Controlling weeds in a garden can take up too much of your time when you're in your garden. We don't think that's a controversial opinion - we see gardening as a joyous creative process, bringing life and harnessing your own private vibrant ecosystem.
The unfortunate truth, however, is that in order to get to that stage where you look out at a beautifully manicured lawn, you need to control weeds. You need to kill unwanted plants, and get rid of weed seeds, in order to create the space for your beautiful grass to grow.
We're committed to your gardening success, so we have created this blog to help you know how to get rid of weeds in grass. We'll look at different solutions to different problems, including weed killer for lawns, so you will have everything you need to know in one handy place.
What weeds are a problem for a lawn?
Before we start telling you the different ways in which you can kill weeds in your lawn, we mean by weeds. The short answer is this - it's any plant that you don't want there! You may want to remove anything that isn't grass, or you may be quite happy with the odd buttercup popping out. Some will regrow, even if you mow frequently, but they can add a bit of colour, and can attract bees and butterflies to your garden.
There are some invasive weeds that need to be curtailed, though, otherwise you risk having your lawn taken over. All it takes is one child to find some dandelions and you may have weed seeds widely scattered all over your garden! So it's a good idea to get rid of new weeds before they have a chance to grow.
Sometimes doing nothing is better than taking action. The best way to prevent weed seed germination is to leave the soil alone, as they will lay dormant below the soil surface, but hidden weed seeds may germinate if the soil is agitated around them.
Preventing weeds from growing
The best form of weed control is prevention. And the best way to prevent weed growth is to have a healthy lawn.
Okay, we get that this may be a 'chicken and the egg' scenario, but what we mean by this is that by having a full, healthy lawn, there simply won't be room for any weeds to grow, so your lawn should prevent weeds almost without worrying about it.
While that is only really possible for new lawns, it does reaffirm that taking care of our lawn can help us prevent weed growth. Mow frequently, once a week when it is growing quickly in the spring and summer. When you mow, make sure you only remove about 1/3 of the length, so that the grass you leave is strong, and you don't risk creating bare patches. Sow grass seedif you see you have a patch, to stop a weed growing in the gap. And feed your lawn at least once a year, using a slow-release feed. This will make the grass stronger, able to fight off weeds trying to encroach on its patch.
These can all help you create a natural barrier to protect your lawn from weeds.
Removing lawn weeds without chemicals
Non-chemical weed control is perfect if you just have a few weeds that you want to keep on top of. It requires more effort on your part, but there are fewer risks to other parts of your garden, and if there are only a few, it shouldn't take you very long.
The best way to do this is to physically remove weeds like plantains and daisies by hand weeding. Or rather, by using a quality weeding tool. All you need to do is cut the weed out, taking with it the root system especially if they are perennial weeds), and without disturbing any of the weed seeds as you do it. If it's a decent sized weed, and therefore left a patch in your lawn, add some lawn seed or turf to cover it up.
This is the best way to get rid of weeds by hand, but there are a few other things you can do, such as:
- Rake the lawn before you mow it - this can help to prevent creeping weeds from growing
- Remove seedheads - if you are happy with a few 'weeds' adding colour, that's great. But it's a good idea to take off any seedheads to prevent them from spreading. This is certainly a good idea with annual weeds - the problem will go away with minimal effort.
- Mulching - mulching with organic matter is a good idea whether you are looking to control lawn weeds or now, there are numerous other benefits. As well as feeding the lawn, deterring pests and helping with moisture retention, it will also reduce weed growth by depriving weeds by smothering
Quick tip - when you remove perennial weeds, don't put them on your compost heap. While composting weeds is generally a good idea, you could risk them infiltrating the compost, which will create more problems when you come to use it.
Removing lawn weeds with weed killer
Using a weedkiller for lawns is another great way to control weeds, but it takes a bit more planning and care. You'll want to make sure you are using a product that won't harm the grass, and any closely spaced plants in your garden, and that you have all the right safety equipment where appropriate.
Chemical controls are ideal when you have a major problem with weeds, and there are a couple of different ways to go. Our favourite method is by using an all in 1 like the ICL Landscaper Pro Triple Action. This is a lawn weedkiller, a lawn feed and moss control all in one. It contains a selective herbicide, which will target just the weeds, while at the same time improving the overall health of your lawn. Which, as we've seen, will help to prevent weeds.
A selective weedkiller works like this - it stimulates growth in the weeds to the point that it cannot be sustained. It grows quickly until it can't grow any more and it dies. They tend to take a bit longer than non selective weed killers, but are safer to use on lawns.
Or, if the problem is really bad, you could go for a strong, industrial weed killer like this Amenity Lawn Weed Killer - this is like a giant reset button, and will take out not just the weeds, but all the grass as well. It will remain in the soil for around two weeks, killing everything, after which you will have weed free, fertile soil to resow grass seed or relay turf to grow a brand new lawn.
Weed control conclusion
Controlling weeds on your lawn isn't difficult, but it does take a bit of planning and care. Whether you use a non-chemical or chemical weed control, make sure you are careful and take all necessary precautions. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask our team of experts.
We stock a wide selection of weed killers and lawn care products - find the perfect solution to your weed problems with us.
