Weeds and Your Lawn
Determine Your Weed Tolerance
Personal values, uses of the site, and level of maintenance will dictate the quantity of weeds you permit at a specific site. Focus your management strategy on weeds that you cannot tolerate. Some homeowners enjoy wildflowers in their lawns. You can purchase low-maintenance blends of grasses, violets, clovers, yarrows, and other flowers that thrive on biweekly mowing from a variety of seed sources (see Resources).
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Broadleaf plantain-a perennial weed found in all turf conditions. Has broad oval leaves with parallel venation. Reproduces by seed and forms a short taproot. |
Ground ivy-a perennial weed with long, creeping square stems that root at the nodes. Rounded leaves have toothed margins. Forms dense prostrate patches, especially in damp, shady areas. |
Mow, Fertilize, Irrigate
Mow regularly at the appropriate height to minimize weed pressure. In New York State, an ideal mowing height for most grasses is 3 inches. Mowing often and at the optimal height encourages healthy growth and deep rooting of grasses. Most weeds cannot tolerate frequent mowing.
Apply a balanced fertilizer two weeks after the last mowing in the fall to optimize hardiness and spring greening. Never apply fertilizer after the ground is frozen; it is likely to run off. Around Memorial Day, you can apply a smaller amount of fertilizer, if it is needed. Before you select a fertilizer, have your soil tested to determine your lawn's specific fertilization needs. Also, test the pH of your soil; most grasses do best in neutral to slightly acid soil (with a pH of 6.5-7.0).
Most lawns do not need to be watered regularly. Cool season grasses can survive with as little as 1/4 inch of water every three weeks. Inappropriate watering - either too much or too little - weakens the grass and makes it more susceptible to weed problems.