Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle)
Dove’s-foot crane’s-bill is a small, spreading weed that often appears in thin or underfed lawns across New Zealand. It’s a member of the geranium family and can quickly form loose mats of foliage that crowd out weaker grasses.
This weed grows as an annual or short-lived perennial, thriving in compacted, low-fertility soil and open patches of turf. It germinates in autumn and flowers through spring and summer, producing numerous small pinkish-purple blooms that give it a decorative but unwanted appearance in lawns.
Once mature, it spreads by seed, and because it sits low to the ground, mowing alone rarely removes it.
Identification
Dove’s-foot crane’s-bill has many branching stems that are covered in fine hairs. Several upright stems rise from a rosette of palmate leaves, each leaf divided five to nine times into rounded lobes.
The basal leaves are larger and grow on long stalks, while the upper leaves are smaller, rounded, and slightly hairy. Stems typically range from 5 mm to 12 mm in diameter and can grow to about 30 cm long under favourable conditions.
From September to February, it produces pinkish-purple flowers about 8–12 mm wide, each with five deeply notched petals. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated mainly by bees, wasps, and other small insects. After flowering, it forms narrow seed capsules that eject seeds short distances, helping new plants establish nearby.
Why It’s a Problem in Lawns
Dove’s-foot crane’s-bill competes aggressively with grass in weak, compacted lawns. It grows flat to the ground, avoiding mower blades, and spreads through open turf by reseeding. Because it thrives in poor or dry soil, it often appears where lawn grass is thin, patchy, or struggling from low nutrient levels.
Left untreated, it can form large patches that outcompete grass and create uneven, coarse-textured areas in the lawn.
Control in Home Lawns
This weed can be controlled with the right herbicide and better lawn care practices. Early treatment, before flowering and seeding, is most effective.
Best control methods:
- Physical removal: Hand-pull small plants before they flower. The roots are shallow and come out easily when the soil is moist.
- Chemical control: Use selective turf herbicides containing dicamba (sold as Banvine or Bandit), or mixtures containing picloram and triclopyr (NZLA Gold) provides reliable control in established lawns.
- Cultural management: Aerate compacted areas, apply a balanced fertiliser, and maintain dense turf through regular feeding and overseeding. A healthy, vigorous lawn will prevent re-establishment.
Prevention Tips
- Fertilise at least twice a year to maintain grass density.
- Avoid mowing too low; keep the lawn height around 25–35 mm.
- Aerate compacted soil in autumn or spring to promote strong grass roots.
- Reseed bare patches promptly to prevent cudweed and geranium species from invading.
- Keep the lawn thick and healthy to block sunlight from reaching weed seedlings.