Cudweeds

Cudweeds (Gnaphalium) are small, soft, woolly-leaved weeds that often grow in lawns, gardens, and disturbed soils. You can spot them by their grey-green, fuzzy leaves and tiny clustered flowers that look like little balls of fluff. These weeds spread quickly by seeds and can take over bare or weak lawn patches if you don’t act fast.

Cudweeds compete with your lawn grass for water, nutrients, and sunlight. They grow quickly in weak or patchy lawns and can make your grass look thin and unhealthy. Because they spread easily by seeds, they can quickly turn small patches into bigger problems.

Here’s how you can spot cudweeds before they take over your lawn. These weeds often go unnoticed at first but can spread fast if not managed early.

Leaves

Soft, grey-green, and covered in fine hairs that give them a woolly feel. These hairs help the plant hold moisture and survive dry weather.

Flowers

Small, round clusters of tiny flowers that look like fluffy balls. They sit close to the leaves and can blend in with the rest of the plant.

Growth

Cudweeds grow low to the ground and spread out in mats, often filling in bare spots. This makes them hard to mow and easy to miss until they’ve covered large areas.

Keep Your Lawn Healthy

To stop cudweeds from taking over, focus on growing thick, healthy grass. Mow often, water deeply but only when needed, and feed your lawn with the right fertiliser. This way, strong grass fills in bare spots and gives weeds less room to grow.

Pull Out Weeds Early

As soon as you see cudweeds popping up, pull them out by hand. It’s best to do this when the soil is damp so you can get the whole root. This early action keeps them from spreading seeds and growing back.

Use Mulch in Garden Beds

In garden beds, add a thick layer of mulch to block sunlight and stop cudweed seeds from growing. At the same time, mulch helps the soil stay moist and gives other plants a better chance to thrive.

Apply Selective Herbicides

When cudweeds spread too much, spray a selective broadleaf herbicide made for lawns. Choose a product with ingredients like 2,4-D or dicamba. For best results, spray when the weeds are young and growing well—usually in spring or autumn. Always read and follow the label instructions to use it safely and correctly.