Lawn Guardian

How to Get Rid of Purple Deadnettle

Lamium purpureum

broadleaf weedUSDA zones 3–10Active: spring, winter

Winter annual closely related to henbit. Distinguished by purplish-red upper leaves. Often grows alongside henbit in cool-season weed flushes.

How to identify it

Square stems; triangular leaves with purplish-red color at top; pink-purple tubular flowers; lower leaves green and petioled.

Treatment options

Cultural (prevention): Dense fall turf

Prevent germination with thick turf. Same approach as henbit (closely related).

When: Fall overseeding and fertilization

Organic: Hand pulling

Shallow-rooted winter annual. Pull before spring flowering and seed set.

When: Pull in late winter/early spring

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

Three-way herbicide controls deadnettle. Same products effective on henbit.

When: Apply in fall or early spring

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

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 purple deadnettle 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