Henbit
Lamium amplexicaule
Henbit is a winter annual broadleaf weed that is incredibly prevalent in Middle Tennessee. It actually germinates in the fall, survives the winter as a small, dormant plant, and then explodes with rapid growth at the first sign of warming temperatures in early spring. It often creates a blanket of purple across untreated lawns and agricultural fields in March and April.
Henbit is a member of the mint family, which is characterized by having distinctly square stems. It thrives in thin, dormant turf and areas with rich, moist soil. While it dies off naturally as the heat of summer arrives, leaving it untreated allows it to drop thousands of seeds that will guarantee an even larger infestation the following fall.
How to Identify Henbit
- 1Stems are distinctly square when rolled between your fingers.
- 2Leaves are rounded, deeply veined, have scalloped edges, and grow opposite each other directly on the stem.
- 3Produces small, tubular, pinkish-purple flowers near the top of the plant.
- 4Grows upright, typically reaching 6 to 12 inches in height.
Treatment & Control
The most effective control for henbit is a properly timed fall pre-emergent application, which prevents the seeds from germinating before winter. If henbit is already present in the spring, a standard post-emergent broadleaf herbicide will easily control it. Because it is an annual that dies in the summer heat, the goal of spring treatment is to kill the plant before it has a chance to produce and drop seeds for the next season.
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