Lawn Guardian

How to Get Rid of Henbit

Lamium amplexicaule

broadleaf weedUSDA zones 3–10Active: spring, winter

Winter annual in the mint family that blooms in early spring with purple-pink tubular flowers. Often carpets lawns before spring mowing begins.

How to identify it

Square stems; rounded, scalloped leaves clasping the stem; whorls of small pink-purple tubular flowers.

Treatment options

Cultural (prevention): Thick turf maintenance

Dense turf prevents henbit germination in fall. Overseed and fertilize to fill gaps.

When: Fall lawn care program

Organic: Hand pulling

Shallow-rooted and easy to pull. Remove before seed set in spring.

When: Pull in late winter/early spring before flowering

Chemical: Broadleaf herbicide (2,4-D + dicamba)

Three-way broadleaf herbicide provides reliable henbit control.

When: Apply in fall after germination or early spring before flowering

Active ingredient: 2,4-D + Dicamba — e.g. Trimec, Weed Free Zone

Chemical: Pre-emergent (isoxaben)

Fall-applied pre-emergent prevents henbit germination.

When: Apply in early fall before soil cools to henbit germination temperature

Active ingredient: Isoxaben — e.g. Gallery

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 henbit 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