This guide will show you the Best way to Get Rid of Weeds in your Yard. So, If you’re looking for some simple DIY steps to kill weeds and get your lawn looking great again – you’ve come to the right place.
In today’s post, we’ll share seven “Do-it-Yourself” steps to kill your weeds without killing your grass in the process!
If you’re like most of us, we love the look of a well-groomed lawn – and few things can damage that lush grass quicker than invasive weeds.
Weeds not only detract from the aesthetic appeal of your yard but also have a nasty habit of spreading very quickly and competing with your grass for the vital nutrients it needs.
Remember To Kill The “Weeds” – And Not The Grass!
The first and most crucial part of removing weeds in lawn areas is ensuring you know how to kill weeds and not grass.
Killing weeds Starts with being able to distinguish between weeds and grass. In some cases, this is quite simple – dandelions or clover look nothing like the blades of grass you’re trying to cultivate.
Be thorough, and inspect your lawn more carefully to identify patches of these “look-alike” weeds to select the “correct type” of weed killer.
Word of Weed-Killer Caution:
Certain Liquid “Broad-spectrum” herbicides, such as the brand – Roundup – will target Any plants they come in contact with, including grasses. These herbicides are typically used on sidewalks, gravel beds, or other areas where plants should not grow.
You’ll regret it almost instantly if you use a broad-spectrum chemical treatment on your grass. It happens so often – they print it on the front label – Weed & Grass Killer.
Always read the instructions and information for weed treatments, and you’ll be more likely to kill your weeds and not your grass.
How To Kill Weeds In Yard – In 7 Steps:
1) “Identify” The Type of Weed
The first step in getting rid of active weeds is to identify them. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can select the proper chemical treatment to apply to weeds and eliminate them.
2) Use “Safe” Chemical Herbicide (Weed Killer)
‘Weeds well established in your yard require more than just prevention; they must be targeted directly with chemical herbicides to be removed. Generally, the best Chemical Herbicides for killing weeds can be found in a Liquid solution with spray applicators (connected to a garden hose) or Granular types (used with fertilizer spreaders).
4) “Select” The Best Weed Treatment Plan
There are many chemical herbicides on the market. However, not all of them are designed or intended to produce the same result.
Determine how much of your yard needs to be treated (square footage) and purchase the weed killer that works best for that size of application.
5) “Apply” The Right Amount of Weed Killer
And, Decide How Broad You Need to Apply Weed Treatment?
For Small Areas:
Spray applications can quickly attack the weeds and remove them more efficiently, roots and all. Always read the full directions for any liquid spray application, and ensure the product is safe for grass before buying it.
For just a few weedy spots, use the Liquid Weed Killer with the spray bottle provided (if pre-mixed) or purchase a concentrated Liquid Weed Killer and use a garden sprayer. Just mix weed concentrate with water as described, and target the small weed-infested lawn areas. Save the mixture and re-apply to any weedy spots that reappear after two weeks.
For Large Areas:
For larger weed problems distributed throughout your entire lawn, you’ll likely want to apply a Granular Weed Killer across the entire yard. This will ensure you’re getting them all. Most weeds have a network of roots, and you want to kill the entire root system.
6) Use The “Right Type” of Applicator
Grass weeds can hide in the healthy grass in any place in your yard. For whole-yard applications, you can use a liquid concentrate with a hose attachment or granular treatment with a broadcast fertilizer spreader.
Either method will kill weeds in lawns. However, a granular treatment is usually more cost-effective for medium to large lawns. See each of the two recommended application methods below:
A) How to Use A “Drop Fertilizer Spreader”
B) How to Use A “Liquid Spray” Fertilizer Applicator
7) The Last Resort – Yank ‘Em Out
A final option, if you only have a few weeds in your lawn – is to pull them out by hand. This approach works well for weeds along a fence row or beside the foundation of your house but isn’t practical for anything more widespread. Just make sure you pull the entire weed – roots and all – or else the weed will grow right back.
Word to the Wise: Some “experts” claim Vinegar is a Natural Weed Killer – which is unfortunately not true. While vinegar may make weeds shrivel or stunt their growth, vinegar does not “kill” weeds at their roots.
But don’t just take our word for it – see the 7-day test below, which shows the effect of boiling water vs. vinegar to kill weeds.
How to “Prevent Weeds” in Your Yard
“Prevention” is a critical step in Weed Control. After all, If you can keep weeds from coming up in the first place, you save yourself the time, trouble, and money of getting rid of them later.
Some of the best preventative measures you can take are these lawn care techniques that you can quickly implement yourself.
But never forget – Weeds are most active in early spring and are in full-blown maturity by early summer. If you intend to get “out in front” of weed activity – start with your weed regiment Early!
1) Set Your lawnmower Height “Higher.”
One of the best things you can do to get rid of grass weeds is to set the deck on your lawnmower higher. Like the grass you want in your lawn, grassy weeds require the right conditions for their seeds to germinate and grow.
If your grass is growing high enough to keep weeds from getting sunlight, they’ll have a tough time surviving.
2) Use Proper Watering Techniques
Well-saturated – but infrequent watering will help your grass develop a healthier root system. These methods will, in turn, deprive competitive weeds of finding the environment they need to thrive.
3) Consider Annual or Semi-Annual “Lawn Aeration.”
Knowing How to Use a Lawn Aerator in early Spring will allow your grass to receive vital nutrients, water, and air to grow thicker.
This often-overlooked step is vital for a super healthy lawn – so if you don’t already have an aerator no problem, you can rent one of these tools by the hour – at your local home and garden.
4) Use the Seasonal Fertilization Program
Feeding your lawn at regular seasonal intervals throughout the year is a reliable approach to weed prevention. Using a granular spreader or hose applicator, applying – liquid fertilizer, and based on specific weed germination cycles, you can significantly promote the overall health of your grass and make it more difficult for weeds to gain a foothold.
Fertilizers can also serve a double purpose, as many products contain fertilizer and weed-killing herbicides that won’t harm grass. One of the best products we recommend for this purpose is Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action Weed Killer and Fertilizer.
However, the right product for you can depend on the season you’re applying it in and the kind of weed you’re targeting.
5) Use a Professional Lawn Treatment Company
We all know how long grass seed takes to grow fully, and keeping your lawn free of weeds requires regular maintenance, but the results are well worth it in the end.
As an option, and If you have limited time and the budget to do so – you may consider hiring a local lawn treatment company to set up quarterly service instead of doing it yourself.
Most Service companies offer free estimates, so you can easily compare their prices to the costs (and personal time) required to DIY.
Depending on your schedule, a Lawn service may be a good option for you as well.
Conclusion
Keeping your lawn free of weeds will certainly require regular maintenance on your part, but the results are well worth it in the end. And now that you know how to get rid of weeds in the yard, you can go eliminate the weeds already established and take steps to prevent them from coming back again in the future.
In most cases, the best way to get rid of weeds in yard areas is to use chemical or granular treatments specially formulated for grass lawns.
Remember the best way to keep weeds under control is by maintaining a lush, healthy grass lawn. If you take good care of your yard, you’ll rarely need to address the issue of “how to kill weeds in your lawn” again.
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