Australian Lawn and Turf Weed Identification Chart.
Australian lawn weeds can be identified by leaf shape, growth habit, and seed heads. This weed identification chart uses photos to help you match common broadleaf weeds, grass weeds, and sedges found in Australian lawns and turf.
Use the images below to confirm the species, then follow through to the correct control method. Coverage includes NSW, QLD, and VIC lawn weeds.
Updated April 2026.
Common weeds covered on this page:
Poa annua | Bindii | Summergrass | Capeweed | Creeping oxalis | Nutgrass | Paspalum | Chickweed
Weed identification pictures for Australian lawns
Broadleaf Weeds.
Grass Weeds.
Sedges.
Pre-emergent herbicide options by weed species — Australian turf
The table lists common Australian lawn and turf weed species and the pre-emergent active ingredients for their control. Active ingredient selection depends on the turf species as not all products are safe on all turf types. Always read the product label and verify the current registration status at portal.apvma.gov.au before use.
Broadleaf weeds
| Weed | Latin name | Pre-emergent active ingredients | AU timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catsear | Hypochaeris radicata | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Mar–May |
| Knotweed | Polygonum aviculare | Pendimethalin, prodiamine, indaziflam | Jul–Aug |
| Cudweed | Gamochaeta purpurea | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Mar–May |
| Creeping oxalis | Oxalis corniculata | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Mar–May and Sep–Oct |
| Fleabane | Conyza bonariensis | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Mar–May and Sep–Oct |
| Chickweed | Stellaria media | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine | Mar–May |
| Capeweed | Arctotheca calendula | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Mar–May |
| Bindii / Onehunga weed | Soliva sessilis | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Mar–Apr |
| Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | Pendimethalin, prodiamine | Mar–May |
| Lambs tongue plantain | Plantago lanceolata | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine | Mar–May |
| Hairy bittercress | Cardamine hirsuta | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine | Feb–Apr |
| Mouse-ear chickweed | Cerastium glomeratum | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine | Mar–May |
| Ox-eye daisy | Leucanthemum vulgare | Pendimethalin, prodiamine | Mar–May |
| Creeping buttercup | Ranunculus repens | Pendimethalin, prodiamine | Mar–May |
| Khaki weed | Alternanthera pungens | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Sep–Oct |
| Caltrop | Tribulus terrestris | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, indaziflam | Sep–Oct |
| Purslane | Portulaca oleracea | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, indaziflam | Sep–Nov |
| Asthma weed | Euphorbia hirta | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, indaziflam | Sep–Nov |
| Birdseye speedwell | Veronica persica | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine | Mar–May |
| Curly dock | Rumex crispus | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine | Mar–May |
Grass weeds
| Weed | Latin name | Pre-emergent active ingredients | AU timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer grass / Crabgrass | Digitaria sanguinalis | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam, ethofumesate | Aug–Sep |
| Poa annua / Winter grass | Poa annua | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam, propyzamide, ethofumesate | Feb–Mar |
| Crowsfoot / Goosegrass | Eleusine indica | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Sep–Oct |
| Paspalum | Paspalum dilatatum | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Sep–Oct |
| African lovegrass | Eragrostis curvula | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Sep–Oct |
| Windmill grass | Chloris truncata | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Sep–Oct |
| Parramatta grass | Nassella neesiana | Pendimethalin, prodiamine | Mar–May or Aug–Sep |
| Guildford grass | Romulea rosea | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon | Mar–May |
| Hedgehog grass / Sandbur | Cenchrus longispinus | Pendimethalin, oxadiazon, prodiamine, indaziflam | Aug–Sep |
Sedges
| Weed | Latin name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nutgrass | Cyperus rotundus | Pre-emergents not effective — tubers survive. Post-emergent control required. Contact Gilba Solutions for recommendation. |
| Mullumbimby couch | Cyperus brevifolius | Pre-emergents not effective. Post-emergent control required. Contact Gilba Solutions for recommendation. |
The safety of active ingredients varies by turf species. Oxadiazon is not to be used on Santa Ana couch. Prodiamine is not safe on creeping bentgrass or fine fescues. Propyzamide is for Poa annua control in warm-season turf only. It is not safe on cool-season turf. Ethofumesate is not safe on couch or buffalo. Indaziflam is not for use on cool-season turf. Pendimethalin is not safe on cool-season seedlings.
Post-emergent options vary by turf type and weed species. Use the identification tool below or view the full timing chart for post-emergent windows.
Weed Identification Tool
Select your turf type
Upload a weed photo
Drag and drop or tap to select
JPG, PNG, HEIC — show leaf shape, growth habit, or seed head for best results
Photo ready
Results are filtered to registered and safe active ingredients for your selected turf type.
Weed Identification by Australian Region.
NSW lawn weeds.
