Spring Weeds in Kansas City: Why Dandelions & Henbit Are Popping Up Now

As spring kicks into gear in Kansas City, many homeowners are starting to notice something frustrating in their lawns—weeds like dandelions and henbit popping up seemingly overnight. You’re not alone, and the good news is: these weeds are easy to knock down this time of year—but there’s more to it than just spraying and walking away.

Let’s break down what’s happening in your lawn and what to do next.

🌼 Why Are Dandelions and Henbit Showing Up in Early Spring?

Dandelions and henbit are known as cool-season broadleaf weeds. That means they actually germinate in the fall, lay low during winter, and then explode with growth once warmer spring temperatures return.

Here’s what you’re seeing:

Henbit is the fast-growing purple-flowered weed that’s often one of the first to show up.
Dandelions are hard to miss with their bright yellow blooms and deep taproots.

They thrive in bare spots, thin turf, and areas where your lawn may not be fully established yet.

💥 Yes, You Can Kill Them Now... But That’s Not the Full Story

Spring is a great time to spray these weeds—and at Turf Geeks, we do exactly that. We apply targeted broadleaf weed control treatments that knock down visible weeds like henbit, dandelions, chickweed, and others quickly and effectively.

But here's the thing: The best time to truly control these weeds long-term is in the fall.

Why? Because fall is when these weeds are actively storing nutrients in their roots. Hitting them with a post-emergent herbicide in fall weakens them from the inside out—preventing them from coming back strong in spring.

🧠 What You Can Do Right Now

Even though fall is ideal for long-term control, spring weed control is still 100% necessary to keep your lawn clean and healthy. Here's what you should be doing in Kansas City right now:

Apply Broadleaf Weed Control: This is what we’re doing in Round 2 of our spring lawn treatments.
Feed Your Lawn: Healthy, thick turf is the best defense against weeds.
Mow Tall & Often: Stick to the 1/3 rule and mow every 4–5 days to encourage healthy growth and crowd out weeds.
Trust the Process: New customers, especially, may see weeds linger for a couple of treatments. It’s all part of building your lawn’s foundation.

📍 Lawn Care in Kansas City: Built for Our Climate

At Turf Geeks, we’re proud to be locally owned and operated—founded by a former golf course superintendent who understands Kansas City turf and soil conditions inside and out. We design treatment plans specifically for our region, using K-State-backed research to guide everything we do.

We service lawns in Kansas City, Liberty, Kearney, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, and surrounding areas.

🔄 Want Long-Term Weed Control? Start Now, Plan for Fall

Getting ahead of weeds in spring is key—but if you really want to stop henbit and dandelions from taking over each year, fall is the time to make your move. That’s when we build long-term control into your program.

Need help with your lawn?Click here to try our Instant Quote tool or text us at 816-459-0253 to get started.Let’s geek out over your grass—and stop weeds in their tracks.