Dove Weed, Murdannia nudiflora, is a relative new comer showing up in Atlanta area lawns over the past few years, that needs to be recognized by all maintenance providers before it is allowed to wreak economic havoc on companies large and small. The weed resembles Virginia Buttonweed but has creeping stems that root at the nodes and the leaves are longer and narrower. Dove Weed flowers are BLUE to PURPLE in color while Buttonweed has WHITE flowers. This is a common weed usually found on roadside and undeveloped areas but in certain circumstances it can and will readily invade home lawns. There is virtually no herbicide short of Round-up that will control it. This weed is VERY invasive and VERY fast to spread. This weed spreads by both seeding and crawling, consequently, lawn mowers readily spread it. If you have this weed in your lawns, hand remove this weed BEFORE your mowers cut the lawn and thoroughly clean your mowers between each lawn. This weed can completely take over a lawn in as little as one growing season out-competing the turf and requiring the entire lawn to be replaced. Because maintenance crews are on the properties weekly and are responsible for the spread within the lawn and into other lawns it is imperative that maintenance companies be the first line of defense. Recognition and removal by hand of ALL pieces as well as impeccable hygiene will be the only way to keep this weed from becoming a lawn replacement issue. Let me reiterate. There are virtually no herbicides available for control. Since lawn care companies are generally on individual properties only six or seven times a year, by the time it is identified by a lawn company a maintenance crew may have spread pieces all through a yard and into the yards of all your other maintenance customers. This is a problem all your maintenance workers need to be taught to look for and report to you for your verification. We can work with you to SUPPRESS this weed but that only means it will not spread AS FAST! There will be nothing more that any lawn care company can do unless more effective herbicides are identified and registered for use against this weed.
Dove Weed
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