Every year, weeds pose a huge threat to Columbus and Delaware landscape. They come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Weed seeds are present in pretty much all lawn and landscape, and they can spread like wildfire. In order to control these pests and keep them from taking over your beautiful grass, you need to know some key facts about them. Not all weeds are created equal.
Types of Weeds in your landscape and lawn
Broadleaf: With their wide leaf structure, broadleaf weeds are easily identifiable in your lawn and landscape since they stand out from grasses. The dandelion is the poster child for this group of weeds.
Grassy and grass-like: More difficult to detect are grassy weeds, since these are weeds that blend in or resemble grass while also stealing your lawn’s precious resources. For the Columbus landscaping and Delaware landscape area, crabgrass and nutsedge (which is a common grass-weed that is a member of the sedge family) are familiar grassy weeds. Sedge weeds are also better known for their triangular stems and subtle flowers.
How They Spread in your landscape and lawn
Sometimes, weed seeds will sit dormant for years before they show up and germinate at the soil’s surface, basking in the sun. They can spread in any number of ways:
Wind
Water
Poor Quality Grass Seed
Lawn Tools/Equipment
Soil Adjustments
Methods of Control:
Plant Environment: Promoting a healthy environment for the desired plants to grow is a good way to keep unwanted weeds at bay. Yards that are subject to poor watering or drainage, inadequate fertilization, extreme traffic, disease, or insect damage are prone to weed growth. It’s also critical to keep your lawn mowed to the correct height and not too short to prevent weed development. A higher grass height will help shade the soil from weed seeds that may drift into your yard looking for a place to grow.
Manual Removal: Removing weeds by hand can be effective for small areas and spot treatment. Removing weeds after a rain or as soon as they rear their heads will make this task easier.
By Hand: Pull from the base of the weed, lifting as much of the root as possible out of your landscape or lawn.
Using Tools: For weeds with excessive roots or that may be hard to pull up, drive a trowel or small rake underneath the weed and into the soil to remove the weed and its root system entirely.
Herbicide Treatment: Applying an herbicide is more practical for larger problem areas like the entire lawn.
Pre-Emergents: This is a preventative measure that is used to prevent grassy weeds from showing up in the spring in your landscape or lawn. They’re designed to target the seed before germination.
Post-Emergents: This herbicide targets established weeds and should be applied post-germination.