Guide to Common Weeds with Yellow Flowers

Weeds are opportunistic. They look for openings in the grass to germinate and grow. If your grass is thin or weak, weeds of all types will muscle their way in. A handful of them display yellow flowers. The best way to prevent weeds of any color from overtaking your lawn is to keep it thick and healthy.

What Weeds Have Yellow Flowers?

There are a few, but the granddaddy of all is the common dandelion. Dandelions can be found in all 50 states and most of Canada. They are perennial weeds, meaning they’ll come back every year if left unattended.

Dandelions begin to grow early in the spring and flower as soon as temperatures allow. At their peak, heavily-infested lawns will become a sea of yellow as the dandelions bloom. But they turn fuzzy gray as the flowers quickly turn to seed, losing their attractiveness.

Other broadleaf weeds that show a yellow flower are:

• Oxalis (yellow woodsorrel);
• Purslane;
• Common Ragwort;
• Annual snow thistle.

Antonio Mercuri / 500px / Getty Images

Why Yellow Weed Flowers are a Problem for Your Lawn

While many of these types of weeds are good for pollinators, they are not necessarily good for your lawn or garden. Many have deep root systems, which “makes them difficult to control once they invade lawns or flower beds,” according to Lawn Phix.

Ragwort is toxic for some livestock, according to Country File.

How Do I Get Rid Of Them?

• For dandelions, put on a pair of gloves and start digging them out of the ground. This works better after a rain when the ground is soft. Dandelions have a deep taproot that can be hard to pull entirely, so use a digging tool to get underneath and remove as much of the root as possible.
• Hand-pulling other weeds, such as black medic, oxalis and purslane is possible. But like dandelions, if you don’t remove the entire root, fragments left behind can potentially grow back.
• Home remedy herbicides using hot water, vinegar, Epsom salts and dish soap may work on some weeds if you prefer to avoid conventional herbicides.
• Dandelions are easily killed by just about any consumer herbicide labeled for use on broadleaf weeds. Products like Ortho Weed B Gon and Trimec Lawn Weed Killer are effective options. Always follow label directions when applying herbicides.

How Do I Prevent Yellow Flowers From Coming Back?

Weeds need room to grow. Proper lawn care to promote active turf growth and density will keep weeds from getting a toehold in your lawn. Responsibly watering and fertilizing your lawn to keep it strong and vital will keep the door slammed shut on weeds of all kinds.