Lawn Guardian

How to Get Rid of Dollarweed (Pennywort)

Hydrocotyle spp.

broadleaf weedUSDA zones 6–10Active: spring, summer, fall

Perennial weed common in warm, moist lawns. Named for its round, silver-dollar-shaped leaves. Indicates overwatering or poor drainage.

How to identify it

Round, shiny leaves with scalloped edges; stem attaches to center of leaf (peltate); spreads by rhizomes and tubers.

Treatment options

Cultural (prevention): Reduce irrigation

Dollarweed thrives in excess moisture. Water deeply but infrequently to discourage it.

When: Adjust irrigation throughout growing season

Cultural (prevention): Improve drainage

Address low spots and poor drainage areas where dollarweed concentrates.

When: Grade and aerate problem areas in fall

Organic: Baking soda spot treatment

Wet the weed and apply baking soda directly. Can burn dollarweed leaves on contact.

When: Apply on a hot, sunny day for best contact kill

Chemical: Atrazine (warm-season only)

Very effective on dollarweed in warm-season turf. DO NOT use on cool-season grasses.

When: Apply in spring or fall when dollarweed is actively growing

Active ingredient: Atrazine — e.g. Southern Ag Atrazine, Bonus S

Chemical: Metsulfuron-methyl

Selective broadleaf control for warm and cool-season turf.

When: Apply when dollarweed is actively growing

Active ingredient: Metsulfuron-methyl — e.g. Manor, Blade

Grass safety: always match herbicides to your grass species — products safe on Kentucky bluegrass can kill St. Augustine or centipede. Lawn Guardian checks this automatically against your lawn profile.

Stop dollarweed (pennywort) at the right moment, automatically

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

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Related weeds

Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns