If it feels like your lawn is waking up earlier than usual this year, you’re not imagining it. Virginia Beach and the surrounding areas have already seen an unpredictable mix of unusually warm days, sudden cold snaps, and erratic rain and snowfall, and we’re only just heading into spring. While the weather has been confusing for homeowners, it’s been ideal for one group: early spring lawn weeds.
Weeds like crabgrass, chickweed, and clover take full advantage of fluctuating soil temperatures and moisture to gain a foothold in your lawn before the grass even begins actively growing. If left unchecked, these early invaders can spread quickly, competing with your turf for water, nutrients, and sunlight.
Common Weeds to Watch for in Early Spring
Early spring in Virginia Beach presents the perfect conditions for opportunistic weeds to emerge, especially after a winter with inconsistent temperatures and precipitation. The soil begins to warm before your grass fully wakes up, giving weeds a competitive edge. Here are some of the most common weeds you might find in your yard:
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is the number one weed threat to Virginia Beach lawns in early spring. This aggressive, fast-spreading annual grassy weed begins to germinate when soil temperatures reach around 55°F for several consecutive days, a benchmark often reached by mid-to-late March. As a result, you’ll likely start seeing more crabgrass control products showing up in stores and ads this time of year. But the key to stopping crabgrass isn’t reacting, it’s preventing it.
That’s why Dreamlawns applies pre-emergent herbicides in early spring to create a barrier that prevents crabgrass and other warm-season weeds from germinating before they become visible problems. These applications are timed carefully to align with rising soil temperatures so we can catch weeds at their most vulnerable stage: before they break through the surface.
Some of the weeds you see in spring, like henbit, bittercress, and clover, actually germinate in the fall. Ideally, pre-emergents for these broadleaf weeds would be applied later in the year. However, this timing directly conflicts with fall seeding, as the same herbicides that suppress weeds will also prevent your desirable grass seed from germinating.
While it is possible to apply fall pre-emergents, it must be done after the seeding window has closed to avoid damaging new turf. For this reason, our priority during fall is building strong, dense turf through proper fertilization and overseeding, while early spring remains our most effective window for preventing crabgrass and other spring-germinating weeds with pre-emergent.
How to spot it: Crabgrass starts as light green tufts with coarse, sprawling blades. It thrives in bare or thin areas and spreads aggressively.
Why it’s a problem: Once established, crabgrass outcompetes your turf and becomes much harder to eliminate. Because it’s an annual, it drops thousands of seeds that lie in wait for the next season.
Chickweed
Chickweed is a cool-season annual that thrives in moist, shady areas and often germinates in the fall, even before crabgrass. It’s one of the first visible weeds in early spring.
How to spot it: Chickweed grows low to the ground and forms dense mats. It has small, white star-shaped flowers and soft, pale green leaves.
Why it’s a problem: Chickweed can smother turfgrass, especially in thinner or shaded lawns, and it’s difficult to pull out once it spreads.
White Clover
White Clover is a persistent perennial weed that germinates in the fall and often appears in nutrient-deficient soils, particularly those low in nitrogen. While some homeowners embrace clover, it’s considered a weed in most traditional lawn care programs.
How to spot it: Clover has small, round, trifoliate leaves (three leaflets per stem) and can produce tiny white or pinkish flowers.
Why it’s a problem: Clover spreads quickly through creeping stems and thrives in poor soil, making it a sign that your lawn needs attention, especially when it comes to fertilization.
Henbit
Henbit is a winter annual weed that germinates in fall and becomes most visible in early spring. It’s a member of the mint family and grows rapidly.
How to spot it: Look for square stems, purple flowers, and rounded, scalloped leaves stacked along the stem.
Why it’s a problem: Like chickweed, it spreads fast and thrives before your turfgrass has a chance to fully green up.
Wild Violet
Wild Violet is a persistent and often hard-to-control perennial weed. It loves shady, moist areas and can quickly form colonies.
