When it comes to having the best lawn on the block, weeds are a thorn in your side. No matter what you do, they seem as though they just keep coming back. Many weeds in Northern Texas are unrelenting and can cause quite a bit of frustration. After all, you deserve to have an effective solution.
In previous articles, we’ve talked about how proper weed identification is the first step to killing weeds in the grass. You must know what you’re dealing with before you can attack the problem. Although many homes in Northern Texas share common weed concerns, exactly which weeds you’re dealing with could differ from your neighbor.
But let’s assume you’ve already identified the weeds on your property. You might be wondering what’s next? How do you go about killing weeds in grass—and what important considerations do you need to keep in mind. We’re answering those very questions here.
Put simply, the very best weed control program is one that incorporates pre-emergent, post-emergent, and specialty controls with a full-service lawn care program. But let’s dig into why this matters.
Pre-emergent controls are those that prevent weeds from growing in the first place. These products work by creating a barrier that inhibits weeds from germinating. At Grassperson, we strongly believe in pre-emergent controls—because like anything in life, preventing a problem from happening rather than dealing with it after the fact is always easier and more effective.
However, pre-emergents do not prevent everything. Breaks in the barrier such as those caused by mowing and trimming or excessive rainfall can lead to breakthrough. Plus, there are certain weeds on which pre-emergents aren’t going to work.
That’s why post-emergent applications are also important. Post-emergent products address weed breakthrough.
The materials we use are also called “selective” meaning they will not harm the grass, only the species of weeds they are labeled to control.
You’ll also want to utilize a program that incorporates specialty controls for hard-to-control weeds. In North Texas, Dallisgrass, Crabgrass, and Nutsedge require specialty controls that specifically target them.
While those are the 3 weed control components of a lawn care program, additional services like lawn fertilization and pest and disease control are also important. That’s because the best defense against weeds is thick and healthy grass that chokes out weed growth. As you work toward having a carpet-like lawn, you’ll want to make sure it’s getting everything that it needs to thrive.
That also means certain cultural practices like mowing, watering, and trimming need to be performed properly, too. When lawns are mowed too short or aren’t properly watered, the lawn can begin to thin, which makes weed invasion more likely. You end up getting caught in a vicious cycle if all facets of a lawn care program are not working in harmony.
In addition to what products are incorporated into the program, the timing also matters. As we mentioned, we put a lot of emphasis on pre-emergent controls, investing in them perhaps more than a lot of other companies. Of our 7-application program, 4 include pre-emergents, which shows just how important we know they are.
Here’s a breakdown of what that means.
During our 2 applications between September 1st and December 31st, we are putting down fall pre-emergent products that help us to “get ahead” of early spring weeds. Then, between January 1st through the end of March, we are putting down different pre-emergent products (2 more applications) which work to control late spring and summer weeds.
At the time of those pre-emergent applications, we might also be treating with additional post-emergent products for weeds that have already broken through. We might also incorporate specialty controls at different times of the year for any hard-to-control weed types we see.
Since different weeds are appearing at different times of the year, it’s really important that the approach is varied. That means we might be treating with several different controls during a single visit, and we’re often treating weeds during all 7 visits. Even during our fertilization applications, we might be spot-treating weeds we see.
When it comes to killing weeds in grass, it can be a time-consuming process, particularly if you have a lawn that is completely overrun with weeds. Perhaps you just bought a house and you’ve acquired a really bad lawn. Or, maybe, you have been tackling DIY weed control but every year the weeds make more ground and your lawn is in pretty rough shape.
When a lawn has more weeds than it does grass, there are a few important considerations.
First, if we start our program and begin killing weeds in your grass, and your lawn is mostly weeds, it’s going to have a lot of bare spots. Suddenly, your lawn might look more like dirt—and that can be really discouraging to a lot of people. Particularly, when we tell them it could take 2 (or more) years to really turn a “bad shape lawn” around to the best on the block.
In these cases, some homeowners decide just to re-sod. This is basically an “instant lawn.” You can go from having one of the worst lawns on the block to the best, overnight. As a company that also offers full-service landscaping, we’re able to perform this task. It’s more expensive, but it also takes away years of headaches and hassles and gives you instantaneous peace of mind—something that a lot of homeowners would say is worth the investment.
In the end, it all comes down to winning the battle against weeds. When it comes to the winning approach, we believe “the best offense is a good defense,” which is why we put so much emphasis on preventing weeds while also promoting thick and healthy turf that chokes out unwanted growth.
But if a lawn is in bad shape, our re-sodding options can speed up the process.
Either way, you win—and the weeds lose. That’s the goal and we can help you to achieve it.
Ready to get rid of weeds at your Flower Mound, Highland Village, or Lewisville, TX home? Get a free quote and get ready to enjoy the best lawn on the block!
