8 Pink Lawn Weeds You Should Pull Immediately (And Ones You Can Keep)

If you take a walk around your neighborhood, you may notice that manicured lawns that have been clipped, contained, and cut are on the decline. More people are opting for a different approach when it comes to lawn maintenance. Instead of a tidy look, the latest ungardening trend promotes a more wild vibe with tapestry lawns and a mix of weeds. This trend is great for biodiversity and requires less time to maintain. But just because you are allowing weeds to grow on your lawn does not mean you should keep any and all weeds. There are loads of common pink weeds that appear in lawns, and it is important to know which to keep and which to pull. 

Certain pink weeds, such as crown vetch and Himalayan balsam, should be pulled straight away because of their invasive nature. However, there are weeds with pink flowers that look enchanting and are perfectly safe to keep in your lawn, like pink purslane and wood sorrel. These weeds are attractive, non-invasive, and do not spread as aggressively as others. When deciding what weeds to keep and what weeds to pull, a safe bet is to check your state's website to see if it is considered invasive in your area. If it is invasive, never hesitate — get rid of it. 

You should always pull crown vetch (Securigera varia) if it appears in your yard, as it is an invasive species in many states and is known to overtake native plants and create a dense monoculture. It is also very difficult to control once it has established itself. To spot crown vetch, look out for a creeping plant with stems growing 2 to 6 feet long. Flowering from May to August, this weed produces small clusters of light pink to white flowers. Its oblong leaves are dark green, growing in a uniform pattern along each stem. 

Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) must be pulled straight away if it appears in your lawn. Considered one of the worst invasive weeds in the U.S., field bindweed forms dense mats that destroy habitats and biodiversity. It has white bell-like flowers that are tinged with pink, and arrowhead-shaped leaves. The stems of field bindweed usually grow along the ground, twisting and turning around other plants. These stems can grow over 6 feet in length. If you pull up any field bindweed in your lawn, ensure you are checking every two weeks for new growth.

You should pull common mallow (Malva neglecta) if you find it in your lawn. It is only officially listed as invasive in West Virginia, but it is an adaptable weed that spreads aggressively by seed. These seeds last a long time in soil and will germinate when water eventually penetrates them. To identify common mallow in your garden, keep an eye out for pale pink flowers with five notched petals and large, palmate leaves that are around 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. As a low grower, common mallow survives mowing and needs to be pulled by hand.

You can keep pink purslane (Portulaca pilosa) in your lawn if you enjoy its flowers. It is a wildflower native to dry, sandy regions of Florida and belongs to the succulent family, with thick, fleshy leaves and bold pink blooms. Pink purslane can grow to around 8 inches tall. The bright flowers appear in the late spring and early fall, adding color to your lawn. However, pink purslane is toxic to pets and horses, so you may want to remove it if you have fur babies that go into your garden. 

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) should be pulled if it appears in your lawn. It was first introduced as a garden ornamental plant in North America, but its ability to aggressively take over from native plants has made it an invasive species in several western, midwestern, and eastern states. It has also caused erosion concerns in many areas by replacing native plants near riverbeds. Himalayan balsam can reach up to 6 feet tall and produces pink flowers that grow in a unique hooded shape. Each dark-red stem has 5 to 10 flowers and long, green, serrated leaves. 

Shining geranium (Geranium lucidum) should be pulled as it is considered invasive in the regions where it's found — California, Oregon, Washington, and Maryland. It is classified as a noxious weed because of its ability to spread quickly from seed. Shining geranium has pink, five-petaled flowers and lobed, waxy leaves. The flowers appear scattered amongst the low-lying foliage, creating a dense appearance. Its seeds are ejected when ripe, covering nearby ground and hitchhiking to new areas. If you have removed shining geraniums, monitor your lawn for a few years until you are sure all seeds are gone.

You can keep violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea) in your lawn, as it is a native weed with charming blooms. Each flower has five petals and can appear in a range of colors, from pale pink to lavender. These flowers decorate rich, green leaves that grow in sets of three, each leaflet shaped like a heart. Violet wood sorrel blooms in the spring, but it's known to flower a second time when the weather begins to get colder and the leaves have died and fallen.

You should pull spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) straight away if it appears in your lawn. It is considered invasive in many states and national parks because of its ability to invade and disturb local habitats. It creates areas where only spotted knapweed grows by poisoning other plants. Spotted knapweed looks a bit like a thistle, with spiky pink flowers that bloom from July until September. Each flower sits upon long stems that can grow up to 3 feet in height. Spreading via seed, spotted knapweed can leave viable seeds in the soil for eight years. 

Spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium) should be pulled from your lawn. Although this flower is native and non-invasive, it is considered a nuisance weed because of its ability to spread rapidly and take over. Furthermore, spreading dogbane contains sap that is severely toxic to both humans and animals. Make sure you wear gloves and long sleeves when removing it. With red stems and pale pink bell-shaped flowers, spreading dogbane grows up to 2 feet tall. Its branches are decorated with drooping, green leaves. 

You can usually keep red clover (Trifolium pratense) in your lawn, but it depends on where you live. It is considered invasive in Oregon, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Its tufty flowerheads are bright pink and reach up above its foliage to create a wildflower look, blooming in the spring and summer. Many gardeners choose to keep red clover in their garden because of its nitrogen-fixing qualities. It adds fertility to the soil by converting inert nitrogen gas into a biologically useful form, which is great for the overall health of your yard. Red clover also attracts pollinators.

Although it is non-native in the U.S., you can keep field madder (Sherardia arvensis) in your lawn as long as your state does not list it as invasive. It is an annual flower that doesn't spread too quickly and can be easily controlled with post-emergent herbicides if you want to limit or remove it. Mowing also limits seed production. Field madder is a small, low-growing plant with spiky leaves that look like stars. Its flowers appear in January and last until July. They are small, light-pink blooms that grow in clusters to decorate the green mat of foliage. 

You should pull redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium) if it crops up. It is considered invasive in California and Colorado, and it is an adaptable plant that can thrive in many conditions, meaning that it often overtakes native plants. Furthermore, its tendency to create a mat on the ground stops other plants from growing. To spot redstem filaree, watch out for plants with hairy, fern-like leaves and small, five-petaled flowers. These flowers tend to appear in clusters in February and last through July.