Summer Weed Control: How to Identify and Kill Common Lawn Weeds
Hello, again!
There are a few things to consider when controlling weeds during the summer months. First, can you identify the weed? What is its life cycle? Is it an annual or perennial? Are the leaves broadleaf or grassy? All these considerations are important to find the right tool for the job.
It's important to identify the weed you want to control and then read, understand, and follow the label directions on any herbicide you choose. Herbicides are either 'selective' in their control and will only be effective on a particular plant type or 'non-selective' and will affect all plant types.
Let's look at fall-germinating weeds. I refer to them as the big 3: dandelion, chickweed, and henbit. They are most noticeable in spring while blooming, but they are easiest to control in the fall while small and actively growing. Dandelion, being a perennial, can be controlled at any time, while chickweed and henbit, being annuals, are finishing their life cycle now. They die out when our summer heat arrives, so now isn't the right time to apply controls for them.
ferti•lome Weed Free Zone is our favorite broadleaf herbicide for turf areas, and we use it to control dandelions this time of year. Weed Free Zone also does a great job of controlling all summer broadleaf weeds such as clover, spurge, black medic, and others creeping into yards now.
Grassy-type weeds are typically annual plants, with only 1 growing cycle season. Crabgrass is a great example of such. It germinates in the spring, so a barrier applied before the seeds germinate is the most effective control. Control lasts most of the summer, depending on the product used and the rate at which it is applied, but it's not uncommon to see a few crabgrass plants in late summer. If the preventer was not applied earlier this spring, you'll be seeing the tiny mouse-ear-shaped leaves now. Control is easy while the plants are small with ferti•lome Weed-Out with Crabgrass Control. This treatment contains a combination of broadleaf and grassy herbicides, making it the best of both worlds!
Bermuda grass is a good heat-tolerant, drought-resistant perennial turf, but because it has a spreading habit, it can often make its way into landscape and flower areas. Those wanting to control Bermuda grass in flower beds can use Hi-Yield Super KillzAll. However, it is non-selective, so be sure to keep the spray off of desirable plants! Hi-Yield Triclopyr Ester is a unique herbicide in that it kills many broadleaf weeds and suppresses Bermudagrass in cool-season lawns such as fescue. This is a great tool to stay ahead of Bermuda as it creeps into your fescue.
One of my favorite tools for controlling grassy weeds in not only landscape areas, but vegetable gardens as well, is Over-The-Top Grass Killer. Over-The-Top kills most annual and hard-to-kill perennial grasses up to 1 foot high, in one or two applications. Younger, actively growing seedling weeds are more easily killed than older, mature, well-established grassy weeds, which may require a repeat application for control.
Another weed we see in spring that doesn't fall into either broadleaf or grassy categories is Nutsedge or Nutgrass. Nutsedge looks like grass with its very vertical, narrow, triangular leaves. It has an underground system of 'nutlets' which makes it difficult to control by pulling. Ferti-Lome Weed-Out with Nutsedge Control kills both yellow and purple nutsedge, and over 50 other broadleaf weeds in warm- and cool-season lawns.
Sedgehammer Plus is another water-soluble granule herbicide that helps manage tough weeds like purple nutsedge and yellow nutsedge. It is suitable for use in turfgrass, landscaped areas, and other non-crop areas. Once absorbed, the active ingredient moves through the plant's vascular system to halt growth at the roots and shoots. Simply mix it with water and apply with a sprayer for easy, effective control. I'll always use Spreader Sticker to make sure the control 'sticks' to the leaves. It's especially useful on Nutsedge because of its vertical growth habit.
If you have a question about what weed or pest is in your lawn, bring in a bagged sample of what's 'buggin' you, and we'll find you a solution!
Also, don't forget, our Summer Mania Days event is happening Now - July 3rd. Dig your Mania Money out of your drawer and turn it into something else green. 1 Mania Money = $1 and can be used for up to 50% of your checkout total (excludes sale items).
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