In NSW lawns it is common to see a mix of cool and warm-season weed pressure. Broadleaf weeds such as bindii and cudweed are common in the winter, while the summer brings species like summer grass and spurge. Identification should take into account both the season and turf species.
NSW is in an overlap zone. These are strong performers here but these tend to not perform as well in the extremes of VIC or QLD.
- Fleabane (Conyza spp.).
- African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula).
- Chloris (windmill grass).
- Paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum).
- Khaki weed (Alternanthera pungens).
- Bindii (Soliva sessilis).
- Crowsfoot (Eleusine indica).
- Nutgrass (Cyperus spp.).
- Mullumbimby couch (Cyperus brevifolius).
QLD Lawn Weeds.
In QLD conditions favour warm-season weeds all year-round. Caltrop, summer grass, and sedges are more persistent due to the higher temperatures and the longer growing seasons.
The list below are QLD-dominant weeds that are rare to find in VIC:
- Singapore daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata).
- Praxelis (Praxelis clematidea).
- Blue heliotrope / purpletop (Heliotropium amplexicaule).
- Stinkvine (Paederia foetida).
- Minnieroot (Ruellia tuberosa).
- Little ironweed (Cyanthillium cinereum).
- Paddy’s lucerne (Sida rhombifolia).
- Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala).
- Siratro / purple bush bean (Macroptilium atropurpureum).
- Asian spiderflower (Cleome gynandra).
- Coatbuttons / tridax (Tridax procumbens).
- Gomphrena spp.
- Spiny burr grass / hedgehog grass (Cenchrus spp.).
VIC Lawn Weeds.
VIC lawns typically experience strong winter weed pressure. These include broadleaf weeds such as chickweed and plantain. Summer weeds do occur but these are generally less dominant than in the northern states. Identification of these weeds is often easier in active growth periods.
Rare or weak in QLD:
- Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula).
- Chickweed (Stellaria media).
- Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum).
- Hairy bittercress / flickweed (Cardamine hirsuta).
- Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).
- Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens).
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
- Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata).
- Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata).
- Curly dock (Rumex crispus).
FAQ
Where can I find free independent advice on weeds?
When you need support or guidance with Australian weed Identification, you can reach out to various organizations that specialize in this field. Your state DPI is the best free starting point: NSW DPI, DAF Queensland, or Agriculture Victoria. For field identification help, try the iNaturalist app or WeedScan. Local council weeds officers can also identify samples in person.
A useful strategy is to look at dedicated online platforms or websites that compile contact information and links to these organizations. Many of these sites include a ‘connect’ section or similar directory where you can directly find tailored assistance.
If I can’t ID a weed with an online key what should I do?
When you are struggling to identify a weed using an online key, go over the features that you have chosen to focus and make sure they are correct. After you review your selections and you are still unsure about the weed’s identity, consider reaching out for additional assistance.
You can contact your local weeds officer, consult a herbarium, or seek guidance through a plant identification Facebook group or the iNaturalist platform. For contact details and useful links, refer to the Connect section of the online key.
What should I do if after I ID a weed and there is no chemical control?
In some cases weed ID leads to weeds where there are no easy chemical controls. If this occurs feel free to contact us to discuss your options.
Are there ways to ID weeds, such as Facebook groups like Plant ID Australia?
You have several options to identify weeds. For instance, you can use social media platforms where there are weed specific groups. Otherwise, community-based science apps offer resources where people come together to help identify various plant species based on the photos you upload.
How can I confirm the ID of a weed once I have made an initial ID?
A weed is only a weed if it’s a plant where you don’t want it.
Use the chart to make a preliminary identification, and then cross-reference the information and images of the plant to make sure its accurate. If you’re still uncertain, double-check the features you have selected. Should doubts persist, reach out to local experts like a weeds officer or participate in plant ID groups online.
Additionally, if there’s a chance you’ve identified a high priority weed, it’s important to notify the relevant authority immediately.
What is the best way to manage weeds in lawns?
The best way to manage weeds is to stop them in the first place. A healthy, thick lawn stop many weeds from getting a foothold. Weeds are great opportunists so if your lawn is weak and struggles to grow, there are thin patches or the soil is compact, weeds will invade.
If weeds still continue to be a problem then use pre emergent herbicides. These stop weeds from growing and vary in longevity from 10 weeks to 8 months. This means that you can apply once and have no weed issues.
It is important to remember though, that you need to know what the weed is that you want to control. Not all pre emergents work well against all weeds.
Why is weed control important?
In agriculture weeds are a major problem as they dramatically reduce yields. In a turf situation we generally don’t deal in yield but weeds will limit turf growth by taking valuable nutrients and water away from the grass.
How do I control weeds in couch lawns?
What can I use to kill weeds in my lawn without killing the grass?
Senior Turf Agronomist, Gilba Solutions Pty Ltd
Hons Soil Science (Newcastle Upon Tyne). Former STRI agronomist. 35+ years’ experience in turf agronomy, fertiliser programs, and weed management across Australia.