Archive for the ‘Weed Control’ Category
I have read that a well maintained and beautiful lawn can add as much as 15% to the value of you home. Don’t tell the tax people that I said that! A well maintained lawn needs to be weed and pest free. The most effective factor in weed control is proper management.
A good, healthy, dense lawn will provide the best weed control. It will smother the ground so well that weeds won’t have the space or light to grow. The seeds of the weeds are in all of the soil being spread by water, the wind, and animals. Weed seed can even be in the products we use to help our lawns grow.
When fighting weeds remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Providing the best possible conditions is the most important part of the growth of desirable plants. Compacted soil, insects, improper watering, and disease all contribute to the growth of weeds. Weeds will take root wherever they find the space.
Fertilizing can help but don’t over do it. Too little fertilizer will create a lawn that is too sparse which will lose the competition with weeds. Too much fertilizer can nurture weeds. Follow the instructions on the package, and please use an organic fertilizer. Look in the phone book for a feed supply store in your area. How often you should apply fertilizer depends on your type of grass and length of growing season. Northern lawns usually require only two applications, while in the south, you may be looking at three.
Mowing too low can weaken grass because it reduces the ability of the grass leaf to produce enough nutrients. Mowing too low also allows light to hit soil surfaces. If you have a local extension agent, check and ask for the recommended mowing height for your type of grass in your area. A quick word about watering. Have an empty tuna can? Once a week water your lawn until there is one inch of water in the can. Enough said.
Proper watering and mowing can stop weeds from sprouting, leading to a healthy lawn. If you still have weeds, here is how you get after them. If you have a small lawn, hand weeding is still your best option. Pulling annual broad leaf weeds before they flower and seed is the most effective way to keep them from spreading. Weeding is a lot easier with moist soil. Using a hoe or dandelion digger will get the root out. I would suggest you reseed as soon as you finish weeding to prevent new weed seeds from filling in.
These are but a few options to help you rid your lawn of weeds. Please avoid the use of herbicides. Use these only as a last resort. When used incorrectly they can kill you grass or even your pets. Lets not forget that gravel, AstroTurf, and green cement are always options. Hope I have been of some help. Happy weeding.
