If you mow your lawn correctly and frequently, you should manage to avoid the invasion of most weeds. But if you have found that some of these undesirable weeds have infiltrated your lawn, then there is a few methods for weed removal.
Weed Removal Options
Hand Removal
Many small weeds can be carefully pulled out by hand; however, you will need to make sure you have removed the roots. Using a weeding trowel or long handled mechanical device and prizing around the roots will help ensure total removal. The bigger the weed, the bigger and stronger the roots.
To make this job a little easier, you might want to try a standing weed puller like the Fiskars Xact Weed Puller.
Herbicide Treatment Options
There are various herbicides available, including selective and non-selective types.
Non-selective products like Round Up (Glyphosate) kill most plants including your lawn; selective herbicides target specific weeds only.
It is strongly recommended that you consult your local nursery or turf expert to properly identify the weed in question first, so you can treat it with an appropriate and effective spray.
Post-emergent Broadleaf Herbicides
For common broadleaf weeds like cudweed, clover, bindii or creeping oxalis, you can use a broadleaf herbicide like Amgrow Bin die or Lawn Solutions All Purpose Weed Control. These products generally contain actives like Bromoxynil, MCPA and Dicamba. For buffalo lawns, except ST varieties, make sure you use the Bromoxynil based products like Lawn Solutions All Purpose Weed Control as Dicamba can harm your buffalo grass.
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Some other weeds require a particular herbicide for treatment, so identification is very important.
Quick selective weed killer solutions guide
- Winter Grass – Amgrow Winter Grass Killer (Not safe on Kikuyu or Fescue)
- Nutgrass / Mullumbimby Couch – Lawn Solutions Sedge Control
- Paspalum, Crabgrass, Summer grass – Paspalum herbicides contain the active DSMA. Make sure it’s safe to use on your turf as many varieties like buffalo and kikuyu are spot treatment only.
Prevention – Pre-emergent Herbicides
There is also a way to prevent some weed types from appearing at all.
A pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert targets weed seeds before they take hold. It works by forming a barrier at soil level that stops the germination of any new seedlings. Pre-emergents can be used in the prevention of Winter Grass, Summer Grass, Crowsfoot and Crab Grass.
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Organic options
If your preference is to avoid the use of herbicides on your lawn, then there are some organic weed treatments which may work against particular weeds.
Some of these options include boiling water, salt, vinegar, cornmeal gluten and nonanoic acid – but keep in mind that these will almost always be non-selective and will harm your lawn as well, so spot treating is the way to go. Read more here.
With the use of any herbicides, always make sure you wear the appropriate protective equipment including gloves and a mask, follow the label instructions and make sure that the particular product is safe to use on your turf variety.
