While the moisture we get during the winter is good for gardens and lawns here in California, it also helps germinate all those little seeds from last year’s weeds that are just waiting to jump back up again this Spring. If you love your lawn, but aren’t so thrilled with the weeds, here’s what you can do now to get one step ahead of them.
Creating a barrier that prevents weeds from germinating is a good first step. If you have an area that is often weed-infested each year, using pre-emergent herbicide is an effective tool for weed management. Properly timed application can save countless hours of maintenance and helps prevent weeds, clover, and dandelions from sprouting and taking over your lawn. The best time to use these is somewhere in February, before we head into consistent warm weather, and right about when weeds might start thinking about breaking new ground. These products can be found at your local home gardening center. Ask about which ones are good for your area, and be sure to follow the directions as they can damage the lawn if overused.
Another powerful weed control weapon is actually something you already have – your lawn. When it’s healthy, that is. A healthy lawn is lush, full, strong, and can actually smother out weeds on its own. To get started on a healthy lawn, let’s talk about cutting grass. Unless you have a putting green in your back yard, don’t cut grass to extremely short lengths. Giving your lawn a buzz cut puts a lot of stress on the grass and prohibits deep root growth, weakening your grass. Weak grass roots aren’t able to force weed roots out, which means improved conditions for weed growth. Tall, healthy grass also serves to overshadow weeds, blocking sunlight and nutrients that would allow those seeds to grow.
Best height for mowing your lawn is at around 3 to 4 inches tall. Adjust the height on your mower blades so that you’re only cutting off about 1/3 of the grass blade at once. If weeds seem like they are getting the upper hand over your grass, let that grass grow an extra week or two to let the roots strengthen, then cut it back to just 3 or 4 inches. One of the best habits to break is mowing your yard by schedule, instead of when it really needs it. For example, instead of mowing your lawn every Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., base your mowing frequency on grass height to keep it happier and healthier.
Like death and taxes, a few weeds will always sneak through your defenses and pop up somewhere. For small patches of weeds, your best bet is to handle them the old-fashioned way by pulling or digging them up by the roots.
And if you really lose control and are tired of fighting those weeds, maybe it’s time to take a look at synthetic grass solutions. Today’s products aren’t the obvious-looking astroturf ones you remember as a kid. We’ve got some great, and very natural-looking, artificial grass solutions, so if you’d like to learn more, check out these articles on our blog or give us a call.