A lawn that stretches out all around you, making your home look like it is floating in a cool, inviting sea of green has long been a part of American culture. We spend hours raking, mowing, fertilizing and watering, and unfortunately, we also have to spend time dealing with weeds that invade our lawns.

• What exactly is a lawn weed? By definition, a weed is any plant that is growing where you don't want it to grow. In your shrubbery border, grass may be a weed. In your flower garden, seedling maple trees are weeds. And in your lawn, lots of different plants are weeds.

• Is there any single solution to lawn weeds? Since there are so many types of plants that can become lawn weeds, a simple solution is not available. Various weeds respond differently to weed control methods. Good lawn management is your best defense.

• What is meant by lawn management? You can make the grass in your lawn healthy enough to out-compete most weeds with good management. This requires applying balanced fertilizers at the right times and in the correct amounts. You will also need to mow frequently, keep your mower blades sharp and allow the grass to stay around 3 inches long. If nature doesn't provide adequate, timely water, you will have to do so. Following good management practices will result in a healthy lawn that can, by itself, control most varieties of weeds.

• How do I know if I have a lawn weed problem? How many weeds constitute a problem is strictly up to you. Given the expense and ecological impact of routine use of general herbicides, you should seriously consider alternative plans of action. Many homeowners now believe a little tolerance goes a long way. Look over the situation and learn a little about the life cycle of the specific weeds. If you only have a few weeds and they are not aggressive, you may spot treat with an herbicide or just pull them. If you are dealing with an annual weed such as crab grass or annual bluegrass, mow frequently to minimize seeding and use a pre-emergent herbicide. Learning about the weeds you are dealing with will help you to be more specific.

• Should I use herbicides? Herbicides are substances that kill or severely damage plants. Although we often have to resort to herbicides to control certain weeds, they should be used with great care and caution. The same chemical you use to kill unwanted plants in your lawn may, if not applied carefully, kill or damage other plants in your landscape.

• Are there different kinds of herbicide? A pre-emergent herbicide acts by interrupting germination and development of seedlings. A post-emergent herbicide acts on plants that already have leaves. All herbicides should say on the package if they act as a pre- or post-emergent. Not all herbicides are effective against all weeds, so you should carefully choose a product that will target your specific problems.

• What about products like Roundup? There is a group of herbicides that is nonselective. That means they will take action on whatever they are applied to, including grass. They are great for killing tough tree seedlings that crop up in the lawn, but must be used with care so they won't damage desirable plants.

• Can I spread grass seed on a lawn treated with herbicides? There should be information on the label of the herbicide you use as to how it will affect seeding.

Generally, you cannot seed for 6 weeks after using a pre-emergent herbicide. Most post-emergent herbicides allow for seeding sooner than 6 weeks. Non-selective herbicides such as Roundup generally allow seeding within 7 days.

• When should herbicides be applied? Pre-emergent herbicides should be used when the seeds would naturally germinate. For most lawn weeds, this would be in early-to mid-spring and in late summer. Post-emergent herbicides such as weed-and-feed and Ortho Weed-B-Gone are effective almost anytime, except when it is hot. Non-selective herbicide can be applied any time the weeds are actively growing.
Read the instructions on the herbicide you have chosen. You want all liquid herbicides to stay on the foliage for at least 6-8 hours before rain or watering. Some dry formulations are most effective when weeds have water on them. Again, read the instructions.

• How should I apply herbicides? Herbicides will come either dry (in a granule or powder) or as a liquid. Dry herbicides often come mixed with fertilizer and can be applied with your lawn spreader. Liquid herbicides come as either a concentrate or ready-to-use (RTU). Both will have full instructions and cautions on the labels. Concentrates can be applied through various types of sprayers. Even though you thoroughly clean the sprayer after use, most sprayers have plastic parts that will absorb some of the herbicide. It is best to mark that sprayer Herbicides Only and use a different sprayer for insecticides and fungicides.

• What are some of the most common lawn weeds? Some of the most common problem weeds in our area are dandelion, crabgrass, creeping charlie, plantain, chickweed, and quack grass. In addition to those readily identified as weeds, homeowners in our area frequently have to deal with invasive grasses such as bent grass and Bermuda grass. Even clover can be considered a weed if you don't want it in your lawn. At Bachman's, we will be glad to help identify the weed, if there is any question, and make recommendations.

For Additional Information on Lawn Weeds
Bachman’s Information Sheet Lawn Fertilizers
Bachman’s Information Sheet Lawn Calendar
Ortho’s All About Weeds
Ortho’s All About Lawns

Recommended Products
Bachman’s Weed and Feed
Ortho’s Weed-B-Gone
Bachman’s Crabgrass Preventer
Roundup RTU and Concentrates
Sprayers and Lawn Spreaders
Finale Herbicide
Bachman's Garden Centers

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