You may be asking yourself “why do I have so many weeds?” Well, there’s a lot that goes into the “why” part of that question. Therefore, it’s best to figure out the cause of your weeds before you can find the solution. Let’s go through some of the reasons why your yard is overrun with weeds and then we will go over your options for a tailor-made solution for your unique weed problem.
What Kind of Weeds Do I Have?
To figure out why you have so many weeds, a good first step is to determine whether you have annual, perennial, or biennial weed growth (or perhaps all three).
Annual Weeds
These types of weeds grow, produce seeds, and then die, all within one season. They will generally return the next year around the same time.
The most common and notorious annual weeds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are:
- Crabgrass
- Poa annua (Bluegrass)
- Bittercress
Perennial Weeds
Perennial weeds do not die at the end of the season like annual weeds do, but they may become dormant in winter months. Oftentimes, perennial weeds can be caused by lawns that are mowed too short, overwatered, or have compacted soil.
The most common and notorious perennial weeds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are:
- Nutsedge
- Dandelion
Biennial Weeds
These weeds have a 2-year life cycle. In year one, they germinate and a leafy plant grows. The next year, the leafy plant flowers and produce the seeds that restart the next life cycle.
Why Do I Have So Many Weeds?
Now that you have determined what types of weeds you have you can learn was causes them. Weeds are very opportunistic and if the conditions are right, they are going to grow. Certain weeds like specific temperature ranges, moisture levels, a certain amount of denseness of grass, etc. Some of these things can be managed by proper yard maintenance, but most of them are due to your environment and out of your control.
How to Get Rid of Weeds
There are several ways to get rid of weeds and all of them are an important part of the journey to a weed-free yard. You must first take a preventative approach, and then physically control them with removal, and only then are chemicals involved.
Prevent Weeds
Fertilize your yard, mulch, reduce soil disturbances, and let your grass grow between mowing sessions (and don’t mow too close). There are just a few ways you can prevent future weeds from popping up in your yard.
Weed Removal
This step can be pretty simple. Pull out the weeds by hand. It’s important to not overdo it if you have tons of weeds. Commit a little bit of time every day to go outside and pull the weeds from the roots up until all of your weeds are gone. Then, before each mow, spend a bit of time pulling up any new weeds that pop up, that way you stay on top of them. Make sure you dispose of the weeds and do not just leave them in your yard or the seeds may spread.
Chemicals
Usually, a herbicide should be a last resort. But if you have tried everything above and your yard is still overrun with weeds, it’s time to let the chemicals go to work. Select an herbicide based on the type of weeds you have.
Roundup Weed and Grass Killer Concentrate Plus is a popular non-selective contact and systemic weed killer. You use it on post-emergent weeds.
Natural Remedies
If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals on your yard, there are some natural remedies that kill weeds, like vinegar, baking soda, hot water.
- Vinegar is a cheap and effective option that controls weeds. Put it in a spray bottle and it will kill weeds naturally.
- Baking Soda is best used on weeds that grow in the cracks of your sidewalk or driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on your trouble spots and watch weeds wither away.
- Hot water is known to kills weeds as well. Use caution when carrying hot water outside so you do not burn yourself.
Hire a Professional Lawn Maintenance Company
Weed removal seems like an easy task at first but when you really get down to it, sometimes homeowners realize that they are better off hiring a professional. If you have found yourself with a weed problem that you can’t control, contact Executive Lawn Care. We specialize in residential lawn care, lawn mowing, flower bed and bush maintenance, and more.
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