Runner that is taking over lawn

[Lettuce Lady]

Help this is taking over my lawn. Don't know what it is or how to get rid of it. I'm not a big fan of grass so if anyone has an idea of a ground cover that will smother out this runner plant I'd appreciate it. I understand that buckwheat will smother pretty much everything but I need something that would look decent in the front yard. We don't want to upset the neighbors with tall, unsightly plants but this low growing plant bothers me. What is it? Maybe if I get to know it I'll become fond of it.

 

[beavis]

Help this is taking over my lawn.

I'm not a big fan of grass

Now I'm confused by these two conflicting statements?


Not sure what that little plant is, but I like the look of it, looks like a cranesbill or geranium.

I would much rather have that little plant growing underfoot then any grass

 

[Lettuce Lady]

I may learn to like this plant if I knew what it was. It's rather invasive. It tries to take over everything not just the lawn but I'm able to yank it out of the garden beds. There was some clover that looked like it was going to take over the grass but then this unknown plant took over the clover. This plant even runs up the rocks.

 

[beavis]

Where are you located? It might help me to narrow down a search for what plant species that is.

Does it prefer sun/ shade or both?

 

[Lettuce Lady]

Where are you located? It might help me to narrow down a search for what plant species that is.

Does it prefer sun/ shade or both?

Thanks for the help. I hate not knowing things. I'm in the Seattle area, it likes both.

 

[beavis]

Coool, now I can consult my Sunset Western Garden Book for clues......

 

[beavis]

OK

I do believe it is some form of wild Geranium. Geranium (Cranesbill) not Pelargonium which are the larger Geraniums you see in pots.

Here is a Cranesbill

They propagate via above ground or underground stolons, a lot like Strawberries....

 

[Reinbeau]

Those are buttercups. You need to manually dig them to get rid of them - here's a discussion about getting rid of them.

 

[vfem]

I've suggested these a lot lately... but they were made to be lawn replacements as some types can take heavy traffic and foot work daily!

www.stepables.com

You can chose by your zone, growth rate, foot traffic and plant height. There is a nice variety of mosses that may be a good replacement for a wet area like yours!

 

[SouthDakotaRose]

I agree with Reinbeau, what you have are creeping buttercups. Very common here in Washington where we have a lot of wet weather and wet lawn areas. They are officially called western buttercups or ranunculus occidentalis.

They are the most common and widespread native species found in open areas, especially on hillsides that are wet in winter and spring and dry in summer.

I just let mine live and do their little thing in my lawn. They are not bad to look at and it is just to frustrating trying to get every little rootlet out of a big area like a lawn. I do keep them out of the beds though by handweeding.

SouthDakotaRose