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Lawn Weeds - How You Can Beat Them!
Sometimes it seems as though everything is out to thwart your
desire to have that beautiful, healthy, green carpet of lawn.
Despite your efforts it is still patchy, brown and attacked by
weeds. But don't give up. It may not be too late.
Most gardeners don't mind the odd weed as long as the lawn still
looks pretty good. However remember that the odd weed in spring
could be a large infestation by midsummer if you don't deal with
it. If you mow the lawn once a week you will remove most of the
flower stems before they can set seeds. However, many of the
lawn weeds grow flat and do not produce flowers on long stems,
so these will still flower and set seeds no matter how often you
mow. Other methods are needed to treat these weeds. Remember,
the earlier you attack the weeds the better as "One year's
seeding makes for seven years weeding!"
The best way to keep your lawn looking great is to keep the
grass plants healthy, and then they are less likely to let weeds
and pests take over. So first of all take care of the basic
needs of your lawn.
If a lot of weeds pop up it could mean that your grass is weaker
than it should be. If your lawn is too dry, start with a
thorough watering - to a depth of 200mm is recommended. Deep
watering done less often is better for your lawn grass than if
you water a little and often. It helps it to develop a strong,
deep root system that makes the plants stronger and less
susceptible to drought. Or alternatively, if you have a
persistent problem with a waterlogged lawn you may need to
consider laying drainage for which you should consult a
professional. Feeding your lawn with the appropriate nutrients
will also make the grass stronger.
In spite of trying to make your grass plants as healthy as
possible, you are still sure to get some weeds growing in it.
Weeding is an ongoing process, but shouldn't take much time once
you establish a healthy lawn. Grass, and especially the modern
mixtures, is very competitive and crowds out most weeds. In a
healthy lawn weeds aren't usually much to worry about. Simply
pull up any weeds that show up. As you see weeds appearing, dig
them up and you'll keep your lawn weedless with a minimum of
effort. Practically speaking though, you will only do this if
you have only a few weeds to remove. Constant vigilance is the
key to success with this type of weed control.
If your weed problem is larger, spray individual weeds with a
low-toxicity herbicide. Don't spray the entire lawn unless you
have weeds throughout it. You will damage, and could kill dry,
dormant or stressed grass if you apply a lawn weeder over the
whole lawn. Lawn weedkillers are powerful chemicals and you
should always follow the manufacturers instructions for
preparation, using, storing and disposing of them. Never use
more than directed or 'add a bit more just in case'. You should
also identify the sort of grass
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you have as some types can be
damaged by MCPA and dicamba, which are the active ingredients in
many weedkillers. Be careful not to allow pets or children near
the lawn if you've recently sprayed it.
The best way to minimise the amount of chemicals you use is to
spot-treat weeds. Use a pump-action sprayer and walk backwards,
up and down the length of the lawn spraying a shot of chemical
onto each weed. Hold the nozzle as close as you can to the weed
and release with a low pressure to minimise spray drift. It does
take longer to do this way but it is more thorough and better
for the environment. If you tip a bottle of red food colouring
or add some wetting agent into the mix, it is easier to see
where you have already sprayed.
After a couple of weeks you'll be seeing results. If there are
still a few weeds you've missed, dig them out or do the spot
treatment again. Remember if you can kill the weeds before they
flower and seed, you're a long way towards having a much smaller
problem next spring.
Occasionally you may find a nasty, particularly virulent weed
takes over your lawn in which case you need to find out the
specific treatment for it from your local garden centre. An
example of this is Soliva, also known as lawn burweed, spurweed,
bindii, or onehunga weed. It is low growing, has feathery leaves
and produces seeds with a short spine on them, which stick into
bare feet when you walk on the plants, a particularly unpleasant
experience. Although it is only an annual weed it seeds
profusely, and its method of spreading by sticking to feet is
extremely successful. It requires a targeted weed killer to be
applied at a particular time of the year to be effective against
it.
'Weed and Feed' products are not generally recommended. For
instance, the best time for spraying weeds is not generally the
best time for fertilizing your lawn. Also it is unwise to spray
unnecessary herbicide over your whole lawn when only a small
patch may be infected with weeds. One concern with the hose-on
products is spray drifting onto surrounding shrubs. It's hard to
apply these products just to the lawn. Applying fertilizer,
herbicide and pesticide where and when it is needed is a better
lawn care strategy.
So even if your lawn is less than perfect now, don't give up.
Follow these tips for getting rid of lawn weeds now, and by this
time next year you may have all your neighbours asking you for
advice!
About the author:
Ellen Smithies is a passionate gardener and has 25 years
experience with lawn care. She has accumulated a wealth of
knowledge through practical application. Learn more about lawn
care and how to achieve that velvet green carpet you've been
dreaming about by getting your copy of "50 Basic Lawn Care Tips"
absolutely FREE from no more lawn weeds NOW
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