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Managing Weeds

How It All Works

Weeds. These are the bushy or creeping or sprawling (and usually ugly) plants that are just waiting for a chance to invade your beautiful lawn. Officially, a "weed" is any plant that is growing where it's not wanted. For lawn care, we usually figure any plant that isn't the same grass type as the lawn is a weed. Weeds fall into two main categories: broadleaf weeds (dicots) and grassy weeds (monocots). Another important division in weeds is between annual weeds (live and die in one season) and perennial weeds (live for several years).

Combining Prevention with Cure

Every lawn contains seeds of a virtual weed army. Seeds blow in, are carried on the soles of shoes and are dropped by birds. For effective weed management, it's important to have a strategy planned. This means combining both good cultural practices and properly timed treatments.

The best weed preventer is always a properly mowed and healthy stand of grass. Mowed high, your turf shades the soil, keeping sun and heat from reaching the weed seeds. Thick turf also competes with weeds that do try to get a foothold by denying them water and sunshine.
 

How Weed Control Works

Most broadleaf weed controls are systemic. This means they have to be absorbed into the weed and moved through the leaves and into the roots. This is called translocation.

Depending on the type of weed and how actively it's growing, this can happen in a few hours or may take several days. Once fully absorbed, weed controls actually cause the cells of the weed to grow so fast they burst. That's why weeds curl into strange shapes after a treatment. Remember that broadleaf weed controls can only work on weeds that are present and actively growing at the time of a treatment. Because new weeds blow in and sprout, regular treatments are required.

What to do & What to Expect

Because there is a delay in weed control while the material is absorbed, watering should be avoided immediately after a treatment. Mowing should also be delayed until the weed control moves into the roots. Wait 24 hours after weed control applications, and then water well. This watering practice will actually improve and speed up the level of control you get.

Our goal is to manage weeds -- not eradicate them forever. There is no herbicide that eliminates weeds from a lawn immediately -- or forever. But working together to build your lawn and control the weeds will give you the kind of turf you'll always enjoy coming home to.