Minimizing the Presence of Weeds in Your Lawn

There is one problem that no homeowner wants to battle: Weeds. In lawns where weeds become an issue it can be difficult to keep them at bay, but thankfully there are a few steps that can taken to minimize the presence of these invasive plants. Here are some of the best ways that you can reduce the risk of weeds in your lawn:

1) Apply pre-emergent weed treatments

The best way to fight weeds is to put an end to them before they show up. The chemical treatments that are most effective for this type of control are known as pre-emergent herbicides. These treatments are applied before weeds have the chance to plant roots in your soil, and they eliminate the weed’s ability to do so. Most of these chemicals are targeted so that the grass in your lawn will not be damaged. The most challenging part of these pre-emergent treatments is timing, just a few days too soon or too late could lead to these treatments being completely ineffective. A lawn care professional can advise you about the correct time to apply these treatments.

2) If pre-emergent treatment fails, you have two options

Pre-emergent treatments are highly effective if applied correctly, but if you fail to do this you are not out of options. As far as controlling weeds on your own you have two choices: Post-emergent treatments and manual removal. Post-emergent treatments are chemicals that can be sprayed directly onto the weeds, killing them instantly. These chemicals can be toxic to your grass as well, so make sure to be very careful during the application process.

If you don’t want to risk it with these chemical treatments, manual removal is required. This process consists of pulling each weed up, but make sure you do so by firmly gripping the base of the plant. When you pull you want to remove the entire plant, roots and all. If the roots are not removed the weeds in your lawn will come right back.

3) Make sure your soil is healthy

Weeds are much more common in lawns where soil is experiencing declining health. By being adamant about the health of the soil in your yard, you can greatly reduce the chances of weeds becoming an issue. The best way to check the health of your soil is to perform a pH test. This test indicates the level of acidity or alkalinity that is present in your yard. Most plants, including grass, thrive in soil that is slightly acidic – but a reading that is too far in either direction can be destructive to your lawn. Very few plants can survive harsh soil, but weeds see this as an opportunity to start fighting your grass for space and nutrients. In healthy soil your grass can fight back, but if your lawn is already struggling it will be a losing battle.

4) Get in touch with a lawn care professional

The weed problem in your lawn may be more challenging to control than you can handle. If this is the case, you should reach out to an experienced lawn care professional. These experts will be able to identify the type of weeds in your lawn and the best strategy for keeping them under control. Plus, a lawn care professional will be able to offer you advice for the best ways to keep your soil healthy, reducing the chance of weeds from returning.

Don’t allow invasive plants to take control of your yard. As soon as you begin to notice the signs of weeds in your lawn you should begin taking the steps to get rid of this problem. The longer you wait to control weeds the smaller a chance you have of successfully eliminating the problem.

TruGreen will gladly visit your property as often as needed between scheduled visits to make any necessary adjustments and to ensure your satisfaction.

Getting Started with TruGreen

  1. Call or fill out the form above to reach a lawn care specialist.
  2. Know the square footage of your yard, as well as any specific areas of concern.
  3. With the help of your specialist, create a customized lawn care plan that meets your lawn’s needs.
  4. Schedule your Healthy Lawn Analysis2 to start your service.