Lawn and Garden
Summer Weed Control
Summer is the season when landscapes become overwhelmed with weeds. There are different forms of weed control that can be employed. Which form you choose depends on the time and money you have available to dedicate to weed control as well as where the weeds occur.
Hand pulling weeds is a common control option. Plan hand weeding to occur after a rainstorm or timed irrigation. Weeds are easier to dislodge when the soil is moist. Maintain a proper mulch layer of three inches to suppress weed growth. Weeds are also easier to remove when they are rooted into the mulch layer as opposed to being rooted into the soil.
Chemical control is another control option. There are herbicides that are non-selective and they will kill any green plant they contact. Other herbicides are selective. Some kill only broad leaf weeds in lawns; some kill only grasses; others can be applied to landscape plants and they kill the weeds around those plants. Check with your garden center to see what herbicides they carry that fall into the selective herbicide categories.
You should be aware of some general characteristics about selective herbicides: they can only be applied within a certain range of temperatures. If applied when it is too hot they may negatively impact desired plants and if applied when it is too cold they may be ineffective. Do not apply an herbicide to drought stricken weeds. Water first and once the plant foliage is dry, apply the herbicide spray. Herbicides applied as a spray usually perform best if they can remain on the target plant for several days before rain or irrigation washes them off. A granular herbicide usually has to be watered in to become activated.
Herbicides generally work slower on weeds in the shade than those in the sun. Some herbicides take up to two weeks before treated weeds start to yellow. Herbicides that kill within 24 hours generally do not kill the root of the weed. Slow acting herbicides usually do kill the root of a weed as well.
As you can see there is a lot to know about herbicides. Next time you are at the garden center ask one of their employees about the range of herbicides they carry and whether they have selective and non-selective formulations.
