Lawn weeds are the bane of every homeowner, and it’s important to learn about the different methods of lawn weed control. Different weeds call for different measures, and different circumstances can lead to changes in the way that you need to approach your lawn weeds.
It’s important to note that there are many techniques that you may need to use depending on what type of invasive plant you’re trying to fight. These are the best methods of lawn weed control.
Killing Weeds Without Killing Your Lawn
When it comes to learning new methods of lawn weed control, the first question that most people have is whether or not it’s possible to get rid of weeds without damaging their grass.
It certainly is. There are two types of products designed specifically for this purpose, known as pre-emergent and post-emergent weed killers.
- Pre-emergent weed killers are designed for weeds that haven’t yet pushed through the surface of your lawn. These weed killers get rid of weeds before they’re visible.
- Post-emergent weed killers are designed for established weeds and work to get rid of the entire plant.
Using Weed Killers for Lawn Weed Control
There are a few steps that you’re going to need to take before you get rid of your weeds.
- Do some identification. Certain weed killers are designed to get rid of certain weeds. Others are non-specific and target all manner of plants – including the grass that grows on your yard. Your first step should be to scout the area and get a basic understanding of what kind of weeds you’re working with.
- Most weeds can be broken down into two categories – broadleaf weeds (such as dandelions and clovers) or grasses, like crabgrass and quackgrass.
- Find your weed killer. You want a product that’s developed for killing the type of weeds that you’re working with. A post-emergent weed killer focused on killing broadleaf weeds might not be useful for killing underdeveloped grass weeds.
- Kill. Follow the directions on your product to the best of your ability and attack your weeds with it.
Once your weeds are done, it’s a good idea to make sure that you develop some sort of regular routine to prevent them from growing back. This is one of the reasons that pre-emergent weed killers can be useful, for helping
The Best Natural Methods of Lawn Weed Control
Natural methods of lawn weed control are generally much better for the environment. They’re also most likely cheaper than products that you’ll buy pre-made at the store.
However, these benefits come with the fairly significant downside that they might not work as well as some chemical-based products.
Nonetheless, natural alternatives are always a great first choice. One of the best methods of lawn weed control that uses natural methods is a simple vinegar spray.
Make sure that you find strong vinegar – that is, vinegar with an acetic acid content higher than the standard 5%. Vinegar sprays are great for smaller weed infestations and for young weeds. If you have large amounts of mature weeds, you’ll probably want to use something else.