As the saying goes, nothing in this world is certain except death, taxes—and weeds. Okay, we know that weeds aren’t really part of that saying but it surely does feel that way sometimes!
You might feel like you’re doing everything that you possibly can for your lawn and the weeds still keep coming.
Unfortunately, killing weeds in the grass isn’t always that simple. There are many types of weeds that are incredibly persistent and despite your best efforts, they keep coming back.
Even if you’ve hired a weed spraying service in Lansdale, Collegeville, or Chalfont, PA, you might still not be getting the weed control that you desire. It could be that your lawn care professional is skimping on important tasks or perhaps failing to implement a well-rounded program that effectively targets weeds all year-round.
That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our best tips for killing weeds. You deserve to know what it takes to have a weed control program that works.
It’s a common misconception that you can take a blanket approach to killing weeds. A truly effective program is one that is varied with different products for different weeds (as well as for different times of the year).
A lot of people don’t realize that using the same control product year-round is simply not effective. Some products are better for certain points of the season. Temperature absolutely has an impact on product effectiveness and experts will be keeping up with changes in temperature and what products will work best for those changes.
Another thing that a varied program includes is both pre- and post-emergent weed controls. Pre-emergent products are those that create a barrier and prevent certain grassy weeds from germinating in the first place. You might think of them as a “preventative control,” and they’re absolutely essential for crabgrass.
But with weeds as persistent as crabgrass, there will always be some breakthrough which is why post-emergent controls are also important. An effective program should use both.
Another important consideration is what types of products you or your weed spraying service are using. Not all products are created equally. What you can purchase in a big box store or a hardware store for DIY weed control is not going to be as effective as what a professional has access to.
However, you might be surprised to know that there are well over a dozen choices when it comes to professional grade products. That means that there’s quite a bit of variation in what the pros might be using, too. These different products are available at varying cost points—and may produce varying levels of results. Products that work better tend to cost more.
If you’re not seeing the effective weed control that you desire, it could be that your weed spraying service is not investing in high-quality materials.
A successful lawn care service could also use “sticker products” for tougher to control weeds. Some weeds are better controlled with an additive mixed into the product that allows it to “stick” to the waxy leaves rather than just running off.
When thinking about killing weeds, it’s easy to focus on weed control products. But it’s important to know that the most effective programs are focused on overall lawn health. When your lawn is healthy, it’s going to be less likely for weeds to take over.
With that philosophy in mind, you want to make sure that you’re using a lawn care service that promotes good soil health with products like fertilizer and bio-stimulants, which help to grow a thick and healthy lawn. This will help your lawn to naturally defend against weeds.
Weeds love thin areas of the lawn where they don’t have to compete with healthy turf for oxygen, water, and sunlight. So, services like lawn aeration, which help to grow thick and healthy grass, are also important.
By creating small holes in the earth, aeration allows your turf to get more water and oxygen to its roots. Seeding is also best performed during aeration, and will fill in thin spots in your lawn in order to help reduce weed growth.
While it might feel as though you have no control over invasive weeds, the truth is, there are decisions you can make which will have an impact. For one, choosing a professional weed spraying service in Lansdale, Collegeville, or Chalfont, PA will likely give you better results than a DIY approach.
However, as we’ve talked about, it’s important to choose wisely when it comes to a lawn care pro. If you’re already using a lawn care company and not seeing the results you desire, it might be time to switch gears. Your service provider simply might not be doing everything they can to troubleshoot problems and promote a healthy lawn.
Don’t get us wrong—we understand that many weeds can be tough-to-control. And even though we use the best products and practices, we still see weeds breakthrough on some of our clients’ lawns.
But we’re constantly communicating about that and devising solutions. We take an active, and frequently varied approach to weed control so that we’re creating custom solutions for our clients.
At the end of the day, you have the power to choose a lawn care service that has your best interest at heart. By making the right choice, you’ll no longer have to worry about figuring out what’s best for your lawn. You can let go of those worries and let your lawn care pro take control of getting your lawn on track to looking its best.
If you’d like to know more about how Joshua Tree can help meet your Lansdale, Collegeville, or Chalfont, PA lawn needs, or you have more questions, we’re here to help! Get in touch with us to get some free expert advice and learn more about our lawn care program options.