Include A Mix Of Plants
Be sure to include a mix of many different plants and grasses in your lawn. A diverse landscape is better for the environment and can be easier to maintain, because it prevents pest problems from spreading to the whole lawn.
For places where it is hard to grow a lawn, try plants more adapted to the area. See Plant diversity for more information.
Keep Your Garden Edges Trimmed
Ever noticed many weeds collect at the edges of your yard or garden? Keep your grass and garden edges trimmed to cut down on invasions of weeds into your fertile garden soil. The places to watch are the not only the edges of your lawn but also around posts and fence lines as well as close to planting beds. Another idea is to grow perennials or ground roses that will shade those edges and make it easier for you!
What Are The Most Common Garden Weeds
Whether we like it or not, at some point pretty much every garden will play host to common weeds. The trick is learning how to stop them from growing back once you’ve killed them . Most garden weeds can be controlled – it just requires a little time and effort.WARNING: Several of the weeds featured in this article can cause rashes when they come into contact with your skin, so use protective gloves and clothing when dealing with them. Alternatively, hire a specialist to remove them.
In the US, the most common weeds include:
- Dandelion
Weeds also have different types of roots, including:Bulbil roots – So-named because the roots look like miniature bulbs. These types of roots are found on weeds such as bluebells. Fibrous roots – The easiest weeds to pull up often have fibrous roots, which are thin and hairlike in appearance .Tap roots – If you pull up dandelion or thistles, you’ll see they have long and thick roots. These are difficult to pull in one piece, so quite often a bit breaks off and remains underground to grow back.
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The Impact Of A Healthy Lawn
A healthy lawn begets a healthy lawn, and the more time you put into creating an environment in your yard where grass is able to thrive, the fewer problems youll have with lawn weeds.
A very thick well maintained lawn will leave no gaps in the canopy where weeds can take root.
When the grass is thick, it will take in all of the sunlight and nutrients, which will block the weeds from thriving.
If you are environmentally conscious and care about the health of yourself and pets, not using chemicals is usually the better option, but Ill cover both choices here so you can make the best choice for your family and your lawn.
Your Lawn Soil Ph Is Off So It Encourages Weeds
Well assume you dont lie awake nights worrying about your soil pH.
But it really is important.
Why does it matter? Important nutrients for plants tend to be available in soil when the pH is at the correct level. If your pH is off, your grass wont get the nutrients it needs, even if you fertilize regularly.
That makes it more vulnerable to weeds.
Takeaway Tip: Have your soils pH level tested. If its out of whack, we can add the right soil amendments to bring it to the right level.
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You Have Too Much Shade
On a hot summer afternoon when youre in a book and hammock kind of mood, a shady backyard is perfect.
Some weeds think so, too.
Grass loves sun, so if your yard is too shady, grass struggles to grow nice and thick, which means shade-tolerant weeds take hold.
Takeaway Tips:
- Increase the amount of sunlight reaching your lawn by selectively pruning your shade trees. The lower branches and some of the inner branches can be removed to allow more light to reach the lawn below.
- Try a more shade-tolerant variety of grass.
- Convert your grassy areas to gardens of shade-loving plants.
Dethatch And Aerate Your Lawn
You might need to dethatch and aerate the soil for treated areas that still have healthy grass. Begin by using a rake or specialized dethatching rake to remove the thatch dead grass roots, grass clippings, mulch, leaves, etc. between your soil and your grass.
Once dethatch your lawn, use an aerator or hire a professional lawn care company to aerate the soil to reduce compaction. This process will allow new grass and established grass to get nutrients and water from the soil.
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Identify The Type Of Weeds In Your Lawn
Your first step in conquering weeds in your lawn is to identify which ones have taken root. There are three primary types, each calling for a slightly different approach in some cases. Below are the standard subcategories of lawn weeds.
Broadleaf Weeds
As the name suggests, broadleaf weeds have wide leaves. They usually grow in soil that has been deprived of nutrients. Common lawn weeds include clover, dandelions, oxalis, ground ivy, chickweed, henbit, thistle, and dollarweed.
Grassy Weeds
Grassy weeds are more challenging to distinguish from the grass blades around them because they look like grass. These weeds are most common in over-watered lawns and where soil compaction occurs. Some species of grassy weeds include crabgrass, foxtail, quackgrass, and goosegrass.
Grass-Like Weeds
Grass-like weeds also look like grass from a distance, but up close, youll notice that each leaf is tubular. These weeds thrive where the grass is cut too short, the soil is compacted, or overwatering is common. Some grass-like weeds include wild onion, garlic, nutsedge, and nutgrass.
How To Kill Weeds Without Killing Grass
Hand-weeding still remains the best way to kill weeds in your lawn and garden because you’re tackling the problem at its root. Hand-weeding is also a fool-proof way of killing weeds without damaging your grass, although if you’re too vigorous during the pulling stage, you risk creating large holes in your lawn that will need to be filled in.
