Yard weeds are one of the biggest problems that home landscapers have to deal with. No matter what you seem to do, weeds always come back with a vengeance – that is, unless you know how to properly deal with them once and for all.
Properly getting rid of yard weeds isn’t difficult, it just requires a bit of knowledge. This article will outline the basic information for anyone who wants to get rid of their yard weeds forever.
Mechanical Weed Control
The most basic form of weed control is mechanical weed control – that is, pulling out the weeds by hand.
Some people prefer this method of weed control, enjoying the meditative and relaxing form of mild exercise. Other people find it irritating and time consuming.
Regardless of your preference, there’s no doubt that mechanical weed control only goes so far. If you have huge numbers of yard weeds, you’re probably going to want to find a more effective method for getting rid of them.
Chemical Weed Control
Chemical weed control is the most popular method for most people, and is one of the most effective if you have a large number of yard weeds to get rid of.
Herbicides are chemicals that are specifically designed to get rid of plants – in this case, weeds. Herbicides can be made from entirely synthetic materials or entirely natural ones, or some combination of the two.
There are a few different types of herbicides that you might encounter.
- Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to kill yard weeds that haven’t actually emerged from the soil yet.
- Post-emergent herbicides are designed to kill weeds that have already begun to grow above the soil.
When choosing a herbicide it’s important that you make sure not to get one that will damage your yard. Also, check to make sure that the herbicide will be effective for killing the sort of weeds that you’re working with.
Cultural Weed Control
Cultural weed control is basically a form of preventative weed control that stops weeds from growing in the first place. In this sense, you’re turning your lawn into a culture that doesn’t allow weeds to grow.
Unfortunately, for the everyday landowner, this might require a bit more thought than you’re willing to put in. These things are all involved in cultural weed control.
- Balancing soil pH. If your soil’s pH is too high or too low, you may develop problems with yard weeds. Grass grows good at a pH of 6.5, so try to keep your soil pH at this level.
- Manage your thatch. Thatch is the spongy stuff between the grass and the soil. If you have more than a half-inch of thatch, weeds may begin to grow in abundance.
- Water appropriately. Most lawns don’t need more than an inch of water on a weekly basis, and in many places, it’s easy to get this much water simply from rainfall. Too much water can cause yard weeds to emerge in abundance.
Cultural weed control is sort of like fine-tuning your yard to ensure that weeds don’t consider it a good place to grow.