Dollar weed after the flooding: why it shows up and how to get rid of it
By Q and L Pest Management. Reviewed by our licensed team.
Short answer: Dollar weed comes up from excess moisture, so after the recent Palm Beach County flooding, expect to see more of it. It’s best treated with a post-emergent herbicide combined with a reduction in irrigation. Correcting the watering is the best long-term way to keep dollar weed from coming back.
Dollar weed's round, coin-sized leaves stand out in turf.
What is dollar weed?
Dollar weed (also called dollarweed or pennywort) is a lawn weed with round, shiny, umbrella-like leaves about the size of a coin. It spreads fast in Florida lawns, and it loves wet ground. UF/IFAS describes it as a weed of moist to wet sites (UF/IFAS EP389).
Why the flooding will bring more of it
Palm Beach County just had record rain and weeks of saturated soil. UF/IFAS lists dollarweed as an indicator weed: when it takes over, the lawn is usually overwatered or stays wet too long (UF/IFAS EP634). That’s why we’re asking homeowners to watch for it now, before it spreads.
How to get rid of dollar weed
Treat it with a post-emergent herbicide. Dollar weed that’s already growing needs a post-emergent treatment, which is applied to weeds that have already come up.
Reduce your irrigation. Herbicide alone won’t keep it away if the lawn stays wet. Cut back how often your system runs, and turn it off while the ground is still soggy. Make sure your rain sensor works.
Fix the watering for good. Correcting the watering is the best long-term prevention. UF/IFAS also points to better drainage and avoiding excessive irrigation (EP389).
What is dollar weed and why is it worse after flooding?
Dollar weed (pennywort) has round, umbrella-like leaves and thrives in wet turf. After Palm Beach County flooding and saturated soils, it often spreads. Cutting back on watering helps keep it from coming back.
What causes dollar weed?
Excess moisture. Dollar weed comes up in lawns that stay wet from heavy rain, overwatering or poor drainage.
Will the recent flooding cause dollar weed?
It’s likely. The flooding left a lot of Palm Beach County lawns saturated, which is the condition dollar weed thrives in.
How do you get rid of dollar weed in a South Florida lawn?
A post-emergent herbicide combined with a reduction in irrigation.
How do I keep dollar weed from coming back?
Correct the watering. Reducing irrigation is the best long-term prevention, because dollar weed returns wherever the lawn stays wet.
Does Q&L treat dollar weed?
Yes, as part of our lawn and ornamental pest control and fertilization. Call (561) 725-5274 to schedule an inspection.
Does Q&L adjust my irrigation to stop dollar weed?
No. Reducing irrigation is advice for your own system. Q and L Pest Management doesn’t install, adjust or maintain irrigation; we handle the dollar weed treatment as part of lawn and ornamental pest control and fertilization.
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