What to do About Weeds

Wednesday October 14, 2020 comments Tags: Lakeland commercial lawn care, Custom commercial landscape design lakeland

What Can I do about Weeds?

Better to be preventative and reactive to weeds if you can be, but weeds are one of the harder things to control about your lawn because their seeds spread so easily. The most ideal situation for these seeds to take root and germinate is if your grass isn’t very dense and thick, if it has patches where the weeds can grow then they will thrive in these areas. Weeds soak up a lot of ground water and nutrients from the soil, which makes them highly destructive to your lawn if allowed to grow unchecked, as your grass and plants will suffer with prolonged exposure to these insatiable weeds. Of course we highly suggest deploying preventative measures and routine maintenance to keep weeds from coming back. If your weed problem is too big a job for your Sunday afternoon, then we recommend you contact a professional Lakeland lawn care professional for treatment specific to your lawn care needs. 

Common Lawn Weeds

Proper identification and knowledge of how and why weeds are present in your lawn is the first step to planning a weed control strategy. Here are some common lawn weeds that you may find in your lawn.

Dollarweed

A broadleaf weed that appears in wet areas in landscapes. This weed is low to the ground with one leaf per stalk. Sometimes the leaves can grow up to the size of a silver dollar. Dollarweed typically grows in areas that are over-watered or naturally wet.

Crabgrass

Crabgrass has thick blades that can be 1-2 inches long and their seed heads can have two-to-six “finger-like” spiked branches. This weed grows in areas of the turf that are weak. This is a warm-season weed that is dormant in the winter but will likely return as warm weather returns. Once you have crabgrass, it’s difficult to eliminate it.

Chickweed

This particular lawn weed is active in the winter throughout Florida. It’s actually one of the most widespread types of weeds in the world and is commonly found in Europe, North America and Asia, according to the University of Florida.

Chickweed can be recognized by its smooth leaves and star-shaped flowers. It thrives in cool, moist and shaded areas such as gardens, shady lawns and under trees and shrubs.

Should I get a Pre-Emergent Treatment

Yes! Pre-emergent treatments by Lakeland lawn maintenance experts can actually help prevent weeds before their seeds take root. It’s a great preventative tool to keep weeds from over taking your lawn. A pre-emergent treatment works by stopping the growth of weed seeds and keeping them from sprouting. But the key to this working is to do it BEFORE seeds begin to sprout. 

Watering is critical after for the first two days after pre-emergent application. Contact us to have the professional treat your lawn.  

If you typically have weeds in the winter, then you should consider having pre-emergent treatments in the fall. If you have weeds in the summer, then you should consider treatment in the spring.

Preventing and controlling weeds can be difficult, but doable with the help of Lakeland lawn care professional, Pyles! As we mentioned before, there are several small things you can do to avoid weeds from taking over your lawn. The best thing you can do is ensure your lawn is dense and healthy.