Common Pasture Weeds: Identification and Control Strategies

When pasturelands become overgrown with weeds, the quality of your vegetation can decline rapidly. Invaders such as thistle, ragweed, and crabgrass can stifle desirable plant life, leading to poor nutrition for grazing animals and other problems. Getting familiar with common pasture weeds, identification can help keep your land healthier and more productive. Early identification and a proactive approach will help you save time and money, especially in the long run. This post breaks down common pasture weeds and provides guidance on how to control them effectively.

Why It’s Important to Control Pasture Weeds

Aside from their unsightly appearance, weeds compete with desirable forage for nutrients, sunlight, and water on your land. Common pasture weeds can also reduce grazing quality and harm livestock if toxic. Overall, weed infestations lead to long-term pasture degradation if left unchecked.

What Are Common Weeds Found in Pastures? 

When breaking down the identification of common pasture weeds, there are three main categories to be aware of — broadleaf weeds, grassy weeds, and toxic/invasive species:

Broadleaf weeds:

Broadleaf weeds are plants that grow wide, flat leaves with nodes and net-like veins and often sprout showy, colorful flowers.

• Thistle: If left unchecked, these broadleaf weeds can grow up to 12 feet in some varieties, and sprout bright purple flowers.
• Ragweed: Ragweed can also grow to great heights and features vertical bunches of flower buds that resemble goldenrods when they bloom. You may see tiny bursts of yellow flowers at the top of a long stalk.
• Pigweed: This common pasture weed resembles ragweed, with verticle bunches of flower buds, but the resulting blooms are usually green or light green in color. 
• Dock: Both curly and broadleaf dock weeds show up as large sprawling green leaves initially. If left unchecked, these plants may produce rust-colored flower clusters similar to those of ragweed and pigweed. 

Grassy weeds:

As the name suggests, grassy weeds resemble desirable turf grass. They do not produce showy flowers, but may sprout on the ends if left to grow tall. 

• Johnsongrass: These common pasture weeds grow in long, green, wide leaves, up to 24 inches in length and 1 ¼ inch in width. 
• Crabgrass: Crabgrass is one of the most common weeds in residential lawns, but it also pops up in pastures. It grows in bright green bunches, making it easy to spot. It’s especially undesirable in cool-season pastures because it’s a warm-season annual that competes for nutrients and leaves bald patches when it dies.

Toxic/invasive species: 

This third category in the identification of common pasture weeds is much more harmful. Toxic and invasive species can make animals sick, introduce new pests, and considerably decline the health of desirable plant life.  

• Poison hemlock: This plant, native to Europe and Africa, can grow up to 8 feet tall, has green pinnate leaves, and sprouts small, white, umbrella-shaped clusters of flowers. Hemlock has a distinct musty, unpleasant smell, and ingestion can lead to weakness, tremors, or even death. 
• Milkweed: There are various species of milkweed, all of which are considered toxic to humans and most animals. These plants feature thick stems, wide green leaves, and colorful flower pods. Milkweed gets its name from the white substance it secretes when damaged. 
• Horsenettle: Part of the nightshade family, this toxic plant is native to the US and produces fruit. Horsenettle flowers are usually white with a yellow center, and immature fruit is green with white stripes. As it matures, the fruit (less than 1 inch in diameter) turns yellow and resembles a tomato. Horsenettle fruit is especially toxic, earning the nickname “devil’s tomato” in some regions. 
• Spotted knapweed: This plant resembles thistles but with smaller flowers and thin, sparse, pale green leaves. It’s highly invasive, toxic to animals, and can cause skin irritation in humans. 

How Can I Control Invasive Species in My Pasture?

As you learn more about common pasture weeds identification, you can begin targeting these invasive species with both mechanical control, and chemical control. Here are some examples of how to control these unwelcome plants:

Mechanical control:

Regular mowing before seed set — Always try to mow and trim your lot before common pasture weeds can flower and spread seeds.

Hand-pulling small patches — If you’re only dealing with a small percentage of weeds, you can always manage them by pulling them out by the root. 

Tillage (with selective use) — Tilling can be helpful in managing invasive weeds, but it can also inadvertently spread their seeds. The best time to till for weeds is before seeding or reestablishing pasture.

Chemical control:

Spot-spraying herbicides — Use pasture-specific herbicides while weeds are actively growing. Follow label directions, spray plants until wet, and restrict grazing in these areas. 

Biological/rotational options:

Grazing management to avoid overgrazing — Overgrazing can lead to weed encroachment, so stay on top of rotations.

Selective livestock — As long as the plants are non-toxic, you can use goats for brush control, sheep for a variety of weeds, and cattle for grassy weeds. Horses are not as effective at controlling weeds through grazing. 

Integrated Weed Management Best Practices

The best way to manage common pasture weeds is with a multi-faceted approach. Combine mechanical, chemical, and biological approaches for long-term results.

To stay on top of management, start with regular pasture walks and visual monitoring. Target weeds before they flower and spread seeds, and re-seed bare areas to reduce weed establishment.

Preventing Future Weed Growth

Ideally, you will be able to prevent common pasture weeds by maintaining proper grazing rotation, overseeding thin spots, and keeping pasture edges and fence line clean. You should also fertilize and use lime based on soil tests to encourage healthy forage growth.

Conclusion

While the identification of common pasture weeds is pretty expansive, being able to target these plants will ultimately strengthen your vegetation. If you’re ready to overseed or reestablish your pasture for a fresh start, browse Nature Seed’s collection of high-quality 100% pure Pasture Seed.

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