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Up, Up and Away Weeds Go
Weeds are one of the many problematic aspects that
can detract from the beauty and enjoyment of a healthy lawn. Any
plant that displays a contrast in color or texture in the desired
grass can be construed as a weed. Weeds not only interfere with
the aesthetic appearance of a lawn, but they compete with the desired
grass for available water and nutrients as well.
Before one can warrant a concern for controlling
a weed problem, identification of such is necessary.
- Monocot weeds emerge with a single seed leaf
and are generally termed 'weedy grasses'
- The most common weed found in a lawn is crabgrass
(a low-lying weed with thick, broad, and often times sticky foliage
commonly found along driveway, garden bed, and sidewalk edges)
- Tall Fescue (a tall, thin weed, with many compacted
stalks, commonly found in the middle of a lawn)
- Quackgrass (a tall weed, with rounded, broad
leaf sheaths. It has small hairs at the base of the plant).
- Dicot weeds emerge with two seed leaves and are
generally termed 'broadleaf weeds'.
The most common of these weeds are dandelions (a tall weed with
broad leaves that sprout yellow flowers).
Upon maturity, the yellow flowers of dandelions will pollinate,
forming a bud of several seeds, which may be spread quite easily
with a brisk wind. Because of this reason it is important to control
these weeds at the time of germination.
- Thistle is another common broadleaf weed. Thistle
resembles dandelions, except their leaves contain small needle-like
thorns and they do not sprout flowers.
- Ground ivy is also a common broadleaf weed. It's
also the most difficult weed to control, for it's extremely hardy
and spreads rather quickly. It is a low-lying weed with broad
leaves connected by vine-like stems.
- The last of the most common broadleaf weeds is
clover (a soft, supple, low-lying weed that sprouts small white
and pink flowers).
Clover is much like ground ivy, for it too is extremely
hardy and spreads rather quickly. Unlike its counterpart though,
clover can be more beneficial than harmful. Clover serves as a large
storage bank for the nutrient nitrogen. When grass clippings are
deposited onto a lawn that contains clover during the mowing process
a natural distribution of nitrogen occurs. Because of the sweet
fragrance clover emits, it attracts bees. Bees further ensure cross-pollination
of garden flowers. The last beneficial quality of clover is its
hardiness. It often prevents other, more harmful weeds from inhabiting
the lawn.
Despite having a healthy, lush, green lawn, which
diminishes weed production in and of itself, the emergence of weeds
is inevitable. The first method of defense against weeds one should
practice is the application of a Pre-emergent Selective Herbicide
(granular or liquid). Note that Pre-emergent Non-Selective Herbicides
will combat or kill all vegetation, including grass. It is best
to examine the label of the material used to determine which vegetation
the herbicide controls or targets. The timing of an application
of a Pre-emergent Selective Herbicide is crucial. They are most
effective when applied to a lawn a week or two before the seeds
of weeds germinate.
Weeds typically need a consistent soil temperature
of fifty degrees Fahrenheit to germinate. For many regions in the
U.S., this occurs in late March. Therefore, a good date to remember
is March 15. This is a good time to apply a Pre-emergent
Selective Herbicide to a lawn. One more date to keep in mind is
September 15, for many weeds tend to begin their seedling process
in late September. Because of such an occurrence, another application
of Pre-emergent Selective Herbicide should occur in mid September.
Post-emergent Selective Herbicides should be used
once the weeds have germinated. Once the weeds have emerged, it
is important to apply the treatment to the undesirable weeds only.
There are a couple precautions to take when using all herbicides.
- Herbicides are toxic; therefore, proper storage,
handling, and careful use must be practiced.
- Herbicides can be detrimental to lawns that have
not thoroughly established a strong root system (i.e. newly seeded
or sodded areas).
- Herbicides should only be applied on dry, calm
days. Excessive wind can cause the material to spread to unwanted
places such as garden beds where damage to desirable plants can
occur. In addition, the application of herbicides in wet conditions
can dilute the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Check the label of the herbicide to determine
the amount of time that needs to transpire after an application,
before allowing any traffic on treated areas (i.e. children or
pets).
There are a few more practices that may cut down
the amount of weeds present in a lawn. Mowing the lawn at a higher
mowing range will prevent sunlight from reaching the weeds. This
will stunt weed growth, for all plants need sunlight to survive.
Also, bagging the clippings of the lawn will decrease the distribution
of weed seeds.
Weeds tend to thrive in lawns that possess highly
compacted soil. Aeration of a lawn can loosen the soil up and in
effect, prevent weeds from growing.
Although it is considered the most troublesome
method of weed control, manually pulling out the weeds (generally
termed 'the hands-on method) is in fact the most effective treatment.
When partaking in such an activity it is just as important to pull
the roots of the weed, as it is the visible foliage. Some weed roots
can reach depths of six inches beneath the soil. Failure to remove
the entire root will lead to certain re-growth of the weed. If the
root's depth can't be reached by way of the hand alone, one can
use tools such as a potting trowel or a small shovel for further
assistance. If the ground is too hard, one can soak the soil, which
will aid in the ease of root removal. Using the 'hands-on' method
of weed control will also ensure the survival of the desired grass.
Throughout the life of a healthy lawn the emergence
of weeds is inevitable. It's important that a state of panic does
not occur. The problem may be solved. First, one must identify the
kinds of weeds present. Then, one must engage in a variety of practices
to control such a problem. Finally, apply a dose or two of Pre-emergent
Selective Herbicides to combat the magnitude of the problem in the
future. By following such instructions one can obtain and enjoy
a virtually weed-free lawn. - Written by Ronnie Bickel
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