Lawn weeds

Weeds are plants growing in the wrong places and in terms of your lawn, this means any plant which is not a turf grass recommended variety. When the lawn is new, it is common to see a variety of weeds present, but regular mowing when the lawn becomes more established reduces this by a massive amount. Alas the weeds that persist are weeds which are particular to lawns and need treatment as many are invasive and difficult to eradicate.

We cannot help birds dropping seeds in their droppings, nor wind-borne seeds coming in on the air, but we can stop large weed patches occuring on a lawn surface.

Basic reasons behind the weed patches include:

• Poor preparation of a site when the lawn is being made.
• Poor choice of turf or seed.
• Incorrect management of the lawn.
• Neglect.

Where do the weeds in my lawn come from?

Weeds come from a variety of sources including:

• Seeds dropped from above in the form of bird droppings.
• Seeds which are wind-borne.
• Seeds from grass clippings. (Use a box if the lawn is full of weeds).
• Seeds and bits of stem brought in on boots, new compost and pet fur.
• Creeping stems from neighbouring lawns and weedy patches/paths.
• Seeds which are already in the soil but have been dormant.   

Why must I get rid of the weeds in my lawn?

• Flowering weeds give the lawn a spotty, uneven look.
• Larger leaved weeds shade and crowd smaller, finer grass species.
• Leaves which are bigger make the lawn look uneven.
• Mat-type weeds spread quickly by producing runners.
• Weeds take nutrients out of the soil away from the grass which they are intended for.

How do I avoid weeds growing in my lawn?

• Before making a new lawn, rake and re-rake the site of the lawn's bare earth which will enable the weed seeds in the earth to germinate and then raking to destroy them. 
• Choose good quality seed or turf.
• Good management of the lawn once established:
  Proper Mowning, feeding, watering, worm control, scarifying and disease control.
• On established lawns, control occasional weeds by hand weeding or by using weed killers.

Mechanical methods of weeding

Hand weeding: Generally good for removing scattered annual weeds.
Slashing: For coarse grass which do not respond to weedkillers. Control by slashing through the weed with a knife or edging iron before mowing.  
Raking up: Before mowing, rake upright the leaves of coarse grasses and wide leaf weeds which enables the stems and leaves to be cut with the mower.

Chemical weeding methods

There are a large number of weedkillers available but all fall into two braod categories:

• Lawn Sand &
• Selective Weedkillers

The active ingredients of the weedkillers is always made clear on the package, but generally, if Ferrous sulphate is named, then it is a lawn sand, and if not and other ingredients are mentioned, it is a selective weedkiller.

Lawn Sand

Selective Weedkiller

Which method of weed removal should I use?

Types of lawn weeds

Key:

Lawn Care:
 Jobs to do
 Equipment
 Mowing
 When do I cut my grass?
 Top dressing
 Feeding
 Watering
 Trimming
 Raking and brushing
 Aerating 
 Liming and Rolling

Lawn Problems:
 Pests
 Diseases
 Weeds
 Brown patches
 Repairs