Lawn Weed Management: How to Keep Unwanted Weeds at Bay

If your home has a lush lawn and is surrounded by greenery, chances are you want to keep your garden landscape looking as green, neat and healthy as possible. But the thing is, a well-groomed yard and rogue weeds don’t go hand in hand. This makes lawn weed management an important part of maintaining your property.

What are weeds and how can they affect your lawn?

Weeds are unwanted plants that grow where they shouldn’t within your yard. Although lawn and garden weeds may look harmless, these pesky invaders produce large numbers of seeds, meaning they can multiply quickly and overtake your garden. Also, they use the same resources (water, nutrients, and sunlight) as favourable plants, preventing them from thriving.

Next, lawn weeds can be a potential treat for your health. They can cause skin irritation that can lead to rashes and itchiness. This is why a proper lawn weed treatment is essential if you want to keep your lawn beautiful and manageable.

Lawn weed managing solutions

source: forbes.com

There are two methods to deal with rogue weeds, manually and with chemicals. Pulling persistent lawn weeds by hand is a labour-intensive process but it’s the most environmentally friendly one. If you want to remove dandelions or plantains, remember to dig up the whole plant. If the leaves are removed but the root is left in the ground, they will regrow in a few days.

Also, keep in mind that some weeds can re-root themselves if it’s not too hot and dry. That’s why it’s important not to leave weeds on the ground once removed. You can either dispose of them or use them. Dandelions make a nice addition to green salads.

Using herbicides is another method for tackling and managing unwanted plants. These are often categorised into contact and selective weed killers. The former start to work once they are applied to the plant and they only affect the part of the weed that they “contact”.

Known as “broad spectrum” herbicides, they are lethal to the majority of plants they come into contact with. Their most common use is to get rid of weeds that are growing on roads, sidewalks, and other hardscape areas. Although contact weed managing solutions are more fast-acting than other herbicides, they require repeated application, especially to control undergrowth growth.

Selective weed killers, on the other hand, enter the plant through the vascular system. They are absorbed by the plant, moving from the point of absorption to areas of action where the chemicals regulate the plant’s growth. Generally, they don’t harm surrounding plants and are most effective against broadleaf weeds. However, unlike contact herbicides, selective weed killers work slower (usually up to 4 to 6 weeks).

Although efficient, conventional chemical herbicides often come with side effects. They can damage certain plants or upset the delicate ecosystem of your soil, not to mention that they can be dangerous to people and animals. Moreover, a lot of these substances can contaminate the ecosystem by penetrating the groundwater and soil.

Glyphosate is a common ingredient that can be found in many weed killers and is the main source of concern. After spraying, this chemical can remain in the soil for up to six months, where some plants will absorb it. Also, since glyphosate is easily soluble in water, it can run off into waterways and damage delicate aquatic ecosystems. Certain studies even link glyphosate to cancer.

Also, keep in mind that there is a chance of intoxication when using herbicides. Therefore, reading the label, following label instructions, and using the proper personal protective clothing and equipment is a must.

Organic weed killers

To avoid using toxic chemicals for weed control, you can opt for organic weed killers. These are a safer option for families, animals, and the environment than traditional weed killers. That’s because they are made with natural ingredients that naturally occur in nature, like acetic acid, essential oils, salt and non-synthetic herbicidal soaps.

However, you still need to keep an eye on kids and pets in your yard when it has been treated with organic weed killers. Also, in general, organic weed killers are easier to apply meaning less time, effort, and stress for you.

But there are pros and cons to everything. The downside of organic herbicides is that they may not kill all of your weeds. Organic weed management solutions are most effective at controlling small weeds and less effective on older plants. Mature plants will likely need multiple dousings.

Also, organic lawn weedkillers work by burning down or suppressing the already emerged weeds. Most of these herbicides are not selective, meaning they will destroy any plant tissue they come into contact with.

These days, a lot of organic weed killers are available on the market. Ensure that the company you purchase from has products approved for organic gardening.