How do I control weeds throughout the summer?
Summer is the perfect season for a great vacation, but it is also peak season for weeds.
Weeds do not easily invade a healthy stand of turf that is properly fertilized, watered and mowed at the correct frequency and height. Weeds like bare and thin areas which can be caused by:
- Improper fertilization
- Too much or too little of the correct nutrients and/or improper timing of application
- Too much or too little watering
- Overly moist soils are subject to various sedge weeds that can be really tough to eliminate once they take hold
- Failure to control diseases and insects
- For example: fungus, grub worms, mole crickets and moles
There are 3 main ways to control your lawn’s weed population:
1. Mowing
The best cultural practice for weed control in your lawn is frequent mowing (weekly if possible). This breaks the weed’s life cycle by cutting the seed heads before they mature, thereby preventing them from spreading. Many weed species do not tolerate frequent mowing.
Mowing at the correct height for the turf type is equally as important as frequent mowing. Mowing too low can cause injury to the turf, and mowing too tall will result in excessive thatch buildup.
2. Fertilization
Many professional lawn care companies apply pre-emergent herbicides in late winter to early spring, then again in late April to early June.
Pre-emergent is a type of herbicide that prevents the germination of seeds. It typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks depending on environmental factors like rainfall and temperature. Late June, July and early August can be prime time for weeds to flourish based on the last application time of the pre-emergent. When the effects lessen over time, weeds are able to germinate and start to appear in your lawn.
Did you know? If you have a newly sodded home, you cannot use pre-emergent for 6 months as it is a root inhibitor.
3. Post-Emergent Herbicides
Post-emergent is a type of herbicide that kills weeds after they have germinated.
After weeds appear, many lawn care companies will not apply post-emergent weed control when daytime temperatures are over 93 degrees for fear of killing the turf.
Did you know? For new sod, you have to be careful with using post-emergence herbicides until after the turf is well-established.
There are many beautifully maintained DIY lawns out there. If you would like some DIY tips, give us a call. But for many of us, the service and expertise that professional lawn fertilization companies provide is well worth the investment. The burden of results is placed on the professionals, which allows you to utilize your free time for more enjoyable activities.
If you are in the Midlands of South Carolina, contact us today for a quote on professional lawn care toll-free at 866-781-4991 or email us at LawnHelp@ClarksTurfPro.com. Thank you for your business!
The post Gettin’ Grassy: 3 Tips for Summer Weed Control appeared first on Clark's.