How to spot it: Heart-shaped leaves and small purple flowers. It grows low and spreads by both seed and rhizomes.
Why it’s a problem: Wild violets can be very hard to eliminate without the right approach. They often resist standard herbicides.
Bittercress
Bittercress is one of the earliest weeds to emerge, germinating in the fall and often seen blooming by late February or early March.
How to spot it: Small rosettes of rounded leaves with tiny white flowers on tall stalks.
Why it’s a problem: It spreads rapidly by seed, and its seed pods explosively disperse when touched.
These weeds aren’t just an eyesore, they compete directly with your grass for resources and can quickly take over if not addressed early.
Why Early Detection and Timing Matter
When it comes to spring weeds, the window between “barely visible” and “taking over your lawn” is incredibly short. That’s why early detection and proper timing are everything. Most early-season weeds germinate well before your turfgrass is actively growing, which means they can establish a strong foothold before your lawn has a chance to compete.
Understanding the Lifecycle of Spring Weeds
Most of the weeds mentioned earlier, like crabgrass, chickweed, and bittercress, are either annuals or winter annuals. That means:
Winter annuals (like chickweed and henbit) germinate in the fall, lie dormant in the coldest months, and explode in growth come early spring.
Summer annuals (like crabgrass) germinate in early spring, grow aggressively, and die off in late fall, but not before producing thousands of seeds.
If you wait until you see weeds to take action, it’s often too late. By then, they’ve already germinated, spread, and started competing with your grass for nutrients, water, and space.
Soil Temperature Is Key
Weeds don’t follow the calendar, they follow the soil temperature. Crabgrass, for instance, begins to germinate when soil temperatures hit 55°F for several consecutive days, which often occurs in Virginia Beach between mid-March and early April, depending on the year. In unusually warm springs, this can happen even earlier.
Monitoring soil temperatures helps determine the best time to apply pre-emergent herbicides, which work before weeds germinate. Waiting too long, even by a week, can mean missing your chance to prevent an outbreak.
Why Prevention Is More Effective Than Treatment
Once weeds are visible, they’re much harder to control. Post-emergent herbicides often require multiple applications, can stress your turfgrass, and may not work well on mature weeds. Many broadleaf weeds, like wild violet or clover, are extremely resistant to spot treatments unless paired with a comprehensive lawn care strategy.
Early detection allows for:
- Timely application of pre-emergents
- Better management of nutrient competition
- Reduced seed spread for the next growing cycle
The earlier you act, the easier it is to keep your lawn weed-free, and the healthier your grass will be in the long run.
How Pre-Emergent Weed Control Works — And Other Ways to Stop Weeds Before They Spread
Preventing weeds in early spring is all about timing, consistency, and giving your lawn a competitive edge. While post-emergent sprays can help eliminate weeds after they appear, the real secret to stopping a weed invasion is preventing it before it starts, especially with fast-spreading offenders like crabgrass. That’s where pre-emergent weed control comes in.
What Is Pre-Emergent Weed Control?
Pre-emergent herbicides work by creating an invisible barrier in the soil that disrupts the growth of weed seeds before they can germinate. Instead of killing weeds, they prevent them from ever breaking through the soil surface. This makes them extremely effective against annual weeds like crabgrass when applied at the right time.
When to Apply: Proper timing is everything when it comes to pre-emergent applications. In Virginia Beach, the optimal window for applying pre-emergents to control crabgrass typically falls between late February and early April, depending on soil temperatures. Applying too early can lead to product breakdown before crabgrass begins to germinate, while applying too late means weeds may already be emerging. In some cases, a split-application approach is recommended, with the initial treatment completed by mid-March for best results.
For broadleaf weeds like henbit, bittercress, and clover, pre-emergent control is most effective when applied in the fall. However, this timing conflicts with fall seeding, since most pre-emergents will also prevent desirable grass seed from germinating. While fall pre-emergent applications are possible, they can only be used after the seeding window has passed to avoid interfering with healthy turf establishment.
