I’m a gardening pro – how to banish weeds without ruining your grass and how often weed killer should really be used
IT MIGHT not feel like it just yet, but with Spring just around the corner it’s time to sort out your garden grass.
But if you want to keep your lawn looking lush while still getting rid of ugly weeds, there are a few things you need to know.
Speaking to Home and Gardens, David Angelov, master gardener at PlantParenthood, explained you first need to know about the two main types of weeds.
It turns out annual and perennial weeds need to be dealt with differently.
The pro said: “Annual weeds grow and die within a single growing season, while perennial weeds come back year after year.”
One of the best ways to banish annoying weeds is to get your fingers dirty and do it by hand.
It might not be what you want to hear, but it’s one of the only ways to ensure the weed is fully out and there’s no damage to the surrounding area.
Mow like a pro
One of the best things to keep weeds at bay, and for your lawn in general, is to keep on top of mowing.
David said: “Make sure to mow your lawn regularly and not cut it too short, as well as watering it deeply, but infrequently.”
This is especially good for common weeds like dandelions, but if your mower spreads the chopped grass out over the lawn you might want to avoid doing this before pulling them out. since it can disperse the seeds even further.
If you mower collects the grass this is a quick and simple way to get rid of weeds and give your grass a trim.
Use weed killers wisely
Ruth Hayes, Gardening Editor for Amateur Gardening, explained that a lot of all-purpse weed killers can ruin your lawn as well.
She said: Using a general-purpose weed killer will kill the grass as well as any weeds, and ruin your lawn in the process.”
Instead, you should look for products for each specific type of weed in your garden for the best results.
But when you use weed killer is important as well, since herbicides are most effective when the weed is “actively growing,” according to David.
The pro recommended applying it in Spring or Autumn when the weather isn’t too cold or hot.