Henbit

Henbit is a winter annual weed that sprouts in the fall, goes dormant over the winter, and then blooms in the spring. Once we have warm weather, it dies until the fall when the seeds sprout again. This plant is a low-growing member of the mint family with square stems, rounded to heart-shaped leaves with lobed edges, and pink to purple flowers produced at the top of the plant. Control of henbit is best done in the fall before it emerges or right after it comes up. It is too late to spray once the plant has come up in the spring and started to bloom. In the fall, a pre-emergent can be applied in September (as long as you are not seeding cool-season grasses in the area), or you can spray the weeds in October with 2,4-D, Round-up, Trimec, or similar products. Be sure to read the label for the application rate and time of application. For now, enjoy the beautiful blooms beneficial for pollinators, and keep your lawn as healthy as possible to help keep it weed-free. Henbit can be invasive if not controlled; however, it is also beneficial to pollinators, so feel free to let it grow if you wish.

 

Have questions? Contact our office where our Horticulture Extension Agent will assist you with questions.

Phone: (316) 321-9660

Email: callae@ksu.edu