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DON’T FEED INTO WEEDS

From dandelions to crab grass to clovers, there are a variety of types of weeds. There are three general categories of weeds including: broadleaf, grasses and sedges. Broadleaf weeds are as they sound, broad and flat. Grass weeds resemble grass in the way it looks and grows, like grass blades. As for sedge weeds, they look like grass in appearance though the leaves may be triangular or tube like, as well as hollow and not flat.

To prevent weeds, you want to keep your lawn growing thick and healthy. Tips for preventing weeds are to feed regularly, mow higher and to water deeply. Stressed out lawns create a higher chance of weeds. Feeding your lawn regularly every 6 to 8 weeks during growing season with a lawn fertilizer helps the lawn stay thick and lush. Also making it less welcoming to weeds by leaving little space for it to grow.  Mowing higher helps the grass grow tall and thick to shade the soil, so weed seeds are less able to sprout and grow. Watering deeply and infrequently helps your lawn grow deeper roots so it can better compete with weeds. When you do frequent, shallow watering’s it encourages shallow root growth, this causes the grass to suffer during periods of heat and drought. When the grass suffers this way it creates thin, bare spots that weeds will take advantage of.

Weed prevention is best practiced in the fall and early spring to take advantage of the growing season of turf grasses. Badly infested lawns are usually a sign of nutrient imbalance or other soil problems. Focus on getting the lawn healthy then give it a couple months to grow strong before using weed control products. Poor maintenance practices such as improper irrigation (under or over watering), fertilization or mowing are primary factors in bringing out a weed invasion. If not controlled before flowering they can produce a seed that will sprout that growing season or even the following year.

Lawns that have been weakened by plant diseases or insect pests are likely to become weedy because there is more bare space for weeds to establish. Identifying the weed species present may give an indication of the underlying problem responsible for the invasion, as well as suggest what can be done to reduce the weed infestation.  

Water requirements vary among turf grass species, and also vary depending on the climate and time of year for growing conditions. Warm season grasses only need to be watered one or two times a week. Cool season grasses require more frequent watering up to three times a week in hot weather. Turf grass species growing in shade require less water than the same species growing in full sun.

You could hand pull the weeds if they’re in small numbers, but the roots must be completely removed or it will grow back. They’re easiest to pull when weeds are young and the soil is moist. When it comes to the battle with weeds having an experienced lawn care technician do regular maintenance on your lawn is always the best bet. Maintaining a regular treatment will help your lawn flourish. If you’re having problems with those pesky weeds don’t hesitate to call Palm Coast Pest Control for a FREE inspection!

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