Weed control is one of the major reasons property owners choose to use a lawn care service. At Moore Green, we take this very seriously and choose to use some of the best products available. It can be mind boggling why some lawns continue to have weeds while others treated on the same day with the same material are completely weed free.
We’ve discovered some interesting similarities in those lawns that always have weeds, regardless of the quality of the products used or number of treatments. Here are four of the most common habits lawn care customers do that lower the effectiveness of a weed control program:
- Mow or hand-pull weeds before a treatment. Weed products work by entering the leaves. When the lawn is mowed, there are fewer, if any, weed leaves to capture the product.
- Watering too soon after an application. Allowing the weed-control product to stay on the plants for 12 to 24 hours gives the product sufficient time to get into the weed. Early irrigation can wash the product off before being absorbed.
- Mowing too soon after a treatment. Getting the product absorbed into the leaf is the first step. The second step is allowing time to travel to the roots. Mowing too soon can prevent the product from completely killing the weed. The weed responds by sending up more leaves! Waiting two days is preferred.
- Obliterating the edges of the lawn with a string trimmer. A beveled edge allows the summer weeds to grow by destroying the preemergent layer and offering no competition from the lawn. Use a straight blade edger instead.
Weed control products are some of the most expensive materials used in lawn care treatments. By using the proper maintenance techniques herbicide use could be reduced, resulting in lower costs. A thick, healthy lawn can be the best tool in the fight against weeds.