Weeds can be an ongoing battle, especially in a year like this with lots of rain. I wrote about pre-emergent weed control a few months ago to help get a head start on weeds. Unfortunately, sometimes we miss the window on timing of our application, or miss spots in the yard, or we just have some stubborn weeds. If you have weeds popping up in your grass, don’t lose heart! This is a good time to start to treat your weeds, when they are young and tender.
We have several really good options for good weed control if you have weeds coming up. One of the best ways you can control weeds is to have a good mowing plan. Mowing frequently helps to force your grass to grow horizontally and become denser. Mowing also helps to cut weeds off before they flower and go to seed, preventing future weed problems. The rule of thumb for mowing is to mow often enough that you never cut off more than 1/3 of the height of the grass.
Another method to control weeds and get some good exercise is to pull the weeds by hand. If you can regularly check your lawn and pull weeds, you can keep weed populations from getting out of hand. This is not practical if you have a major weed problem, but it can be good stress relief to spend time outside on a nice spring evening pulling weeds. There are some great weeding tools available to make the job easier like a Korean Hoe, Diamond Hoe, Stirrup Hoe, or Swan Neck.
If you have a bad weed problem, you might need to use herbicides. During this time of year, look for a post-emergent herbicide. You can find herbicides that are non-selective and will kill almost any plant they come in contact with. A selective herbicide is specifically formulated to kill certain types of weeds like grassy weeds, broadleaf weeds, or sedges. Identify the types of weeds you have and read product labels to find the appropriate herbicide. Many weed killers come in a spray bottle that you can use directly on the plant. Some come in concentrate form that you mix in a sprayer. When you spray weed killer, use low pressure and large droplet size. Apply when it is not windy.
A dense, healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds! For more information about weed control, check out the Aggie Turf website at https://aggieturf.tamu.edu/ or contact Kate Whitney at the Williamson County Extension Office at 512-943-3300. Did you know we have a Master Gardener Help Desk? Call us on Tuesdays or Fridays from 10:00am to 2:00pm to talk with a Master Gardener about your garden questions.
