Monthly Tips

Are Broadleaf Weeds Beating up Your Lawn?
There’s nothing dandy about dandelions. The same can be said for any broadleaf weed that invades a lawn, whether it be plantation, clover, or spurge. Their seeds are everywhere, finding their way into our lawns by wind, water, on animals and even on the bottoms of our shoes. With more than 2,000 species of weeds in North America, no lawn is immune.

PREVENT AN UPRISING!
Though broadleaf weeds are very aggressive, their numbers can be minimized by keeping your lawn thick and healthy with good maintenance practices. The idea behind this is that a dense stand of turf will leave less room, sun and warmth for weeds to grow in.

Mowing higher (removing no more than 1/3 of the grass blade each time), watering sufficiently in the absence of rainfall (1” to 1.5” per week), treating for insects and disease when needed, and regular fertilization will all encourage a thicker lawn with a stronger root system that is less likely to be beaten up (or beaten out) by broadleaf weeds.

Even so, the occasional weed may make an appearance in your lawn. That’s when treatment and herbicide becomes necessary.

SPOT TREATING WEEDS
In most cases, broadleaf weeds need to be treated with post-emergent herbicide. Unlike pre-emergents, which can prevent grassy weeds like crabgrass from sprouting in the first place, post-emergents must be applied when weeds are actively growing.

Keep in mind that control isn’t immediate with post-emergants; it can take up to three weeks for the weeds to completely disappear. Repeat applications may also be required if new broadleaf weed seeds happen to germinate.

Will our lawns ever be completely free of broadleaf weeds? It’s unlikely. However, by combining proper maintenance practices with post-emergent spot treatments, we can significantly reduce the impact of these pests on your turf.