That little yellow flower popping up across your lawn might look harmless, but if it’s spreading in mats across the ground, you’re likely dealing with creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens). In Seattle’s wet climate, this invasive weed thrives in lawns, garden beds, and anywhere soil stays damp.
At Lee’s General Landscaping, we help homeowners remove creeping buttercup the right way — at the root — and keep it from coming back.
How to Identify Creeping Buttercup
- Flowers: Small, bright yellow, glossy petals, usually 5 per bloom (spring–summer).
- Leaves: Divided into three leaflets, often hairy and toothed, giving it a clover-like look.
- Growth habit: Low-growing, spreading through above-ground runners (stolons) that root wherever they touch soil.
- Preferred conditions: Moist, compacted soils with poor drainage.
Unlike other buttercup varieties, creeping buttercup forms dense mats that choke out grass and ornamental plants.
Why Creeping Buttercup Is a Problem
- Spreads rapidly: Runners root easily, creating new plants everywhere.
- Tough competitor: Outcompetes grass and garden plants, leaving bare or patchy spots when pulled incorrectly.
- Toxic to animals: All parts of the plant are toxic to pets and livestock if ingested.
- Hard to eradicate: Even small root fragments can regrow, making DIY weeding frustrating.
How We Remove Creeping Buttercup
Because creeping buttercup spreads so aggressively, effective removal requires the right tools and follow-up care.
- Hand Pulling with Commercial Tools
- We dig deep to pull up entire root systems and stolons.
- Removal is easiest in spring when soil is soft and before heavy flowering.
- Haul and Disposal
- We bag and haul away creeping buttercup waste to prevent re-rooting.
- Leaving pulled weeds on the ground often just spreads them further.
- Mulch Installation
- After removal, we cover soil with 2–3 inches of mulch to suppress regrowth and discourage seedlings.
- Soil and Drainage Improvements
- Creeping buttercup thrives in wet, compacted soil.
- We recommend aerating lawns, improving drainage, or replanting with groundcovers in shady, damp areas.
Long-Term Control
- Regular monitoring: Check each season for new plants.
- Healthy lawn care: Overseed bare spots to crowd out buttercup regrowth.
- Mulching beds: Keeps weeds suppressed and beds looking clean.
- Drainage fixes: Reducing soggy spots makes your yard less friendly to buttercup.
Professional Creeping Buttercup Removal in Seattle
While small patches can be pulled by hand, creeping buttercup infestations spread fast and are frustrating to control without the right tools. That’s where Lee’s General Landscaping comes in.
Our buttercup removal service includes:
- Root-level removal with professional tools
- Full haul-away and disposal
- Mulch installation for long-term weed suppression
- Lawn and soil improvement recommendations
✅ If creeping buttercup has started taking over your lawn or garden, don’t wait until it blankets your yard. Contact Lee’s General Landscaping for professional weed removal in Seattle. We’ll dig it out, haul it away, and help you keep your property neat and tidy year-round.
