For every homeowner that takes great pride of his lawn, weed control is one of the most significant skills to master. Weeds as we all know, rob our plants of necessary nutrients from the soil. On top of that, they are also unsightly and consume space intended for our desired vegetation.
While it may seem easy to just grab some shears and cut away the pests, it is best for the yard owner to step back and identify first what weeds are being dealt with. Only then can he take the correct steps to prevent them from reproducing.
Here are some of the most common weeds to populate our yards and the proper ways to prevent them.
Lambsquarters
Any lawn owner has had his fair share of Lambsquarters in his lifetime. It is no wonder that the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) lists it as the most common among all weed.
If you’re growing vegetable and pulse crops, beans, or chickpeas, then expect to be greeted by this weed during your lawn activities. Their ability to suck moisture from soil makes them an immediate threat for your plants, so proceed to remove them upon sight!
You can safely remove the weed using a sharp hoe without any danger of spreading seeds. If the shoots are still young, they can also be tossed onto a fine salad.
Crabgrass
A gardener’s summer days won’t pass without greeting from this annual weed that spreads through seeds and can grow up to a foot in height. Not surprisingly, the crabgrass can thrive even without moisture, making them quite hardy weeds to get rid of.
The key to their reproduction is its seeds since they can maintain viability for three years when placed on soil. Because of this, the gardener must ensure control of this grass before it can spread them. While the grass is young, you can seize their growth through regular mowing, hoeing, or hand pulling.
Chickweed
The secret to the rampant reproduction of weeds in our gardens is their effortless seed propagation. The chickweed is a testament of such advantage – producing as much as 700 seeds which can take almost a decade to eradicate completely. Not to mention the short amount of time the weed needs to bloom upon germination.
Due to the chickweed’s heightened reproduction advantages, it is best to remove the plant upon sight to save your crops. Having only shallow roots, hand-pulling these plants are no sweat. However, you must ensure that no rootstocks are left behind during pulling since new plants can stem from even the smallest root pieces.
Creeping Charlie
Tucked away from sight in shady areas of your yard is the ground ivy, better known as the Creeping Charlie. Due to its obscure location when germinating, it has become one of the most invasive lawn weeds in the US.
When controlling this weed’s growth, keep in mind that it can spread through its seeds and stems. If it is hand-pulled without caution, it can leave behind pieces of root through which new plants can sprout from.
There are several ways to keep this weed at bay from causing more damage to your lawn. You can mow at regular intervals shaded areas. With careful hands, you can also remove them by pulling but make sure that its roots do not break during the procedure.