The best advice is to tackle weeds while they’re young and before they have had a chance to overrun and doing greater damage to your lawn. Here’s how to kill weeds without killing grass:
Step 1: Use a sharp spade or weed puller and angle it downwards towards the centre of the plant, loosening the soil around it.
Step 2: Without breaking the weed’s roots, use your tool to pry the weed upwards while pulling it.
Step 3: Once the weed is out, smooth the soil over, layer in some fresh compost and sow new lawn seeds.
Seeing unsightly weeds sprout up in your lawn or garden is pretty frustrating, especially if you have an infestation of dandelions, but it’s a natural part of the gardening world. Hopefully, with this easy tips and suggestions, you’ll be able to quickly get any weeds under control and make maximum room for the plants and flowers that you do want to thrive there.
Looking for more lawn care content? Then check out our guides to the best lawn edgers , as well as the best hedge trimmers for a polished-looking yard.
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Lawn Weed Removal & Maintenance
If your weed problem is either just getting started, or you recently cleared out all the weeds and have a few coming back, it is important to maintain the weeds as they first come up.
Keeping your lawn well-watered, properly fertilized, and at a proper length are all ways to keep weeds at bay.
Specifically for dandelions, it is important to keep an eye out and pull them out before they seed.
These weeds famously will show you they are in their seeding period when their yellow flower changes into 15,000 seeds in a pouf on top.
Make sure to pull the plant out by the root and remove all root pieces from the grown if possible.
Professional Lawn Care Services
Some homeowners are happy doing DIY lawn care, but many prefer to hand the reins to a professional. Lawn care services always cost more than doing the work yourself, but they often yield better and faster results and, in the best-case scenarios, come with a satisfaction guarantee.
If youre looking for the best full-service lawn company to handle fertilization for your property, we recommend TruGreen. This company has a wealth of plans and add-on services to provide customization options, affordable prices, a nationwide coverage area, and guarantees your satisfaction with its work.
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Pull The Weed By Hand
The key to getting rid of weed by hand is to remove them completely from the ground. Watch out for roots that may remain in the soil. Be careful to hold the weed to its stem and then pull gently. If the root goes deeper in the ground, use a tool that will loosen the surrounding soil and then pull again. If you are considering buying a special tool that will make the job easier for you, ask for a garden hoe or a winged weeder.
Implements And Accessories For War With Perennials
The most terrible enemy of the lawn is perennials with powerful rhizomes: thistle, dandelion, plantain, etc. You wont take them with scythes and mowers, because sleeping buds will instantly wake up on the roots, which will grow an even more powerful plant. This type of weed in the first year of life of the lawn is removed only by hand. Moreover, it is necessary to take out so that the entire root is stretched. The slightest residue will form a new weed.
If it has not rained for a long time, then pulling out perennial weeds with your hands is useless: some of the roots will still remain in the soil
If you carry out the whole procedure with your own hands, then the only convenient time is after prolonged rains. The soil should be soaked so that the roots simply slip out of it. But it happens that the weather did not provide you with such an opportunity, and time does not tolerate. In this case, use garden tools designed to dig up such weeds. There are several options available.
Weed extractor. Designed by the German company GARDENA specifically for gardeners who, for health reasons, cannot weave bent. It has a length of 110 cm so that weeds can be removed in a standing position. The principle of operation: insert the tip into the center of the weed, scroll and pull along with the plant. The fixture is expensive, but experienced gardeners claim to be worth it.
The root eliminator easily enters the soft soil of a young lawn, but it must be driven into the tightly bound turf
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Check For And Identify Problems
Check your lawn regularly, so that you can find pests and other problems early. Make sure to identify lawn problems correctly, then decide whether action is needed.
- Plant damage may not be caused by pests. Plants can be injured by poor growing conditions, poor maintenance, road salt, or dog urine.
- A few weeds or insect pests in healthy lawns is usually not cause for concern.
- Knowing about the pest and its life cycle will help you decide if and when to take action, and how to prevent further problems. See Pest control tips for more information about controlling specific pests.
Do I Save Money Killing Weeds In My Own Lawn
You probably cannot save money spraying your own lawn with weed killer. Most people spray their own lawn because they enjoy it. To spray your lawn correctly for weeds it takes specialized equipment to do it efficiently. Unless you own acres and acres of lawn, then it probably does not make sense to buy this specialized weed killing equipment. If you have to buy your herbicide at a box store or feed store, then you are probably paying a premium for a small amount of herbicide. Professionals buy their chemical in bulk for a substantial savings, use large tank sprayers, and are able to calibrate their equipment to be extremely accurate.
If you want to do a price comparison on whether it is cheaper to apply weed killer yourself or let us spray your lawn for weeds. Get a quote from us to take of your lawn within 24 hours!
