How Do You Fix A Lawn Full Of Weeds
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- 19-04-2022
How do you fix a lawn full of weeds? This article looks at how weeds can impact your lawn and the most effective methods to get rid of them.
What Are Lawn Weeds?
The term 'weed' is entirely subjective; some don't mind them sprouting about their lawn, and some green-thumbs hate them passionately. The term often refers to invasive plants that compete with your grass for space to grow and flourish.
These plants include daisies, dandelions, ground ivy, biennial weeds, buttercups, broad-leaf weeds, perennial weeds, coarse-leaved grass, wild garlic, clovers, etc.
If you prefer a flower-rich garden, you may wish to retain these plants; however, many like a clean, healthy lawn and desperately want to get rid of them.
For those choosing to rid these plants for a weed-free lawn, you want to identify the signs of them cropping up as promptly as possible ready for sufficient removal.
Ensure you keep up with yearly lawn maintenance; autumn care is equally vital as care during the spring and summer seasons.
What Causes Lawn Weeds?
Lawn weeds grow and establish because they survive standard or close mowing techniques. They spread via creeping stems or seeds, and they are primarily found in lawns with sparse grass.
Tips On Repairing A Lawn Full Of Weeds
Many tend to find old or new lawns complete with weeds relatively unsatisfying; alongside bare or brown patches, your garden can begin to appear rather depressing.
Don't worry; there are many chemical and natural ways you can restore it and bring it back to its beautiful green glory.
Below we have provided numerous tips on repairing an ugly or sad-looking lawn. We must remember that lush lawns can take plenty of care, time and patience; there are no quick fixes.
However, taking maintenance step by step, follow these instructions, and you'll begin to garner a beautiful lawn to show off and be proud of throughout the year.
Many are content using pre-emergent herbicides; however, plenty of people prefer a range of other natural alternatives. However, you must choose a solid weed killer product and ensure there is thorough coverage when you spray it across your lawn. The lawn may require more traditional digging methods to ensure the product is well-absorbed and in tip-top shape.
Firstly, we would not recommend beginning your repairing journey with grass seed, especially whilst you're still wielding a strong weedkiller chemical, as it can prevent new grass from growing in its place. When you have successfully targeted specific weeds, you'll want to prepare your lawn by lightly raking it ready for seeding.
Ensure you sprinkle it with a high-standard peat-free compost, mulch or topsoil. Add another layer of topsoil when weed seeds have been sown, as this helps keep the birds from pecking and stealing your seeds.
The UK, especially British weather is incredibly unpredictable; however, we often get more showers of rain than not! You require a good amount of water to grow and repair your lawn naturally.
We may experience a heatwave every so often, so investing in a quality garden hose will be great for unpredictable days or weeks of hot weather if we're lucky. If you prefer using a sprinkler, ensure you invest in one that's cost-effective and high-quality, as you'll find it makes all the difference.
We recommend a water-butt for those searching for more eco-friendly options; these methods help minimise your water consumption. Ensure the water you're using is clean and safe for use. Water pollution concerns the contamination of water sources with chemicals, bacteria, parasites, etc. These could be incredibly harmful to your lawn and cause it to die or prevent growth altogether.
Don't be scared of providing your lawn grass with a helping hand. Whether new or old grass, a high-quality organic starter fertiliser will help curate a stunning green lawn to make the neighbours green with envy!
We highly recommend you partake in regular fertilising and feeding as this helps nurture your lawn, keeping it strong and healthy to prevent weed growth. The weather plays a massive role in the growth of your lawn; however, the rule of thumb tends to be that feeding it every 6-8 weeks will improve it.
The first part of lawn repair is learning to mow your lawn and how to use the device you have invested in. It is paramount to ensure that your mower blades are always sharp for use; blunt blades will only ever make the task much harder and longer, as you may have to run over the same areas more.
Aim not to cut your vigorous grass too short; too short grass can weaken or die incredibly fast, leaving you even more vulnerable to weed invasions. To return the nutrients to your compacted soil, scatter the grass cuttings back over your lawn - it may be a tad messy, but it helps!
