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What Lawn Weeds are Doing to Your Grass

Lawn weeds create problems of all sorts for American homeowners. There are thousands of varieties of these pesky intruders that could pop up in your yard, and if that happens the weeds won’t be doing your grass any favors. Lawn weeds compete for space and nutrients in your yard, and it doesn’t take them long to start to take over. Read on to learn more about the damage that weeds create for a lawn, and the best ways that you can fight them.

Lawn weeds compete for space

The grass found in your lawn doesn’t just fill space above ground, the roots of your lawn take up more space underground than you would imagine. When weeds find their way in, they start fighting your grass for space both above ground and in the root zone. Oftentimes the roots of weeds are more aggressive and have no problem in the fight against your grass. This is especially true in lawns where proper maintenance has not been performed. Dry soil or famished grass is much more susceptible to lawn weeds than a yard that has been well taken care of.

To ensure that lawn weeds don’t start fighting for the space that’s meant for your grass make sure the following steps are being taken regularly:

Irrigation – A lack of proper irrigation leads to a dry yard, which are easily attacked by weeds. Make sure you’re watering your lawn to the proper level, especially if you live in an area that experiences long periods of drought.
Mowing – Mowing your lawn often and using the proper techniques fights all sort of common problems, including the present of weeds.
Soil care – Practices like fertilization and pH balancing help keep your soil in its ideal condition, and healthy soil has a better shot at fighting off weeds that may try and plant roots in your yard.

Lawn weeds are fighting for nutrients, too

Space isn’t the only factor at risk if weeds find their way into your lawn. Weeds seek the same nutrients that grass does, but since your lawn is making use of all of the nutrients that are provided to it there is not enough room for both grass and weeds. Sunlight, water, nitrogen and other nutrients in soil that are essential for your lawn’s growth are all at risk of being stolen by weeds. This nutrient theft gives homeowners even more of a reason to want to eliminate lawn weeds immediately.

Efficient weed removal

Lawn weeds are a stubborn beast. If they find their way into your lawn it is important that you remove them quickly and completely. There are a few methods for lawn weed removal:

Pre-emergent treatments are the most effective solution but only if applied correctly. These chemical treatments are applied before weeds have a chance to grow roots in your soil. The timing of these treatments can be very tricky, and it is important that you are aware of the seasonal conditions and common weeds in your area before determining the correct time to apply them. If applied incorrectly you will most likely see no results from pre-emergent treatments.
Post-emergent treatments are recommended if you miss your window of opportunity with pre-emergent varieties. These types of chemicals can sometimes harm your grass, so make sure to follow the directions very carefully, and ensure that you have selected the right formula before applying.
Manual weed removal is recommended for homeowners who do not wish to use any sort of chemical products in your lawn. Removing weeds by hand is both time consuming and labor intensive, but if you’re avoiding herbicides your options are unfortunately limited.

TruGreen will gladly visit your property as often as needed between scheduled visits to make any necessary adjustments and to ensure your satisfaction.

Getting Started with TruGreen

Call or fill out the form above to reach a lawn care specialist.
Know the square footage of your yard, as well as any specific areas of concern.
With the help of your specialist, create a customized lawn care plan that meets your lawn’s needs.
Schedule your Healthy Lawn Analysis² to start your service.