Is it a weed? An ornamental flower? An edible plant? The answer is yes to all three. With around 500 species, the speedwell family features pretty little flowers in late spring. Some species work well in gardens, while others, like Veronica Americana, are edible and nutritious. But most are considered invasive. Place it in a pot or container for a delightful display, but find it in your lawn and you’ll have your work cut out for you. Read on to find out why you want to stop speedwell from spreading.

Plant Profile

All species of speedwell vary a little in appearance. Often found in neglected lawns, disturbed soil, and shaded areas, corn or common speedwell (Veronica arvensis) is one to watch. It’s also known as gypsyweed or veronica. Generally, this invasive plant features four-petaled white, blue, or purplish small flowers; heart-shaped seed pods; and numerous small lobed leaves. Slender branched stems creep low to the ground and take root at the nodes, eventually forming a dense mat. But its ability to rapidly reproduce by seed is the reason you need to stop speedwell before it gets out of control. It quickly fills in thinning, bare, or ailing areas of the lawn, crowding out grass and plants, and developing fibrous root systems that are difficult to eradicate.

How to Stop Speedwell

For starters, speedwell rarely sprouts in a strong lush lawn, and the same goes for most weeds. Weak grass won’t stand a chance against this opportunistic weed. Keep your lawn happy and healthy with a regular maintenance plan that includes mowing, watering, and fertilizing in order to ward off all weeds, including the very invasive speedwell.

When you spot one or two speedwell plants in your lawn, carefully remove the flower heads before it blooms. This prevents the plant from setting seed. To stop speedwell before it invades, apply a pre-emergent herbicide before the seeds germinate. Spot treating with a post-emergent product will help with already existing weeds.

Let Us Help Keep Your Turf in Tip-Top Shape

If you spot speedwell or other unwanted weeds in your lawn, call Free Spray Lawn Care at 419-529-5296. Let us help keep your lawn healthy and able to ward off weeds, pests, and disease.