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How To Choose The Right Weed Control
Weeds are not a home owners best friend. They seem to be flourishing when your lawn is at its worst. The question is, how do you choose from among the dozens of weed control options for wiping out those unwelcome guests?
All weed killers are not the same. Here are some helpful tips for making the right weed control choice, the first time around.
Know Your Family
If you have small children, pets, or are concerned about the potential hazards of herbicides, it's important to do your due diligence. Following the directions explicitly will help ensure your family's safety, but alternatives to chemical weed killers may be even more appealing. A healthy lawn is the best defense, since lush grass will crowd out weeds. But pulling out weeds by hand often works well, and natural weed killers, like corn gluten, are available from a number of suppliers. Take your time anddo some research.
Know Your Weeds
Some weed killers work on anything. Non-selective herbicides will kill dandelions, crabgrass, you name it. The only problem is that they also kill your lawn. For many weeds, a selective herbicide that kills the weeds and not your lawn will do the trick. Figure out what you've got, and look for an herbicide to match.
Time it Right
For some weeds, like crabgrass, weed killers that target the plants before they germinate are the best bet. These preemergence herbicides, however, only work if you spread them in the week or two right before the weeds come in. You'll have to do some research to figure out the timing for your area. For other weeds, a postemergence herbicide in the fall is best.
Doing your research and understanding your lawn problems will help you choose the best form of weed control for your lawn.
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Weed Killer: How To Use It Right
When you stop in to your local home and garden center, you'll be amazed by the number of weed killer products you can choose from.
But there are some things you must know about these products before you spread them on your lawn and garden. Read further to learn about selecting the right weed killer, and applying it safely and effectively.
Common Weed Killers
- Glyphosate. Commonly known by the marketing name Roundup, Glyphosate is perhaps the most mild weed killer on the market currently.
- Triox. This total vegetation killer is used on sidewalks, driveways, along fences and other spots where no growth is desired. It will kill any plant it contacts.
- Dicamba. Primarily used for lawns, Dicamba is another high-powered weed killer that can damage shrubs and trees if applied indiscriminately.
Once you've selected the right weed killer for your particular needs, you'll need to know the method for application that will provide the most beneficial results. Follow this sensible plan for successful application.
Using Weed Killers Sensibly
- Prune. Cut the stems of particularly large or obstinate weeds close to the base.
- Apply. Immediately paint the growing weeds with your selected agent.
- Follow-up. Check frequently for residual growth and apply more weed killer as needed.
Using weed killer properly will decrease your chances of killing desirable grass and vegetation while increasing your chances of obtaining a healthy and lush lawn and garden.
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How To Kill Dandelions
To most, the dandelion is a hearty broadleaf weed that grows as easily as the wind blows and, once started, it breaks apart, sending fine filaments as far as several miles, starting new colonies. Waging combat against dandelions once they're settled into your lawn can be an annoying annual ritual.
The dandelion (named for their sharp, serrated leaves that resemble lion's teeth and officially named Taraxacum) was introduced to the United States from Europe for use as a medicinal plant. It is a great source of vitamins, works quite well as a diuretic, and can be made into a wine. But for most, it is a wonderful source of pain.
One of the best ways to deal with dandelions is to hand-pull them (or use a special dandelion weeding tool) from your lawn before they turn into seed umbrellas. Grab ahold of them at the base and make sure you yank out the taproots. If your dandelion crop seems to grow from the same root base every spring, you'll need to dig them out completely. Tap roots can descend as deep as 15 feet depending on your soil. Not the kind of information you want to hear but you need to know what you're dealing with.
Treat Beneath The Surface
Once dandelions get a solid footing, they form dense matting, typically in a circular pattern. Once the roots are down deep, you may not get satisfactory results from pulling or digging.
Spot spraying your lawn with glyphosate can kill off the weeds, but also can leave dead patches of grass. A pre-emergent herbicide like isoxaben can be effective if you water it in your lawn before outdoor temperatures reach a constant 20 to 25 degrees (77 F) and the seeds begin to germinate. Using herbicide too soon will burn off dandelion leaves, but the roots will send out fresh shoots come summertime.
With the knowledge you've learned and some persistence, you can win the war on these flower pests!
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How To Get Rid Of Clover
As a kid you too probably thought about getting your hands on one of those lucky four leaf clovers. But these little weeds with their white or pink flowers in your lawn probably doesn't make you feel so lucky anymore. As a perennial weed, clover can be hard to get rid of. Here are some helpful weed control tips to help you evict this unwelcome guest once and for all.
Believe it or not, in the 1940s and 1950s clover was a common component of lawn mixes. As a result, it's one of the most common weeds around. Even though it's green and has cute little flowers, it attracts bees, which can be an underfoot danger, and is also quite slippery when wet. Plus, it's just out of place texture-wise even though is usually keeps a nice green color. To keep it from being a common sight in your lawn, give the following weed control strategies a try.
- Environmental Weed Control
Clover does especially well in moist conditions and in less than optimally fertile soil. The one nutrient it really goes for is phosphorous. So if you cut back on the water and up the level of the nutrients, other than phosphorous, that your lawn needs to thrive, your lawn will do better and weeds like clover will do worse. This is great news for sure. The best defense against any weed, clover included, is a healthy lawn. To know just what kinds of nutrients to add to your lawn, get your soil tested. You can pick up a do-it-yourself soil test at your local home and garden center.
- Chemical Weed Control
Post-emergent herbicides do a great job on clover. A weed-and-feed that lists clover as among its targets will help tackle any serious clover encroachments as well.
- Man-Powered Weed Control
Clover has a taproot you can easily dig out by hand. For spot control a little spade action is hard to beat. Roll up your sleeves and get to work.
If you're trying to get rid of clover, attacking the weed with several different approaches will drastically help ensure that you win the battle.
To your success!
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A healthy lawn is the first line of defense against weeds, insects and disease and the following maintenance techniques will significantly improve the health of your lawn.
- Lawn Mowing Tips that will reduce weeds, enhance drought tolerance and disease resistance and increase tolerance to insect feeding.
- Watering Techniques that will reduce weed invasion, enhance drought tolerance, reduce or eliminate disease, and kill insect pests.
- Weed Buster Strategies that will reduce disease and improve the appearance of your lawn.
- Landscaping & Gardening Tips that will make your property looks it's best.
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