Weeds are a nuisance to the lawn and garden, but also they can be harmful to pets. They can bring disease into your home if you step on them or cut yourself on their spines. Fortunately, there are several ways that you can get rid of weeds in your yard without having to resort to chemical sprays. We will go over some methods that have worked well for others, so you should have no problem finding one that works best for your situation!
Identify weeds in your lawn
Weeds are plants that grow where they are not wanted. They can be grasses, flowers, or ornamental shrubs – anything you would like to keep in your yard but does not belong there.
The first step is identifying what kind of weeds you have growing in your lawn so that you know how best to treat them.
Weeds will often look different from the plant they came up next to, so it’s important to take a close look at each one before deciding on a course of action! If you identified Poa annua (annual bluegrass), species that can take over your turf, you better start with Poa annua control in order to improve your weed control and get rid of annual bluegrass. Once you’ve made note of which types of weeds are taking over your property, go ahead and dig into their root systems by pulling them out by hand if possible. If the roots break off easily, then this method should work fine for small patches of weeds.
Remove weeds by pulling them out or spraying with weed killer
If your weed problem is more severe, you may need to spray the weeds with chemical sprays. This method can be effective for lawns where children play or pets will run through – but make sure that they won’t come into contact with the chemicals!
Another option is covering areas of grass around the stubborn weeds with black plastic. The heat from the sun should kill off much of the surrounding grass and allow it to take over once again after a few weeks have passed. Just remember not to step on this area if possible, as it’s extremely easy to damage these types of plant roots by accident when walking across them at random times during warm weather months!
Prevent new weeds from growing by watering less and fertilizing more
Weeds are opportunistic plants that will take over any area of your yard if they have the chance! If you water frequently, weed seeds will sprout up everywhere.
If this is a problem for you, then it may be worth considering watering less often and fertilizing more to encourage grasses instead of weeds. You can also choose not to mow as frequently, which allows tall grasses to shade out smaller weeds while at the same time preventing lawns from turning into thick green mats that don’t allow anything else to grow in between them.
Add mulch to the surface of your lawn to help retain water and keep the soil cool
Weeds are often more vulnerable to heat and dryness than grasses, so adding mulch around the edges of your lawn may help keep weeds out! This method is great for flower beds that have become overrun by weeds as well.
Just be sure not to pile up mulch against tree trunks or large plants – it’s important that they are able to “breathe” in order to prevent the disease from occurring. If you’re worried about maintaining a neat appearance with this type of watering technique, then make sure you use weed-free mulch instead!
Keep grass clippings on the ground, don’t sweep them up or bag them for disposal
Grass clippings are a great way to prevent weed growth! They will slowly decompose over time and return the nutrients back into the soil, which helps promote healthy grass.
This method is perfect for flower beds but can be used around any area of your lawn as well if it’s not too close to trees or other sensitive plants that may potentially get damaged because there isn’t enough water getting through to their roots after laying down mulch.
If you’re concerned about having an unkempt look, then make sure you mow often – this creates more opportunities for new grass clippings to fall onto the ground without creating that “lawn full of hay” effect!
Mow your lawn regularly – no more than one inch high
Weeds tend to grow much taller than grass and often dry out much faster as well! If you’re cutting your lawn’s height down by more than an inch at a time, then it will take longer for the weeds growing around the edges of your property to become noticeable – or perhaps even visible at all!
Knowing how to identify and get rid of weeds in your lawn is important for keeping them under control. Follow these steps, and you’ll be on the way to a luscious green yard that’s free from pesky weed intruders!