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So, who loves weeds?
No matter how much people want to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle, chances are (and this is especially true if they have a garden, or a lush, beautiful lawn), they can’t really claim to want weeds of any type.
Weeds are unwanted plant growths that are a constant annoyance to gardeners as they can suck all the nutrients out of the soil if they are allowed to thrive. They also compete with turf grass and garden plants for water, sunlight and space.
According to a trusted lawn care expert from Worthington, Ohio, weeds can infest your lawn so quickly that if you don’t already implement year-long weed control techniques, you’ll soon find your lawn (and even your garden) completely overtaken by weeds.
Common Weed Varieties
While some weeds are edible and have been identified as providing certain medicinal or health benefits, they remain an annoyance where they are not wanted as they crowd out other plants.
Below is a short list of the more common types of weeds:
- Pigweed or amaranth – Loves warm weather and appears late in spring or early summer.
- Crabgrass – Appearing during the middle of spring through summer, crabgrass usually thrives in compacted soil and is relatively easier to manage than other types of weeds.
- Dandelions – Considered to be the “weediest” of all the weeds, they spread fast through their airborne seeds, thrive through the seasons (though some varieties become dormant during winter) and are persistent mainly because of their large, deep taproots.
- Chickweed – These weeds, whether the common or sticky type, grow in gardens, agricultural land and unkempt lawns. When allowed to proliferate, it can take 7 to 8 years to totally eradicate.
- Purslane – Appearing in late spring or early summer, purslane thrives in moist, fertile soil and warm weather, with each plant producing 2,000 seeds.
- Buckhorn plantain – One of the few weeds that you can get rid of with regular hand-weeding, buckhorn plantain is a weed for all seasons and invades lawns, pastures and meadows.
Other types of weed to watch out for include bindweed, lambsquarters, quackgrass, shepherd’s purse, Canadian thistle and nutsedge.
Important Components of Weed Control
Controlling and stopping weeds from overtaking your lawn and garden depends on what stage they are in.
- Pre-emergent weed control – This is actually the most ideal way to prevent weeds from taking root, i.e. by treating your lawn with a pre-emergent herbicide that kills weeds at the beginning of their lifecycle.
- Post-emergent weed control – Once weeds have made their appearance, applying a post-emergent herbicide will help get rid of them. However, depending on the level of infestation, it can take several applications before any real progress can be made.
If you are implementing the above or are using weed control sprays, be sure to check that they do not negatively impact the type of grass planted in your lawn.
Fortify Your Lawn
There are relatively easy, natural ways to ensure weeds do not proliferate in your green space at home:
- Keep your lawn thick – The best way to discourage weed growth is by keeping your lawn healthy and thick. With regular lawn maintenance, proper mowing and fertilization, your grass will stay lush and healthy.
- Consistently fight weed growth – Keep a broad spectrum herbicide on hand to fight pesky weeds any time they make an appearance in your lawn or garden.
- Seed, seed, seed – Aim to reseed yearly until your lawn is healthy, lush and thick. Keep the soil consistently moist, aerated and properly fertilized until the seeds germinate.
- Be vigilant – Always be on the lookout for disease, bugs or any signs of stress in your lawn. Remember, a weak or stressed lawn is an open invitation to pests, disease and weeds alike.
Of course, keeping your lawn well-maintained requires time, energy and commitment. So if you’re pressed for time or always have a full schedule, but want to always keep your lawn and garden healthy, be sure to call for professional lawn care and maintenance services.
This way, you needn’t worry about weeds, pests or disease.
Hiring lawn care experts means keeping your green space healthy and thriving all year long while giving you time to take care of family, work and other priorities.
