Your lawn is one of the first things people see when they come up to your home. Having a lawn that’s healthy, green, and inviting is important to the curb appeal of the home. Having a great mowing and watering routine is a good place to start, but that won’t have an effect on weeds growing in the grass. There are different types of weeds that commonly intrude grassy lawns, so let’s take a closer look at each one individually!
Dandelions
Dandelions are the bright yellow weed that just never seem to die. Even if you try to pull them by hand, they usually find a way to come back. That’s because they have long root systems that are extremely brittle. Even if you think you’ve removed the weed, there’s a high probability that part of the roots still remains. Even the smallest piece of dandelion root will result in full-grown dandelions in no time! Spraying your lawn with a broadleaf herbicide during the fall will limit the number of dandelions that sprout the next year. You can also regularly put grass seed in your lawn to fill in any gaps. If all the gaps are full of grass, the dandelions won’t have anywhere to grow!
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is an extremely hearty weed that thrives under warm conditions on a sparse lawn. Applying grass seed as discussed above will lower the risk of crabgrass since it’s rarely found in a lush, healthy lawn. The crabgrass that’s already rooted is tricky to remove. You can try raking it out by hand or contact a local landscaping company to discuss pesticide options.
Moss
Moss grows in areas of the lawn that have plenty of shade and excess moisture. Moss can be removed by hand using a shovel and rake. The root systems aren’t complex, so they shouldn’t grow back once it’s been removed. You can also kill the moss by spraying a solution of 1 gallon of water with 4 ounces of dish soap over the affected area. It won’t kill the grass, only the moss. Preventing moss in the future relies on improving the drainage system around your yard so water won’t sit in one area.
Clover
Clover is the white flowery weed that grows just about anywhere. Clover is annoying, but it’s easier to remove than the other weeds on our list. You can pull clover by hand or treat your lawn with a pesticide. Either option should effectively remove the clover. Regularly laying grass seed will help prevent the future growth of clover.
If you don’t have the time to spend ridding your lawn of weeds but still want it to look great, don’t worry! Contact GCS Outdoors today to schedule an appointment with a lawn care expert in your area. Fwrom applying pesticide to mowing the grass and even adding grass seed, we’ve got you covered all year long.