Even if you groom your lawn religiously, weeds can still creep into your manicured landscape. Their seeds can be whisked away by wind or birds and be dispersed across your grass. You may also carry them on the soles of your shoes.
To control these competitive plants, apply pre- and post-emergent herbicides periodically. But, learn which kinds of weeds typically sprout during a particular season first. Here are the common ones for spring:
Crabgrass
This weed that looks like its namesake crustacean sprouts during late spring. It grows and survives in bare or unhealthy areas, whether they're over- or under-watered. Mowing the yard too short also allows this plant to thrive.
Crabgrass is best removed by manual uprooting. Once you've done this, fertilize your grass, so it grows thick and lush, leaving little room for the weed to sprout.
Dandelion
Thriving in various terrains, be they fertile gardens or rocky hillsides, this bright yellow flower has a recognizable puffy, white seed head that children often blow on for wishes. Sadly, it's also one of the more common broadleaf weeds.
Before it matures, dig out the plant up to its root. This can be brittle and extend up to 2 feet, so make sure it's carefully removed. Apply a post-emergent herbicide afterward to prevent reoccurrence. If you prefer not to use chemicals, you can harvest and add the leaves or flowers to your meals; they're highly nutritious.
White Clover
This three-leaf plant finds its way into areas with poor, nitrogen-deficient soil, so keep your lawn healthy to control growth. But, be careful with its creeping, horizontal stems as they're difficult to manage. After eradicating patches of this weed, add herbicide and fertilizer to these spots. Do this several times during the season as white clovers quickly sprout and spread.
Bindweed
A vine with arrowhead-shaped leaves, bindweed crawls into sunny turf spots with unhealthy soil and clumps together in groups. To remove it, use a pitchfork to reach its roots, and then pull the entire patch. Don't forget to apply herbicide afterward.
Regularly mulch the ground to nourish it and prevent the weeds' reappearance. To further control the spread of these plants, grow bamboo or mount sticks where they can climb over. Once they do, you can easily uproot them again.
Trimming, fertilizing, and treating your turf should keep weed numbers down. If they still trouble you, call for a lawn service in Atlanta. An expert can effectively revive your yard's lush greenery.