Which of the following is a winter annual weed common in new turfgrass?

• A. Common Chickweed
• B. Crabgrass
• C. Foxtail
• D. Barnyardgrass

Answer: (A)

Winter annual weeds are those that germinate in cool weather, persist through winter, and complete their life cycle in the spring before heat arrives. In new turfgrass, disturbed soil and thin stands create opportunities for these cool-season weeds to establish and spread as temperatures rise.

Common chickweed fits this pattern best. It often germinates in fall and overwinters as low-growing mats, becoming noticeable in early spring as the turf is coming out of dormancy. This makes it a classic winter annual weed in newly established lawns. The other options are typically warm-season or summer annuals, which germinate and grow when soils are warmer and do not fit the winter-annual pattern seen in newly seeded turf.