Creeping buttercups are considered one of the most difficult weeds to get rid of in your lawn. It can be very frustrating when you’re trying to maintain a nice green yard but all you see is yellow flowers and creeping buttercup plants that seem to take over.
You might have tried using weed killer or pulling them out by hand, but they keep coming back and it seems like no matter what you do, there’s always more creeping buttercup! If this sounds like something that relates to your situation then read on for some helpful tips on how to get rid of these pesky little plants once and for all.
Creeping buttercups are a common weed in lawns. They can be difficult to get rid of because they have deep roots and leaves that grow up from the ground, not just from the center of the plant. In order to maintain a healthy lawn, it is important to make sure creeping buttercups do not take over your yard.
What is Creeping Buttercup?
Creeping buttercups are one of the most annoying weeds in lawn care. They grow quickly and create an unsightly mess. They are most commonly found in the northern parts of the United States, although they can be found almost anywhere in the world.
Creeping buttercup, also called Ranunculus repens, is a perennial weed, so it returns each year and spreads easily, although it starts to die again each fall. This plant can grow between three and four inches tall and will spread quickly throughout the grass, creating a thick layer of yellow flowers where you once had a lovely green lawn!
What do Creeping Buttercups Look Like?
The first step is to identify if you have creeping buttercup or another type of weed that looks similar.
Its most distinctive characteristic is its yellow flowers with five petals that form an “X” shape. It also has shiny green, heart-shaped leaves that grow along the stalk of the plant and creep along the ground. They look very different from other lawn weeds such as clover, so if you have five-pointed yellow flowers and creeping leaves on the ground, then chances are it is creeping buttercup.
Where does Creeping Buttercup Grow?
You can find creeping buttercup almost everywhere. It is commonly found in lawns, gardens, ditches, and other areas that are moist and shady. It particularly likes poorly drained soil, and it can spread quickly via its runners that root as they grow.
Creeping buttercup likes to grow in full sunlight, but can tolerate some shade as well. Unfortunately, this weed flourishes in the summer months when it’s hot outside (and you’re most likely spending time outdoors). It is attracted to moist conditions and can grow very quickly, so it is important to keep a close eye on your yard in any rainy seasons, as well as in the springtime when your garden is thawing out.
How to Kill Creeping Buttercup
There are multiple ways to get rid of creeping buttercups for good, but it is important to be patient. It can take time for all of the creeping buttercup plants to die out. However, if you’re willing to stick with your battle plan then you should have a weed-free lawn in no time!
Removal By Chemical Means
One of the most common ways to kill creeping buttercups is with a weed killer. You can use either store-bought weed killers or an organic alternative, but the most important thing is to make sure you get all of the leaves and stems in order for it to work correctly. Using weed killers that only target the flowers will not give you optimal results and will take much longer than necessary!
Most weed killers, especially those made with glyphosate (like the Compare-N-Save Concentrate Grass & Weed Killer) will be effective at controlling creeping buttercup. However, glyphosate is non-selective, so be careful to not spray flowers or plants that you do not want to kill.
The best time to apply the weed killer is in the spring and early summer, when all of the buttercups in your lawn are in full bloom. This is because once their flowers wilt, it will be much harder to kill them.
Apply the weed killer to all parts of your lawn where you see creeping buttercup growing. Be sure to apply it in cool and calm weather. You can apply a second round of weed killer 7-10 days after the first application if you still have creeping buttercup growing.
Removal Via Organic Methods
The most natural way to remove creeping buttercup is to pull it by hand. Make sure you wear protective gear when you do this, since they have poisonous sap that will irritate the skin! You can go about removing the creeping buttercup in multiple ways:
- Scrape away as much of the weed as possible with a trowel, fork, or spade shovel
- Use a pair of gloves or sturdy tongs to pull the creeping buttercup by hand
- Mulch the area deeply to smother the weed. You can also lift the turf out and replace it.
Another natural method that is used to kill creeping buttercups is using boiling water. Fill up a pot with boiling water and pour it directly onto the leaves of the plant during its growing season (which you can figure out by observing when new leaves sprout). This method will not work on all types of weeds, but if your plants are small enough then you can kill them by pouring boiling water on them.
How to Prevent Creeping Buttercup
Creeping buttercup has the potential to be extremely dangerous, so it is important to keep an eye out for it in order to prevent your pets or children from coming into contact with it. Make sure that you keep all of the plants’ leaves and stems contained so they cannot be eaten .
In order to prevent creeping buttercup from growing, you need to make sure that your lawn does not have a weed-seed conducive environment. So, removing other weeds from your yard is also important. Be sure that there aren’t any overgrown dandelions or clovers ruining the appearance of your yard as well, since these plants can also attract creeping buttercup. In addition, try to not seed your lawn too often. If you grow grass that doesn’t get weedy, then it won’t be an inviting breeding ground for creeping buttercup and other weeds!
Mowing regularly (and not removing clippings) is another way to prevent weed growth in your lawn, since the seeds can’t be fertilized if they are above the soil.
In Conclusion
Creeping buttercups are a weed that can grow in your lawn, spreading quickly. They have yellow flowers that can look nice, but don’t be fooled because they will quickly overtake your lawn and deprive it of its vital nutrients.
The most common way to get rid of creeping buttercups in your yard is by using chemical means such as herbicides or chemicals found at the garden store. An alternative method for getting rid of this pesky weed would be through organic methods including pulling up plants by hand, pouring boiling water over them, and applying mulch over the area where they were sprayed so they cannot regrow.
We hope this article was able to help you with any and all of your creeping buttercup related problems!