Which of the following is an example of a summer annual weed common to turfgrass?

• A. Crabgrass
• B. Dandelion
• C. Common chickweed
• D. Henbit

Answer: (A)

Summer annual weeds complete their life cycle in one growing season, germinating as soils warm in spring, growing through the heat of summer, and dying with the first frost. Crabgrass is a classic example of this pattern in turfgrass, quickly developing during warm months and producing seeds that ensure the weed reappears each year. The other options don’t fit this pattern: dandelion is a perennial weed that regrows from its roots year after year, while common chickweed and henbit are typically winter annuals that germinate in cooler conditions and finish their life cycle by late spring. Knowing this helps guide control timing—for crabgrass, pre-emergent herbicides applied in early spring to prevent germination, plus post-emergent treatments for young plants, are common strategies, along with cultural practices like mowing higher to discourage rapid spread.