It may seem obvious, yet checking every once in a while for sight or signs of pests is a great way to improve your lawn. Frequent maintenance to rid any dying plants, dead debris, etc., is essential; the earlier you spot pests, the earlier you can attack and control them with the best and most efficient methods.
Pests of any kind could mess with your lawn care, and ultimately, weeds could grow in the patches or holes they dig, so it's best to have upkeep and be on the lookout.
Spotting Lawn Weeds
There are numerous ways that you will notice lawn weeds over time, for example:
If you have uneven growth in areas across your lawn or areas with a different texture or colour than the rest, this is usually a sign of underlying weeds or deep roots.
If flowers begin appearing in your grass, it is often a sign that your lawn has grown too long and therefore, there is potential for weeds to grow. Flowers can even sprout in closely mown lawns; however, this is not as common.
Lawn weeds can sometimes perform better than the actual healthy grass. However, if you notice that your lawn patches remain green throughout droughts, it is a sure-fire sign that weeds are thriving.
How to Control Lawn Weeds
Consider whether or not you want to control your weed growth using chemical or non-chemical methods that include frequently digging them out.
Where feasible, you may want to select chemical weed control strategies where necessary.
Choose an appropriate weed killer for your lawn and the weed issues you face.
To do so, you'll want to read the label before using the products thoroughly.
Chemical methods are likely better for more secure locations and garden areas.
Otherwise, if you have a more open garden that your or your neighbour's pets frequently roam around, it may be best to avoid chemical weedkillers.
The RHS suggests that you can successfully avoid weeds, diseases and pests with reliable and suitable cultivation methods.
Non-Chemical Options
Before moving to harsher chemical products, there is a wide range of non-chemical options. These options include:
First, begin by feeding, aerating and scarifying your lawn. Doing so will encourage growth in your lawn and flourish more healthily. Strong-growing plant stems will begin to form as opposed to weeds. Healthy, vigorous growth often makes it more difficult for weeds to thrive.
We encourage you to remove all rosette-type weeds, for example, daisy, dandelions and plantain. Use a hand fork to do so to make the job faster.
In the autumn season, be sure to dig out any weeds that may be resistant to weedkillers, then re-seed or re-turf. Rake over the turf with a core aerator and then mow it; this will help prevent creeping weeds from growing, such as silverweed, sorrels, speedwells and white clover.
In the winter, you should apply garden lime to acidic soils. Dress your loose or compacted soil in lime approximately 50g per square metre or 1 and 1/2 ounces per square yard. The lime method will help rid weeds, for example, field woodrush and sorrels.
You'll want to avoid close mowing, especially in areas with pearlwort and parsley piert; these tend to weaken the grass and make way for weeds to grow.
Weedkiller Controls
You'll require a high-quality weedkiller product wherever your lawn has established or grown weeds. When buying the correct lawn weedkiller that will work for your turf and specific location, it's essential to check the labels.
These are a few things to consider and remember when dealing with and handling chemical weedkillers to control the situation:
It's best to apply strong weedkillers during the spring and summer months, as these are likely to be the seasons where your grass and annual weeds begin growing expeditiously. No matter how much water they've received in the colder months, they'll flourish when the sun starts to appear!
It's paramount that before you begin using the product, you read the instructions and follow them strictly, applying it as stated. Doing so will ensure your safety and more effective results.
You want to ensure you select a product that you find easy to apply. Lawn weed killers are available for users in spray-on bottles, dribble bars and watering cans, and you can also find them in granules that you can scatter across your lawn surface; however, these tend not to be as popular. Start fresh and use these sprays liberally in different directions across the lawn.
We recommend using ready-to-use sprays on your ground for any spot treatments or specific bad areas. Professional advice states that you shouldn't use a combined mosskiller product unless used in locations with moss problems.
Some require a single weed treatment, and others may need two or three applications between 4-6 weeks. For area that require a thin coverage of the product, you can use a drop spreader or broadcast spreader; these ensure that you killer is precisely spread per square inch across the grass without wasting anything.
Are you looking for garden machinery suppliers in Northampton? Get in touch today! We are the premium provider of lawnmowers and ride on mowers in Northamptonshire.