Weed control is one of the main factors involving lawn care and one of the biggest frustrations of keeping a lawn. Dealing with crabgrass, dandelions and clover year after year can be annoying, but what's worse is that the reasons behind the weed's presence are rarely addressed. Rather than dealing with the issue of why dandelions or plantains are present, it's all too easy to trot out the chemical spray and kill the weeds.
Ideally, one would find out why weeds are prone to grow in certain areas or conditions and commit to providing conditions more suited to lawn grass survival than undesirable weeds.
What is a Weed? - Before you can control weeds, one must establish a reasonable definition of a weed. Common clover may be a weed to one person but not to another who enjoys the diversity and nitrogen fixation clover brings to the lawn. In order to target weeds efficiently, they must also be placed in categories based on their growth habits and leaf structure. Know your weeds before trying to kill them.Read more...
Weed Identification -Photo galleries and botanical illustrations help identify common lawn weeds along with a brief description on their growth habits and control methods. Weed profiles accompany color photos to help identify weeds commonly found on lawns. Suggestions on weed control include chemical control as well as physical or natural control methods.Read more...
Easy IPM - Understanding the fundamentals of Integrated Pest Management is the best way to chart a course for weed control.
Establishing thresholds and developing a system that includes chemical control only as a last resort is the safest, most ecologically friendly way to go about controlling weeds on a home lawn. Once corrective measures are taken, weed problems can disappear in areas previously thought to be infested. Read more...
Weed Control - Covering all the basic methods of weed control, this article is ground zero for taking control of weed problems in the lawn. Organic methods as well as conventional chemical solutions are outlined and discussed. More often than not, weeds are messengers telling of ill prepared soil, compaction, low light, or some other problem that can be corrected rather than continually treating the weeds. Â Read more...
Organic Weed Control -A more holistic approach to weed control is needed if one is going to maintain an organic lawn. Treating the root causes of the weeds is as part of an effective organic weed control program as is spraying them with environmentally friendlier alternatives to conventional chemical herbicides. Organic weed control is more about providing the perfect conditions for growing healthy grass than actually spraying or pulling weeds. A healthy stand of turf will crowd out and out-compete most weeds trying to gain a foothold in a lawn.Read more...
Controlling Weeds with Chemical Herbicides -Although still quite popular, controlling weeds using chemical herbicides is proving to be more dangerous than previously understood. Chemical herbicides are being linked to cancers and other illnesses and their overuse is cause for concern worldwide. Sometimes chemical herbicides are justified as a last resort or when applied by licensed pesticide applicators, but it's a good habit to try and find other solutions to your weed problems.Read more...
Spring Weed Control -The onset of spring means one thing, crabgrass control. Conventional lawn care programs call for an application of pre-emergent herbicide to prevent the weed seeds from germinating. Bad timing or failing to treat the lawn may result in a crabgrass infestation. Corn gluten meal is an organic alternative but has to be applied at very high rates, making treatment very costly. Another organic alternative is to overseed aggressively and work on establishing a thick, lush lawn with no bare spots that crowds out, suppresses, and discourages crabgrass germination.Read more...
How to Get Rid of Moss - Judging by this article's popularity, controlling moss is an issue many people face. Moss may not technically be a weed but dealing with it requires the same blueprint. First, address the root cause of the moss - shade, moisture, lack of air movement, poor soil, and try to deal with that rather than the moss itself. When it comes to actually controlling the moss try Ultra-Dawn dish-soap. A mix of water and dish-soap sprayed on the moss will turn it yellow and kill it over time, safely. Read more...
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