Weeds: A pest we can deal with

Weeds are usually fast-growing plants that we don't want in our landscape. If they show up in the lawn, they use more than their share of nutrients and water. No lawn will be 100% weed-free, all the time. Thousands of weed seeds lie dormant in the soil waiting for the right opportunity to start growing. New seeds settle in the soil all the time, being blown in either by the wind, or carried in by birds or other animals.

Treatment for weeds depends on the type of weeds found, how pervasive are the weeds, the condition of the lawn, and the time of the year.

On our first inspection we'll identify the type weed and suggest how it can be controlled. In a thick, healthy, lawns, weed seeds naturally remain dormant. But when lawns begin to thin from neglect and lack of nutrition, weed seeds begin germinating. Therefore, controlling weeds is a multi-step process. Depending on the time of a year, a weed-control product will be applied to knock-out most existing weeds. At other times, a preventative control is applied to help reduce the number of weed seeds germinating.

The second stage is building up the lawn's health and vitality. Doing so helps create naturally thick lawn that will greatly reduce seeds from germinating. One of our professional team will examine your lawn and soil to determine the right steps for improving the lawn.

Once the lawn has been improved and most weeds removed, our technician will be constantly on the look out for new weeds and spot treat them on each visit to your home. Another form of control is proper mowing technique.

Weed types: broadleaf and grassy

Broadleaf weeds include plantain, clover, dollarweed, dichondra, oxalis, henbit and chickweed to name a few. Most broadleaf weeds can be controlled. Some broadleaf weeds are more difficult to control and may require multiple treatments. Weeds falling into this category include Alligatorweed, Virginia Buttonweed, dove weed and chamberbitter. Wood sorrel, wild onion, beggarweed are very difficult to control and may require manual removal.

Grassy weeds are traditionally more difficult to control. There are some specialized applications that we can use to treat for most grassy-type weeds. Your technician will advise you of possible treatments available, but spot treating grassy weeds is always an option.