Dichondra

How to spot it

• Bright green leaves, round to kidney-shaped, like a pony's foot
• Leaf edges are smooth, and the leaves sit one at a time on the stem
• Creeping stems that grow along the ground and form a thick mat
• Tiny white flowers in spring that are easy to miss
• Often in thin, weak turf

Why it shows up

Dichondra spreads by seed and by creeping stems. It forms dense, low mats and does well where the turf is thin and weak. It is not as strong where your lawn is thick and healthy.

How we treat it

Dichondra is a perennial, so we expect repeat visits. We spot treat with a product labeled for your grass type and come back as new growth shows up. We also fertilize to thicken the turf so dichondra has less room.

What you can do

• Pull small patches early, and get the creeping stems.
• Do not confuse it with dollarweed. Dichondra leaves are not fully round, and they have a notch.
• Keep up with mowing and feeding to thicken thin spots.