Beyond Herbicides: Five Ways to Fight Weeds in Your Lawn
If you want a lush beautiful lawn, you need to keep weeds out of the area. Luckily, there are lots of ways to do this. Herbicides can help, but they don't address the root problem. Instead, consider trying some of the following methods.
1. Cultivate Dense Turf
If you have dense, healthy, lush turf, weeds won't be able to take hold. Consider talking to someone who sells lawn and turf supplies and see which type of grass they recommend. Then, depending on the state of your lawn, you may want to add additional seeds to your existing lawn or just start over with a new type of turf.
2. Remember to Fertilise
Regardless of the type of turf you choose, you need to remember to fertilise. Fertilisers help the grass to be healthier, and applying fertilisers on a regular basis can help to eliminate the bare patches where weeds tend to grow. You may want to go for a controlled-release fertiliser. These release nutrients slowly over time, which tends to be more effective.
3. Water Deeply
When you water your lawn, try to go for a deep effect. You want to saturate the soil deep beneath the grass to support its roots. One of the reasons some weeds are so successful is because they can thrive with shallow root systems and dry conditions.
To water deeply, consider using a soaking hose instead of a sprinkler. A sprinkler just sprays water onto the top of the grass. In contrast, a soaking hose is a hosepipe with lots of small holes in it. The water goes directly to the roots of your grass. Additionally, healthy grass roots means there is less room for weed roots.
4. Let Your Grass Get a Bit Longer
Even if you like super short grass, you may want to let it get a bit longer than usual while you are fighting weeds. When the grass is longer, the sun can't hit the soil and encourage the weed seeds that have migrated into your lawn from nearby areas. In addition, longer grass allows the leaf of the grass to collect more sun and nutrients.
5. Opt for Plants in Key Areas
Despite all your best efforts, there are likely to be parts of your lawn where grass doesn't grow easily. To prevent weeds from popping up in these areas, consider getting rid of the grass and putting in plants. For example, if you're trying to deal with a shady area, you need plants that thrive in shade. Similarly, if you have an extra hot patch of your yard, you need plants that love the heat. In both cases, lay down weed-resistant landscaping fabric and put mulch between the plants to discourage the weeds.
For more information on lawn and turf supplies, contact a local professional.