Virginia Buttonweed: The Weed Wrecking Louisiana Lawns

May 21

If your lawn has patches of wiry green vines with tiny white flowers that seem to spread no matter how often you mow—you’ve met Virginia buttonweed. This aggressive weed is one of the toughest invaders in South Louisiana yards, and it won’t go down without a fight.

At Cultivate, we’ve battled buttonweed in lawns all across Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, and the Northshore. Here’s what you need to know—and how we get it under control.

What Is Virginia Buttonweed?

Virginia buttonweed (Diodia virginiana) is a deep-rooted, spreading perennial weed that thrives in warm, wet conditions—a perfect match for the St. Tammany Parish climate.

You’ll know you’re dealing with buttonweed if you see:

Creeping, vine-like stems that grow flat across the ground

Opposite leaves that look a bit like St. Augustine (but aren’t)

Tiny white, star-shaped flowers

A patch that seems to double in size every week

Unlike common weeds, mowing and pulling buttonweed often makes it worse. It spreads by seed, stem fragments, and underground roots—making it one of the most persistent lawn problems in Louisiana.

Why Buttonweed Is So Hard to Kill

Most store-bought weed killers won’t touch it. Here’s why Virginia buttonweed is such a pain:

It thrives in soggy lawns (hello, Louisiana rain)

It grows back from tiny root pieces if not fully removed

It laughs at weak herbicides and many “weed and feed” products

It chokes out healthy turf and can leave huge bare spots when it dies off

This is not a weed you can ignore or casually treat.

How Cultivate Controls Virginia Buttonweed

We don’t mess around with this one. Our process is designed for maximum kill and minimal turf damage:

1. Proper Identification

Many homeowners confuse buttonweed for something else. We confirm it’s buttonweed before treating to avoid wasting time or chemicals.

2. Spot Spray with Selective Herbicide

We use professional-grade herbicides like Celsius® or MSM Turf®, which target broadleaf weeds.

Note: These aren’t available at big box stores—and require careful application to avoid lawn damage.

3. Lawn Drainage and Irrigation Assessment

Buttonweed thrives in soggy areas. If your yard holds water, we assess and adjust irrigation or offer drainage solutions to prevent reinfestation.

4. Mowing and Lawn Health Plan

We raise mower heights, balance fertilization, and thicken your turf—so healthy grass can choke out future weed invasions.

What Not to Do:

We get a lot of calls after folks try to DIY their buttonweed battle. Here's what doesn't work:

Mowing low – just spreads the stems

RoundUp® – kills your grass and the weed often grows back

Weed & Feed – too weak to handle buttonweed

Pulling it out – breaks up the root and spreads it faster

This is a fight best left to pros.

Serving Lawns Across the Northshore

If you're tired of losing the battle against Virginia buttonweed, you're not alone. We treat lawns across:

Covington

Mandeville

Slidell

Abita Springs

Madisonville

Lacombe and more!

Book Your Weed Control Treatment Today!

We’re in peak season for buttonweed right now. The sooner we treat it, the better your lawn will bounce back this year—and next.

Or call: 985-999-0309 

A Family Owned Company, licensed, and trusted across the St. Tammany.

Zachary Hart