Weeds come in all shape and sizes. Prickly ones can cause injury to people that come into contact with them. Others may seem harmless but can cause allergic reactions and illness if ingested.

One common trait that all weeds share is their ability to compete with grass for water, sunlight, and nutrients. Therefore, any weeds you have need to be eradicated and should be done by a professional. The following are the five most common types of weeds.

1. Crabgrass

Sometimes it is hard to tell that you have crabgrass. Other times it can be obvious and unsightly. When you do have it, the blades of grass are coarser and sharper than regular grass. This mean it can be painful to step on which is especially concerning if you have small children and/or pets.

You may be able to purchase products for crabgrass from your local hardware store. However, it often comes back. As a result, you probably need to have it treated by a professional lawn service. These professionals can dig up the crabgrass which is needed to prevent it from spreading further. They can then spread new seed that will allow normal, healthy grass to grow and spray your lawn with a pre-emergent chemical that will prevent further growth.

2. Dandelions

Dandelions are in invasive species and many homeowners struggle to keep them from growing on their lawns. While many people deem them harmless, they can cause damage to the body if ingested enough and there are instances where children have gotten sick from eating their stems.

Like crabgrass, you can attempt to remove dandelions from your lawn. However, cutting them will cause them to grow back and plucking them from their root can be next to impossible as they can grow up to 3 feet into the soil. A professional lawn service can spray your lawn with herbicides to make sure dandelions do not grow on your lawn at least for the current season

3. Thistles

Thistles are extremely sharp and can be painful for people and pets that step on them. To avoid injuries, homeowners are often forced to keep away from areas where thistles are growing which can be frustrating and disappointing.

Cutting thistles often results in them returning so this is not recommended. Attempting to dig it up often results in re-growth since roots are usually missed. A professional lawn service can test your soil and make improvements to it. This can help because thistles like to grow in low-fertility soil. A professional lawn service can also use a strong herbicide in a way that leaves the rest of your lawn untouched or burn the area which they are licensed to do.

4. Yellow nutsedge

Yellow nutsedge may be difficult as it grows among healthy grass but it is a nuisance. Because of the numerous shoots it can produce, it often crowds the grass around it. This causes grass to die because it is not getting the nutrients it needs.

Plucking yellow nutsedge from your lawn will not address the problem. This is because tiny tubes inside the root will still promote growth development. Instead, a professional lawn service can survey your lawn in the areas where yellow nutsedge is present and can apply chemicals specifically designed for this weed. The areas affected will yellow, kill the yellow nutsedge, then begin to grow healthy grass.

5. Ragweed

When you have ragweed, not only is it ugly it can cause major issues for people with allergies. This is because the tiny leaves product pollen which then gets into the air and causes aggravation.

It is very difficult to get rid of ragweed because it can service cutting and pulling because seeds can survive underneath the soil for decades. As a result, any treatments that you apply yourself may not penetrate the soil enough to be effective. Efforts made by professional lawn services will be more efficient and any work they do usually comes with a guarantee.