Annual weeds can be classified by the season when their seed normally germinates . Winter annuals germinate during late summer or fall , persist as an immature plant throughout the winter months, and produce more vegetative growth, flowers and seed in the spring. Summer annuals germinate in the spring and produce seed in summer or fall. Annual weeds complete their life cycle in 1 year. Biennials complete their life cycle in 2 years, developing to partial maturity during the first growing season, with flowering and eventual death during the second season.
Perennial plants can persist over long periods of time, usually over-wintering in a dormant state.
These species resume growth the following season from stored energy. They may also reproduce from seed. The degree to which a weed adapts to the turf environment determines its persistence in a turf. Several factors influence the growth of each species, including climate , soil , and cultural or maintenance operations. Cultural operations applied to the turf during routine maintenance exert the greatest influence on weed persistence.