Weed Control in My Yard
After years of finding the perfect home, you just want...
Posted on November 22, 2024 by Lawn Doctor
Maintaining a lush lawn isn’t always straightforward, and even the best green thumbs make errors in lawn care practices. Here you’ll learn about common lawn care mistakes and how small changes can improve your lawn’s health.
Water provides the necessary hydration for grass to thrive, influencing nutrient uptake, root development and overall resilience against environmental stressors.
Homeowners often underestimate the amount of water their lawns need. Insufficient watering causes grass to develop shallow roots, limiting moisture and nutrient absorption. Underwatering and shallow root systems leave your grass vulnerable, and hot and dry periods can quickly result in drought stress. As these issues compound, your grass is more likely to brown, thin or be overrun with weeds.
Signs of underwatering include:
Proper watering doesn’t necessarily mean watering more frequently — it’s more important that water deeply penetrates underground and into the roots. The exact water frequency and volume depends on your local climate, grass species, season and other factors, but most lawns need 1-1.5 inches of water per week.
Avoid watering from late morning to early evening — direct sun exposure and hot temperatures accelerate evaporation. Instead, optimize your lawn’s hydration by watering early in the morning. Consider an irrigation system that offers even coverage tailored to your property’s needs.
On the other hand, overwatering is a common error that can have serious detriments for your lawn’s health. Many homeowners mistakenly believe more water equates to healthier grass, but too much of a good thing poses several potential problems.
Watering too much oversaturates your yard, especially when it lacks drainage, blocking oxygen from circulating to your grass roots and suffocating them. The grass roots consequently decay — a condition known as root rot — causing the grass to weaken and eventually die off. Overly wet conditions also create ideal environments for fungal diseases, such as take-all root rot and pythium blight, which similarly kill off root systems and can spread quickly throughout your lawn.
Overwatering can also harm the general soil conditions. Saturated soil is easily compacted, hindering root development and access to nutrients, water and oxygen. Excess water can also wash away important nutrients and lead to deficiencies. Weeds are tougher than grass and can thrive and overgrow in these conditions, and wet environments are more likely to attract infesting insects and wildlife. In severe overwatering cases, soil may gradually erode and damage the lawn and drainage.
Watering infrequently but deeply generally gives roots the opportunity to dry out and access oxygen. The actual frequency and volume depend on soil conditions — clay and other heavier soils require more water volume to achieve the same result as sandy soils, which absorb and drain moisture quickly. Test your soil as you water — after about 30 minutes of irrigation, dig a small section of your lawn and look for about 3 or 4 inches of water penetration. Continue this process until your water reaches adequate depth.
Mowing is a routine and seemingly simple task, but certain errors may cause problems for your lawn.
Cutting grass too short, often in an attempt to mow less frequently, is a common homeowner mistake. Known colloquially as “golf course syndrome,” some homeowners cut their grasses below 2.5 inches to mimic manicured professional turf settings. While sometimes preventing more frequent mowing, these practices place unnecessary stress on your lawn and may result in other high maintenance needs for weakened lawns.
Although Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season grasses tolerate about 3 inches of consistent height, taller grasses have adapted to warm climates to provide shade to the soil, helping to retain moisture and hinder weed growth in the ecosystem. Grass length also has a direct positive correlation with root depth, so leaving grass at its preferred length allows for ideal nutrient and moisture uptake.
For optimal mowing, research your grass type’s preferred height and aim to maintain that. Avoid letting it overgrow to the point where you have to cut more than one-third of its leaf blade — removing too much shocks and weakens the grass. Seasonal changes and other factors affect grass growth rates, too. Instead of sticking to a rigid mowing schedule, monitor your lawn growth and cut as needed.
Dull mower blades can tear grass instead of cutting it, leading to ragged edges with increased susceptibility to disease and pests. In contrast, sharp mower blades allow for clean cuts that promote faster healing and regrowth. Some mowers also have mulching features, and keeping equipment in good shape allows for effective mulching that adds organic matter and nutrients to your lawn.
Mowers also require periodic cleaning to prevent overheating and mechanical issues that limit cutting power. Cleaning the mower undercarriage also prevents the buildup and consequential spreading of old debris throughout your lawn, potentially spreading pests and pathogens.
