| How to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Lawn Permanently |
| By Guest Blogger Kevin Jefferson |
| An eye-catching lawn is a work of art and one that takes quite a lot of work to achieve. Those who spend hours seeding, watering, and lawnmowing undoubtedly deserve a lush, spotless lawn. Unfortunately, pesky weeds usually have different plans. |
| As if the usual pests aren’t enough, weeds are always there to create more problems. Not only do they ruin the look of a well-manicured lawn, but they also suffocate grass. How to get rid of these interlopers once and for all? |
| If you’re looking for an answer to this question, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at methods that will help you permanently eliminate weeds from your yard. |
| Natural Ways to Kill Weeds |
| If you want to remove weeds without any side effects, you will have to control them physically. The following methods may be labor-intensive, but they will help you maintain an environmentally-sound lawn. |
| Pull Them Out |
| Obviously, this is the most rudimentary method of weed control. While effective, its practicality depends on the size of your lawn. |
| The only thing you need to keep in mind here is that weeds should be pulled out in their entirety. Parts of weeds left in the soil will cause them to regrow. This eco-friendly method of weed removal becomes a lot easier when you use the right gardening tools. |
| Use Hot Water |
| Just like the previous method, using hot water to kill weeds is simple and effective. It works on most types of weed and causes them to die off in a day or two. |
| However, one needs to be extra careful when pouring boiling water. Not only can you hurt yourself in the process, but also damage the surrounding plants. |
| Organic Ground Cover |
| Organic ground covers, such as carpets, cardboards, and old newspapers can stop the sun from reaching the weeds. Just like all other plants, pesky weeds need sunlight to survive - take it away from them. |
| Cardboards and newspapers are especially useful, as they’re made from organic matters. In other words, they will decompose after a while and improve soil quality in the process. |
| Burn the Weeds |
| Yet another straightforward way to eradicate weeds is using fire. However, this method should be employed only at the edges of the lawn, i.e. to kill weeds that grow where the lawn meets the sidewalk or driveway. |
| Remember that you don’t have to burn weeds in their entirety. Running hot flames over them will cause them to lose internal moisture and die in just a couple of days. |
| Animal Helpers |
| Depending on where you live, you may be able to put a stop to weeds by unleashing livestock. The laws of most cities prevent residents from keeping livestock. |
| However, if you live outside the city, animals like goats can be of great help in eradicating weeds. Just make sure to protect the plants you want to keep. |
| Using Chemicals to Kill Weeds |
| Homeowners who are too busy to deal with weeds manually often turn to chemicals. While they’re very effective in eradicating weeds, herbicides can damage other plants; not to mention they’re harmful to humans too. |
| Homemade Solutions |
| If you want to use chemicals to get rid of weeds in your lawn, first consider using homemade solutions. |
| Vinegar is one of the most commonly used options. When sprayed near the roots, vinegar gets inside the weed and kills it, while also preventing it from growing again. On the other hand, spraying weed flowers with vinegar stops the production of seeds. |
| Another household item homeowners use to control weeds is baking soda. While it kills these interlopers slowly, it is quite effective and successfully prevents regrowth. Other commonly used homemade solutions include salt, bleach, and alcohol. |
| Herbicides |
| When the annoying weeds can’t be controlled by any of the means mentioned above, resort to herbicides. Unlike the previous methods, using herbicides isn’t a budget-friendly method of maintaining a healthy lawn, but it’s very effective. |
| Keep in mind that there are two different types of weed herbicides - pre-emergence and post-emergence ones. |
| As their name suggests, the purpose of pre-emergence herbicides is to stop the weed seeds from germinating. These preventive herbicides should be used for weeds that are hard to eradicate once they take hold in the ground. Crabgrass is a good example. |
| Post-emergence herbicides, on the other hand, are used on already grown weeds. Obviously, you should never use these on the entire lawn - spray only the weeds you want to get rid of. |
| Whichever herbicide you decide to go with, make sure to read the label before buying. Some herbicides work only during a specific time of the year, and some only within a certain temperature range. |
| Removing lawn weeds is a tricky business. Fortunately, there are many effective methods to choose from - one of the strategies we mentioned above is bound to work for you. |
| Note from the Author: Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has both
thoroughly enjoyed and dreaded every morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring). You can read more of Kevin’s work on PlainHelp.
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