Controlling Lawn Grass Weeds

Chemical Lawn Weed Control

Applying Chemicals to control weeds in your lawn should NOT be done prior to or just after planting plugs, sod or seed. You generally should wait around 10 weeks -- read product label for specific instructions, before using any herbicides on newly plugged / sodded lawns. When grasses are under some kind of stress (such as newly transplanted plugs, or under drought conditions) they tend to be more susceptible to damage / injury from herbicides. Caution must be used when using chemical weed control practices. Once your lawn or grass plugs are established, weed control herbicides can be used. Remember there is no "magic fix" weed control chemical that will eradicate all weeds in a lawn or garden without multiple applications and without long term adverse effects on the soil and the environment. MAKE SURE that any weed/feed or herbicide you use is listed as safe for use on the species of grass you have. Some weed control products that are safe for one type of grass may actually KILL another species of grasses - Read the label and follow instructions to be SAFE or practice organic methods such as these below. Contact your local cooperative extension for chemical advice.

Organic Lawn Weed Control

Organic lawn care is comprised of proper management of the soil and lawn through practices of proper mowing, aeration, watering and fertilization which is determined by a professional soil test. An alternative to using chemical herbicides would be to keep your lawn healthy by following proper mowing and watering methods. Household vinegar has been used successfully to control weeds without the harmful side effects that chemicals have been shown to cause. Vinegar does not linger in the soil like the popular herbicide Round Up™, and will only temporarily affect soil pH when properly applied. There are many resources on the internet for organic weed control for lawns such as this article. An organic approach to weed control is a healthy choice for you, your family, the environment and the generations to come.

Lawn Weed Control By Mowing

Begin mowing when the grass plugs or weeds have grown about 1/3 above normal maintenance height. You should mow existing grasses when required and in newly plugged lawns, start mowing when grass / and-or weeds are 1/3 the normal mowing height for the species of grass. With grass plugs there is NOT generally any risk to mowing provided they have been properly planted, watered and are not under any stress such as drought. Frequent Mowing helps to control weeds and generally encourages grass plugs and other grass lawns to grow "horizontal", thus covering your lawn sooner.

Advice on Lawn Mowing

Mowing at the proper height is one of the best weed control practices you can use, and is especially good for the environment if you use a reel mower. No more than one-third the height of the leaf blades should be removed with any mowing.

• Keep mower blades sharp. Dull blades chew the grass and make the grass susceptible to disease. The growth rate of grasses vary with the presence of moisture, temperature, and fertility.
• Healthy grass clippings DO NOT need to be picked up, but diseased clippings DO. In fact, healthy grass clippings can  provide up to 25% of the nitrogen needed for lawn grass naturally. However, if the amount of grass clippings is excessive do remove them (e.g., clumping occurs).
• Mowing too infrequently can cause a thatch buildup.
• Mowing too low can cause problems in turf quality.

Read detailed information on the care of lawn grass and grass plugs

MORE ABOUT WEEDS AT LAWNWEEDS.COM

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