Follow these practices for proper maintenance:
While spreading grass seeds doesn’t automatically translate to an abundance of new growth, strategic choices can boost your lawn’s seeding success.
Certain grasses are native to their areas because they’ve adapted to thrive in that climate and ecosystem. Selecting a grass species that’s incompatible with your climate or soil type can lead to poor growth and maintenance challenges. Grass that isn’t native or adapted to your region may require excessive care and resources to survive. Sparse growth doesn’t just look visually unappealing — it also gives weeds and certain insects opportunities to infiltrate your yard.
In contrast, invasive grasses can grow aggressively in your yard. These may seem like an easy choice for low maintenance, but invasive species can have significant ecological impacts. They may outcompete native plants and alter soil chemistry, disrupting the ecosystem’s health, reducing biodiversity, causing soil erosion and increasing long-term maintenance.
Speak to lawn care experts and garden centers who understand your local environment. These professionals can recommend the ideal grass type that balances visual appeal, lawn health and maintenance.
Failing to aerate your lawn soil ahead of seeding has several negative impacts on your lawn’s success. Aerating soil, which involves perforating small sections of soil to allow for enhanced penetration of oxygen, water and nutrients, helps improve soil structure and lawn health. This process relieves soil compaction from foot traffic and natural effects.
Without aerating before seeding, your seeds are more likely to sit on the surface of the compact soil and fail to germinate. Instead, seeds may dry out or wash away with rain. Seeds that germinate may struggle to develop robust root systems in compacted and oversaturated soil. These problems result in patchy and weak lawn growth, allowing for increased weed competition.
A lawn care expert can provide aeration and seeding for you. If you’re handling it yourself, follow this process before seeding:
Fertilizer is an important part of lawn care, but common errors can hurt your lawn more than it helps it.
Like water, more fertilizer doesn’t necessarily equate to better lawn health. Excessive fertilizer can sometimes result in a burn effect, where nitrogen and salt concentrations are too much for plants. The fertilizer makes the soil too salty, reversing the flow of water from plant leaves back into the soil. This dehydrates the plants, damages the root system and leads to dry and yellow patches.
Over-fertilizing may also lead to other negative consequences. Grass can grow vigorously but at the expense of root systems, leaving them vulnerable to drought and disease. Excessive fertilizer can also have environmental impacts, such as disrupting the natural balance of soil nutrients and microorganisms as well as contaminating nearby water bodies with runoff, causing algal blooms, depleting oxygen and harming aquatic life.
Most lawns don’t need fertilizing more than twice per year, but the fertilizer volume is more nuanced. Lawn care professionals use soil tests and careful calculations to determine the right amount.
When fertilizers don’t meet specific nutrient needs, your lawn may experience poor growth and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. The wrong type of fertilizer can inadvertently lead to over-fertilizing if its nutrient benefits aren’t compatible with your lawn.
Soil tests help identify levels of key nutrients — nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium — to understand what your soil lacks. They also determine if your soil is too acidic or alkaline for certain nutrient availability. These tests allow for tailored fertilizer choices that promote healthy lawn growth.
Misidentifying weeds or incorrect herbicide tactics may exacerbate weed problems.
There are countless types of weeds, and many require specially targeted control measures. Mistaking a weed for another type may render your control efforts ineffective, allowing it to flourish and overwhelm your lawn. For example, broadleaf herbicides are effective against many species but less so on grassy weeds.
Familiarize yourself with common weeds in your area. Refer to local lawn care professionals for accurate weed identification and control treatments.
Incorrectly applying herbicides, whether due to timing, dosage or selection, can damage your lawn and fail to control weeds. Proper timing is important for targeting species — for example, pre-emergent herbicides are only effective at preventing weeds from germinating, while post-emergent herbicides are meant for various post-germination stages of weed life cycles.
Excessive amounts can also damage grass and other desirable plants, encourage resistant weed development and degrade soil quality. Too little fails to impact weed populations. A lawn care professional can help identify a targeted and properly timed weed control treatment.
From seeding strategies to fertilization schedules and weed management, Lawn Doctor professionals can help. Contact Lawn Doctor for personalized lawn care services that leave your yard lush and thriving.
Contact Lawn Doctor to help care for your lawn when you can’t.