Winning The War Against Turf Weeds

Having a beautiful lawn requires carefully removing those elements that hurt the beauty and health while keeping the plants (and insects) that you want. One of the most important things you can do to maintain a healthy lawn is to control turf weeds.

While some turf weeds, like dandelions, may be nice to look at, others, like invasive clover, can sprout up everywhere, creating a nuisance. They have a detrimental effect on the curb appeal of your property, and like acne–natural but ugly and unwanted.

Pre-Emergent Treatments

Pre-emergent weed killer is used on established lawns as a yearly effort to battle against annuals, perennial, and biennial weeds. They work by preventing weed seeds from germinating, so they must be applied before weeds start to grow.

This preventative measure will help to keep your yard clean and healthy. The best time for pre-emergent weed control is late winter before the weeds germinate. The application of a pre-emergent treatment can last anywhere from four to eight weeks, depending on the type of pre-emergent used. Applying a pre-emergent to your yard will kill up to 90% of the weeds. The following treatment, which is done in the spring, will kill the remaining weeds. 

Post-Emergent Weed Control

In addition to pre-emergent treatment, applying post-emergent treatment can help kill weeds already sprouted. The post-emergent process is done in early spring when weeds are still small but actively growing, as they’ll absorb weed killer more easily. The most common turf weeds that are post-emergent treats are broadleaf and grassy weeds.

Weed Types

Broadleaf weeds are any weeds with leaves wider than the stem. Examples of broadleaf weeds include Dandelions, White Clover, and Plantain. On the other hand, grassy weeds have leaves narrower than the stem, including Crabgrass, Annual Bluegrass, and Quackgrass.

Typically, turf weeds should be killed/managed because they may do more damage if left unattended. They may:

• Weaken the grass by competing for water, sunlight, and nutrients
• Reduce the aesthetic value of your lawn
• Provide a home and food source for pests
• Harbor thatch-building insects
• Prevent other turf weeds from returning

Weed Management Solutions

Controlling turf weeds can be a frustrating and challenging task. We offer weed control services to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy lawn all year long and utilize two major plans depending on the nature of your lawn:

Spring fertilization

The most effective defense against turf weeds is healthy grass. A thick, lush lawn is more difficult for weeds to penetrate and take over. Fertilizing your lawn in the spring gives it the boost it needs to grow strong and develop a deep root system that will help to prevent weeds from taking hold.

This plan involves using a custom blend fertilizer that encourages the grass to pop back from its dormant stage. That helps the grass to have that bright green color and is explicitly designed to last the whole summer.

Grass Maintenance

The second plan is to make sure that your grass is cut frequently – at least once a week during the hottest months of summer. This helps prevent weeds from taking over by preventing them from producing seeds, and it also keeps the grass healthy by preventing it from getting too long and going into dormancy.

Additionally, your grass needs the right amount of water to avoid under or over-saturating your lawn, which can stress the grass, making it more susceptible to weeds.

We’ve Got You Covered!

We understand that a healthy lawn is essential to you, your residents, or your customers. EarthWorks weed control services help you maintain a beautiful property year-round. To schedule an appointment, contact us today for a comprehensive plan to get rid of turf weeds for good!