ID Needed for pesky lawn invader

[luadoinverno]

We've been having issues with our lawn pretty much since we moved into our new place.  The sod that was put down is very poor quality, full of clover and weeds.  We've been slowly trying to get it where we want it but have given up.  The plan is to start over from scratch in spring.  However, we're concerned about an invader that seems to be taking

Comments

[miraje]

It looks a bit like common lespedeza to me. I'm not sure if it is, but that's what I identified as the weed spreading like wildfire in my yard. I'm happy to have it, though. From what I understand, it fixes nitrogen in the soil, and it's really filling in nicely in places where I can't get anything else to grow.

[regality3]

Chickweed? http://www.google.com/images?q=chickweed&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

[racerxgirl]

that's what I was thinking it looked like....

[stone_bitch]

If it's chickweed, pot it! It's very good for you, as is the clover. Provided it hasn't been sprayed or such. :)

[trac3y]

The flower looks a bit like a creeping veronica:

http://www.msuturfweeds.net/details/_/creeping_speedwell_2/

there are lots of varieties. waterperry blue looks a lot like the one you've picture here:

http://bit.ly/dsGkwK

[selvatica]

I think it is very pretty and would be very welcome in my lawn :)

[lughnie]

It's called Spotted Spurge. I have it, too, and it's a royal pain! We usually just uproot it. You can try to spray it, but uprooting is the best defense we've found. They start out small, so if you can pick them out as soon as you see them start to crop up, it helps a lot.

I found a few sites about it for you:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/spotted-spurge-lawn-weed-recognizing-it
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/spotted_spurge.html
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/weed-identification-control/spotted-spurge-control.htm