Maintaining a pristine and healthy lawn can sometimes be a challenging task, especially when invasive weeds like black medic start to take root. Black medic (Medicago lupulina) is an invasive weed that is commonly found throughout the Louisville, KY, area, and it can quickly spread throughout your lawn if it's left unattended. This weed looks similar to clover and produces yellow flowers. If you're looking to prevent this weed from taking over your lawn, you can utilize pre-emergent weed control treatments. If this weed has already taken residence in your lawn, you can eliminate it with post-emergent weed control treatments. Continue reading this blog to learn more about this weed and what you can do if it shows up on your lawn!

What does black medic look like, how does it spread, and what conditions does it thrive in?

Close up on a black medic weed on a potential client's lawn in Clark County, IN.

Black medic is an annual weed that belongs to the legume family. It typically grows low to the ground and forms dense patches. The leaves of black medic are divided into three leaflets, similar to clover, but smaller in size. The leaflets are typically rounded or oval-shaped and have a distinctive v-shaped watermark on them. The flowers of black medic are small and yellow, resembling tiny clover blooms. As the name suggests, the seeds of black medic are black and can contribute to its spread.

Black medic can spread through its seeds, which are easily dispersed by wind, water, animals, or even lawn mowing equipment. Additionally, this weed has the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, enabling it to thrive even in nutrient-poor conditions. It prefers sunny areas but can tolerate some shade as well. Black medic tends to thrive in lawns with compacted soil, poor drainage, or those that receive inadequate maintenance.

How can you prevent black medic from taking over your lawn?

When it comes to controlling black medic, the best offense is a good defense. That's why you should invest in pre-emergent weed control treatments if you're looking to prevent this weed from getting a foothold in your lawn. This type of treatment works by forming a barrier in the soil that newly germinated weeds can't penetrate, causing them to die underground. The best time to apply a pre-emergent weed control treatment is in the spring, as this is the time of the year when this weed typically starts to germinate. You should also apply another round of pre-emergent weed control in the early summer to provide an additional layer of protection.

You should let professionals apply pre-emergent weed control treatments to ensure they are applied correctly and at the right time!

How can you control black medic if it has already invaded your lawn?

If black medic has already invaded your lawn, don't worry, you can take advantage of post-emergent weed control treatments to eliminate this weed. Post-emergent weed control treatments involve applying an herbicide directly to the weed, and it will sink into the soil and kill the weed at its root. Post-emergent treatments can be applied at any time throughout the year when you notice weeds in your lawn.

Give us a call today to schedule our weed control treatments.

If you're looking to prevent black medic from taking over your lawn, you'll want to schedule our weed control treatments. At Lawn Works, we utilize both pre- and post-emergent weed control treatments that are effective against black medic and many other weeds. We offer our weed control treatments to residential and commercial property owners, as well as HOAs, in Louisville, KY, and nearby areas like Prospect and Middletown. We also serve properties in Jeffersonville, New Albany, Sellersburg, and surrounding areas in Indiana. Give us a call at (812) 590-8864 to schedule our weed control treatments today!