Be sure to check out our videos on youtube about spraying your own lawn and our lawn care program:
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Plant Ground Cover Plants To Keep Weeds Out
Planting ground covers is another excellent way to prevent the growth of weeds. Not only do these plants compete for sunlight and soil on the surface, but their long-spreading roots also make it more difficult for weeds to weave their way into your flower beds underground.
If you have high flowers with plenty of space in between each plant, these ground covers will fill in those areas entirely. Another location where ground covers work wonderfully as a weed preventative is along the base of trees, especially if your grass is having difficulty growing in these shady areas.
Chemical Weed Treatment For Lawns
Perhaps the first thing that pops to mind when how to get rid of a lawn full of weeds is a chemical weed killer. The bad news is, spraying chemicals onto the ground can potentially have detrimental effects. You need to take a balanced view of whats best for your circumstances.
1. Weed And Feed
What is Weed And Feed and How Does it Work?
Weed and Feed is a universal term given to a range of lawn chemicals that kill weeds. This weed control system improves the lawns ability to absorb food and water for healthier growth.
The weed part of the Weed and Feed comprises herbicides, which are chemicals that kill most green leafy weeds.
The feed part of the Weed and Feed is a combo fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. This is designed to help your lawn stay healthy.
How does it work? The granules are applied to the lawn and absorbed by the weed. In addition to the granular form, you can find the liquid form of Weed and Feed, which needs to be applied with a sprayer. Unlike other chemical weed killers, Weed and Feed doesnt harm the regular grass unless you apply too much!
In case youre absolutely adamant that you dont want to use any harsh chemicals on your lawn, youll be pleased to know that there are some natural ways to kill your weeds. Read on for tips on how to get rid of a lawn full of weeds using natural treatments.
2. Weed B-Gon
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Youre Not Treating Weeds Preventatively
In some cases, prevention is everything.
For crabgrass, pre-emergent treatment is crucial targeting those seeds as they germinate and take root in the soil so they dont become more seed-producing plants.
If you wait until crabgrass shows up, youll have a much tougher time getting rid of it.
Takeaway Tip: Dont skip the pre-emergent. While most lawn care companies do one crabgrass application in the spring, here at RainMaster, we do two, one in early spring and another in late spring. This extends protection.
Cover Crops In Fall/winter
Also, at the end of the season after you harvest your veggies, plant cover crops, like wheat, clover, and barley. They are beneficial plants that give back to the soil but also keep weeds from growing and soil erosion from occuring. In some situations, you can use a cover crop in the shoulder seasons to block out weeds. See our list of cover crops.
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How To Combat Weeds Gently
Alex Eben Meyer
Spraying chemicals in the yard is a tempting shortcut for many a home gardener looking to protect a tasty crop or a bed of flowers. But weed killers arent necessary, and they may be linked to health risks.
To embark on a natural plan of weed suppression, start by deciphering your yards condition: Is it ablaze with dandelions? Taken over by crabgrass? Youll need to customize your approach depending on the specific intruder. And dont lose patience finding the perfect solution for your particular weed specimen will take some tinkering. A local organic landscaping company may help you develop an effective weed-fighting plan, and the nonprofit Beyond Pesticides offers a directory of companies that can improve your lawn in a safe manner. Here are some strategies to help stretch your green thumb.
Embrace a Shaggy Lawn.
Want to make your weekend chores a little less burdensome? Learn to appreciate longer grass. Mow less frequently, and with your mower on the highest settingat least two inches, says Jennifer Sass, a senior scientist with NRDCs Health program. A longer lawn will crowd out weeds, she says, since the taller blades of grass block the light weeds need to grow. It will also ensure that you dont harm the clover, which attracts pollinators. Longer grass also holds soil moisture better and can even reseed itself.
Make Peace with Weeds.
Try Hand-to-Hand Combat.
How To Kill Weeds In Your Lawn And Garden
ByBecks Shepherdpublished 11 May 21
Wondering how to kill weeds in your lawn without damaging the grass? Here are our tips on what to do and the tools to use.
Learning how to kill weeds in your lawn and garden is something most home owners have to get to grips at one time or another, especially when it comes to prolific weeds such as dandelions. So weeds are essentially unwanted plants growing in the wrong place, and they can be damaging to the overall health of your garden. Thats because they drink up valuable nutrients and water in the soil that other desired garden plants could be using.
Yes, the best electric weed eaters can instantly rid them from your lawn, but unfortunately they wont prevent weeds from growing back. But dont panic, as here we’ve rounded up some brilliant tips to help you banish those pesky weeds forever, whether they are sprouting up from your lawn or elsewhere in your garden.
If you’re looking for more ways to maintain your yard, check out our guide to the best gas lawn mowers for maximum cutting power, or the best electric lawn mowers for cordless use.
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