Attack of the Lawn Weeds
Ralph Waldo Emerson defined weeds as, “Any plants whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” The majority of today’s society has the opinion that if it’s not grass, it’s bad. This, however, is an unnatural approach for the environment. In his 1950’s book, Weeds and What They Tell by Ehrenfried E. Pfieffer said of weeds, “ Weeds are weeds only from our human egotistical point of view, because they grow where we do not want them…in nature, however, they play an important and interesting role.” Lawn weeds can be broken down into 2 categories: Monocots or grasses like crabgrass, quack grass or Bermuda grass and Dicots also known as broadleaf weeds like dandelions, ground ivy and chickweed. Lawn weeds are also described as annuals which last one year, biennials that are around for two years and perennials that live for more than two years. The best method of lawn weed control is to get rid of them while they are young. If it is too late for this approach then there are 6 additional tactics to lawn weed control.- Total lawn weeds eradication by using nonselective sprays (ones made with vinegar or orange oil) or solarization methods.
- Spot weeding with flaming mechanical tools or non selective sprays.
- Intensified lawn weed control during the spring and fall.
- Adding compost, gypsum, limestone as well as aerating the soil, or upgrading your drainage and soil depth.
- Overseeding; adding new grass will force out lawn weeds.
- Keeping grass mowed at the proper height and only using a bag 3x a year—the first cut of the year, when dandelions got to seed and at the end of the fall to remove leaves.
Lawn Weed Identification |
|||
|
Weed |
Annual or Perennial |
Appearance |
Method of Lawn Weed Control |
| Barnyard grass | Annual | Thick stems at base | Dig out or mow down |
| Birds-foot trefoil | Perennial | Similar to clover, has bright yellow flowers | Add nitrogen, pull out by hand |
| Carpet weed | Annual | Matt forming, tiny white flowers, short roots | Add compost pullout by hand |
| Chickweed | Annual | Similar to dandelions with blue flowers and wiry stems | Add compost tea, dig deep to get full root system |
| Dandelion | Perennial | Bright yellow flowers in early spring; globe shaped seed heads | Add calcium, lime; dig deep for whole root |
| Hawkweed | Perennial | Long hairy leaves, bright orange or yellow flowers | Adding calcium, nitrogen, compost; limestone |
| Heal-all | Perennial | Upright, long-leafed tube shaped purple flowers | Compost aerate, dig up or mow |
| Lamb's quarters | Annual | Can grow up to 6 feet tall, has egg shaped edgy leaves with a deep tap root | Add calcium, dig up or pull out |
| Plantain | Perennial | Broad oval shaped leaves; fiber-like roots with a deep tap root | Add limestone, dig deeply, mechanical aeration |
| Queen Anne's Lace | Biennials | Looks and smells like a carrot the 1st year, tiny off-white flowers, can reach 2 feet tall, has a tap root | Add calcium, compost tea, macronutrients; pull out by hand |
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