Nearly all homeowners that have lawns must deal with weeds at some point. Some of the most common weeds, such as chickweed, ivy, bluegrass, clover, and crabgrass, are often invading the appearance of carefully crafted lawns – that some even opt to accept that weeds are an undeniable part of growing beautiful grass.
However, if you are on the opposite side and want to get rid of them, here is a guide to killing weeds in lawn without killing grass that’s easy and simple to do.
How to Kill Weeds in Lawn Without Killing Grass
On occasions, weeds are there as a sign that there’s something wrong with the site or soil and the only way to eliminate the weeds is by correcting the problem.
For instance, if the soil surface is way too damp, it creates an ideal setting for ground ivy to grow. Therefore, the solution is aeration, a process of enhancing soil drainage. Other alternatives include more light hitting the soil surface by manually cutting out tree branches that shade the targeted areas.
Manual weeding by hand is still considered the best solution for killing weeds in the lawn without killing grass, tiny lawns, and relatively minor weeds issues. It is the most effective technique to eliminate annual weeds with broad leaves. Pull them when they are still at the beginning growth stage to prevent further spreading.
Early measure to eliminate perennial weeds is important as well. For example, a Dandelion can develop a conical root that is difficult to pull once it reached the mature stage. Plucking the whole plant down to its root still leaves the opportunity that there are pieces of root underneath the ground that will grow soon.
Killing Weeds in Lawn with Vinegar
If you’re looking for a way to kill weeds, not grass naturally, then you may want to try vinegar. This ingredient contains acetic acid that has the ability to destroy weeds.
As its effectiveness goes in hand with its acetic acid percentage, it is required to use vinegar with higher content of acetic acid instead of using common kitchen vinegar.
Here are the tips for using vinegar for killing weeds in the lawn without killing grass:
- Choose a warm day with lots of sunshine to apply the vinegar.
- Put the vinegar in a spray container and begin to spray it on the targeted weeds.
- If you’re worried about damaging the grass, consider using a brush and painting the acidic vinegar directly to the weeds.
- To improve its effectiveness, mix surfactant into the vinegar. Surfactant is not a potent ingredient for weeds, but it improves the effectiveness of vinegar.
It’s important to note that vinegar can be harmful to the grass, even if it’s a natural product. It is categorized as non-selective, which means it may kill other plants besides weeds. The acetic acid property within can burn and dry your grass and plants’ leaves.
How to Fix a Lawn Full of Weeds
Read the following tips below to fix a poor-looking lawn:
- Eliminate the weeds: Some homeowners prefer to use herbicides, while others choose the natural method for killing weeds in the lawn without killing grass.
- Refine the lawn: Seed the lawn by raking lightly and sprinkling it with compost and soil in good grades. To prevent birds and other damaging creatures, put another layer of compost and soil.
- Water it: No lawn wouldn’t benefit from good watering, especially in the repairing phase.
- Feed the lawn: Feed it by using good-quality organic fertilizer regularly.
- Mow the lawn: One of the most important parts of repairing your lawn is to mow it incorrectly.
- Maintain it regularly: Keep a regular schedule for pest patrolling. The sooner you notice and attack the pests, the better it’d be for the lawn.
Before you even begin to practice the tips above, remember that repairing a lawn is a project that requires patience and time. There’s no instant way to do it.
Start to put effort by killing weeds in the lawn without killing grass all the way to the last tip. Timing is a crucial aspect as well – it’s best to start in a chilly season like autumn or spring to create the beautiful lawn of your dream.