it is not really practical for me to pull all of these by hand. The lawn (Bermuda) appears to still be dormant as of last night when I mowed the weeds.

I was going to aerate & apply CGM, molasses & lava sand, but I don't want to feed the weeds. Will a vinegar spray over the entire area damage the lawn? Is there an alternative?

Thanks,
Kevin

[e Craig]

From a quick search, <http://www.msuturfweeds.net/details/_/henbit_10/> identifies this as a winter weed.
First reflex: Keep mowing!! In season, the desired turfgrass will predominate.
2nd reflex: If you have a healthy soil there is little need for mechanical aerating. With your list of additives, you do not mention any composted product to augment the tilth. Use your aerating time & energy to spread compost: manure, cottonburr, whatever.

Further thought: when the weed dies back in season, the roots [and the mowed clippings] will be adding a bonus of organic matter to the soil!

take care.
Craig

[kmbrandon]

I forgot to mention that I applied compost over the whole yard last summer. Also, this was a new home & we have lived here since December 2005. I began using organics Spring 2006, but apparently my CGM application last year was timed wrong for the winter weeds. Last year, I applied dry molasses & Texas greensand along with CGM. I know the soil is compacted since it is heavy clay. Combine that with the construction equipment when building the home, and some areas are really packed tight.

Basically, I should just keep mowing & let these weeds die off as the weather warms? Should I also go ahead with my amendments now or just CGM & wait for the others?

Thanks,
Kevin

[e Craig]

Kevin,

This is another reflex answer.

CAVEAT: After learning that the "system" works, my own approach has been very general, with an eye to filling out the diet available for the soil society with economy of costs, efforts.and time. I am rarely inclined/able to respond to questions on specefic materials. I am recently intrigued by CGM. There are others on these forums with more experience it and other specifics. My philosophy: "We are not setting the table, we are stocking the pantry." Once stocked with organic materials, the plants and other organisms can pick what they need, when they need it.

So I agree, basically, with your summary. If you were to aerate, for instance, it would be of some help, but other activities may be more economic. I note that henbit is listed as a weed seen in recently disturbed areas. Mechanical aeration would continue the disturbance, and could encourage more of the henbit, etc.

Malcom Beck, and others have devised formulas that will include the amendments you listed. See "organic fertilizers" from Gardenville, LadyBug, Medina, etc.

Another application of composts [manure, cotton burr, whatever] sometime soon would probably be helpful.

Hope that this is helpful. I could expand upon it later.

Take care.
Craig

[Dchall_San_Antonio]

Vinegar on dormant bermuda would have worked great. Sorry for the late reply as your bermuda is probably going great guns by now.

Henbit is an embarassment to other plants. It has such a weak root structure it's amazing it grows at all. You can almost blow it out of your yard with a leaf blower. If you can't get down to pull it, hire a kid to do it for you. It goes very fast.

[kmbrandon]

Yes, the Bermuda is coming along nicely now. Still a small amount of henbit, but it is browning as the weather warms.

I also learned by observation that the henbit is easily plucked. My neighbor just yanked off the tops of his henbit & it hasn't come back yet. I just mowed mine down & while it is definitely declining, it is still there.

Kevin