Almost every homeowner has issues with weeds. Weeds are invasive plants that take over your lawn, garden, and landscaped beds, and they can often be difficult to get rid of. Weeds also compete with your grass and plants for nutrients in the soil, so preventing and killing weeds is very important. Keep reading to learn our best tips for preventing and killing weeds in your lawn and landscape.
How to Prevent Weeds
Weeds are unattractive and pesky, and they take away from your lawn and landscape. Even if you have a beautiful lawn and landscape, weeds can easily ruin your property’s look. This can have a negative impact on your curb appeal and your own satisfaction with your property. This is why it is important to prevent weeds before they have a chance to become a problem.
Top 5 Tips for Preventing Weed Growth
We are just as passionate as you about preventing weed growth on your property. Therefore, we are going to offer you our top expert tips for preventing weed growth.
1. Grow dense grass
Dense grass is your first and strongest defense against weed growth. If your grass is dense and has a thick root system, weeds will not have as much room to grow through and invade your lawn. Dense grass can be achieved through over seeding, fertilizing, watering, and aerating your lawn.
2. Grow tall grass
Like all plants and grass, weeds need sunlight to grow. Therefore, growing your grass a little bit taller can slightly shade the ground and prevent weeds from growing. Achieve this by adjusting the blades on your lawnmower to cut your grass slightly taller.
3. Use ground cover
If you have areas of your lawn that are not grassy, such as landscaped beds or around trees, you should use a ground cover such as mulch, rock, or pine straw to cover this bare ground. Ground cover will create a barrier that seals off the soil from the outside, preventing sunlight from reaching the weeds that are trying to grow. Therefore, you should look into mulch, rock, and pinestraw for your landscaped beds.
4. Use preventative weed killers
Did you know that there are products to prevent weeds before they have a chance to grow? While most homeowners are most familiar with weed killers that kill weeds on contact, there are also chemicals available called “pre-emergent herbicides” that prevent weed seeds from growing. This is a great defense in your yard, as it will provide weed control before the weeds ever have a chance to cause an issue. Learn more about pre-emergent herbicides from NC State University.
5. Place plants and flowers close together
In addition to dense grass being a good defense, planting plants close together can also help protect your lawn against weeds. Existing root systems in the ground make it more difficult for weeds to grow. Therefore, you should plant your flowers and other plants closely together in your landscaped beds to best prevent weeds from growing.
Top 6 Tips for Getting Rid of Weeds
Now that we’ve discussed the best methods for preventing weed growth, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of your existing weeds. Next, let’s discuss how to effectively get rid of your existing weeds.
1. Dig up the roots
Many homeowners pull weeds in their lawn, but they don’t get the roots out of the ground. If the roots remain in the ground, though, the weed can usually grow back quickly and easily. If you ensure that you dig the roots up, though, the weeds are less likely to return. Therefore, you should grab a shovel and get to work in your lawn and landscape before those weeds have a chance to spread.
2. Frequent mowing
While mowing your weeds down may not seem like a good solution to get rid of weeds, it can actually be a great method. Frequently mowing your weeds will weaken them and make them less likely to drop seeds. Therefore, the weeds will not spread as quickly and may die off from the frequent cutting.
3. Attach a basket to your mower
After mowing your weeds down, you don’t want to leave them laying around in your lawn. This can lead to the weeds spreading and further infesting your property. Therefore, you want to attach the basket to your mower to collect your weeds without allowing them to spread even further throughout your property.
4. Dispose of weeds properly
After mowing your weeds down or digging them up, it is important to dispose of the weeds properly. After pulling them, make sure to place them in your compost or burn bin. You don’t want to run the risk of letting your weeds re-invade your lawn and landscape.
5. Use proper herbicides
When trying to get rid of weeds in your lawn and landscape, you want to make sure you are using the right herbicides for the job. Different herbicides serve different purposes, so you need to do your research on which weed killer is right for you. Alternatively, you can trust a professional like Rivers Lawn and Landscape, as we will have the herbicides to get the job done. Using the proper herbicides will save you time, money, and hassle in the long run.
6. Take care of weeds often
Lastly, you want to make sure you take care of weeds often. It may take several weeks of work to rid your property of weeds, but once you get rid of them, you can’t stop there. Oftentimes, it takes continual weed maintenance to keep the weeds away. If you spend 10-15 minutes per week on weed control, that will be much easier than spending hours weeding your yard once it is overgrown again.
Next Steps
Rivers Lawn and Landscape takes pride in the homeowners and properties we serve. Our passion is to have your property looking its best, and being free of weeds will help you achieve that goal. Rivers Lawn and Landscape is experienced in herbicide application and weed control, and we can help save your yard from weed infestations. If you need help with weed control on your property, contact us.