Controlling Weeds in Your Lawn

Homeowners have a year around job fighting weeds in their yard.  In addition, they sometimes have beautiful flowers that are present in the yard, but most people prefer the flowers to grow only in their designated areas.  Controlling weeds is best done in the fall and early spring.  This allows the homeowner to take advantage of the growing season for turf grass.  Having thick lawn is the best defense against weeds.  When there are many weeds, this is an indication there are problems with the soil.  If the lawn is free of weeds, then focus on making sure the grass is healthy.  This may take a couple months for the grass plant to become healthy and strong.  Once you have healthy grass then it is advisable to use weed control products.  Focus on growing grass where it will easily grow.  When upgrading the soil or sowing new grass seed use high-quality products.  This is especially true where grass is thin.  Areas where grass is thin you may be forced to use other landscaping techniques which will help to reduce weeds.  Controlling weeds in the yard, need to choose the correct herbicide which means homeowners needs to understand the basic terms that appear on herbicide products:

Pre-emergent herbicides – This herbicide prevents weed seeds from germinating, therefore this not much good if weeds are already growing.  This herbicide should be use on weedy patches during dormant times: winter or summer.

Post-emergent herbicides – This herbicide kills growing plants.  Apply this chemical during the growing season or in the fall.  Plants in the fall are storing up nutrients in their roots causing the herbicide to suck down into the roots.  When the herbicide gets into the roots it is the most effective.

Selective herbicides – These herbicides target certain types of plants such as grasses or other strappy-leaved plants and broadleaf plants.

Nonselective herbicides – These types of herbicides kill any type of plant they contact.  Should only be used for spot-treatment. 

Glyphosphate – This is found in products such as Roundup.  It is similar too nonselective herbicides that must be used carefully and only for spot treatment.

Weed and feed – These types of products such as 2 4-D or other post-emergent are designed to selectively kill broadleaf weeds without affecting grass.  Be careful, weed and feed products may kill St. Augustine grass.

Trifluralin – Products containing this herbicide is a pre-emergent that can kill grass and weed seeds.  Any products with this herbicide should only be used in established gardens. 

Corn Gluten – This is a natural substance produced by corn that prevents weeds from growing that are near this substance.  It is package as an organic pre-emergent herbicide that kills broadleaf weeds.

Grass killers - Products such as Ortho Grass-B-Gon are weed killers that target grasses and are usually used in flower beds to kill grasses.

Combination herbicides – Example of this herbicide is Ortho Ground Clear.  This contains more than one post-emergent, and nonselective herbicides.  These herbicides are design to kill all plants and keep the ground clear up to a year.

Be careful when using the above products and follow the directions on the package and only use when necessary.  Herbicides can affect all surrounding plants and pollute ground water when improperly used.