Proper Application: Pre-emergents must be evenly applied and lightly watered in to activate the barrier. After application, it’s important to avoid disturbing the soil, which includes aerating, dethatching, or heavy raking, as this can break the barrier and reduce effectiveness.
Additional Strategies to Keep Weeds at Bay
While pre-emergents are a critical tool in spring, they work best when paired with healthy lawn care habits. Weeds love bare spots, nutrient-poor soil, and stressed grass, so the more you support your turf, the fewer chances weeds will have to invade. Here are other ways to strengthen your lawn’s natural weed defense:
Mow High: Taller grass shades the soil, making it harder for weed seeds to germinate. Keep your mower height around 4 inches for cool-season grasses like Fescue.
Water Deep and Infrequently: Shallow watering encourages shallow roots, which weeds love. Deep, less frequent watering promotes strong grass root systems that outcompete weeds.
Fertilize Smart: Underfed grass is vulnerable to weed invasion, especially clover. A balanced spring fertilization plan gives your lawn the strength it needs to fight back naturally.
Repair Bare Spots: Open soil is prime real estate for weeds. Overseed patchy areas in early spring with the right seed blend for your lawn type to fill in gaps before weeds can.
When used together, pre-emergent weed control and smart cultural practices create a powerful line of defense. The goal isn’t just to kill weeds, it’s to make your lawn so healthy that weeds can’t find a way in.
Dreamlawns’ Weed Control and Prevention Services
At Dreamlawns, we believe that effective weed control starts long before the first weed ever appears. That’s why our approach to spring weed prevention is built around timing, customization, and comprehensive care, all backed by local expertise rooted in the Virginia Beach climate.
Targeted Pre-Emergent Applications
We time our pre-emergent herbicide treatments based on soil temperature trends, weather patterns, and turf type. Rather than sticking to a one-size-fits-all schedule, we adjust our application windows to ensure that crabgrass and other invasive weeds are stopped before they have a chance to germinate. We also take care to apply and activate these products correctly so the protective barrier remains intact.
Custom Weed Control Plans Based on Lawn Assessments
Every lawn is different, and so is every weed problem. That’s why our technicians begin with a detailed property assessment, identifying:
- Soil condition and drainage
- Turf density and variety
- Bare spots or thin areas
- Past weed pressure and likely threats
Using this information, we build a weed control strategy that pairs pre-emergent and post-emergent treatments with smart lawn care practices like fertilization and overseeding, ensuring your lawn is not only weed-free but stronger overall.
Year-Round Lawn Care That Reduces Weed Pressure Long-Term
The best weed control doesn’t just stop spring weeds, it makes your lawn healthier over time. That’s why our services go beyond herbicide application:
- Fertilization plans that promote dense turf growth and crowd out weeds
- Aeration and overseeding services to repair thin areas where weeds can thrive
- Seasonally adjusted treatments that align with the life cycle of your grass and the region’s climate
Whether you’re dealing with stubborn clover, persistent crabgrass, or widespread chickweed, Dreamlawns offers both preventive and corrective solutions designed to eliminate weeds and restore balance to your lawn.
Take Control of Your Lawn Before The Weeds Take Over
When it comes to spring weeds, early action is everything. Weeds like crabgrass, chickweed, and clover don’t wait for your grass to catch up, they take advantage of warm soil, bare spots, and inconsistent care to establish themselves fast. But with the right timing, tools, and lawn care strategy, you can stop them before they spread.
Pre-emergent herbicides, smart mowing and watering habits, and a thick, well-fertilized lawn are your best defense. And with Dreamlawns by your side, you don’t have to guess. Our local expertise, customized assessments, and year-round programs ensure that your lawn gets exactly what it needs when it needs it.
Get started with a free estimate and take the first step toward a greener, healthier, weed-free lawn.
Dreamlawns provides superior lawn care service to Virginia Beach & Chesapeake VA residents.
