Battle with Backyard Weeds

[Still Learning]

this is a long term fix. but...... make sure you are fertilizing at least twice a year, aerate at least once a year and top dress with a good compost at least once a year..NOTHING beats a healthy lawn for weed prevention....short term.. pull what you can and KEEP grass mowed often

Yeah...I have been bad in this area. We have been there over a year and I haven't done any of these things. Guess it is time to take a trip to the local gardening store.

What weeds are you getting into trouble with? Dicots can be killed easily as grasses(lawns) are monocots. A broadleaf herbicide will do the trick. I am not too big of a fan with fertilizers but compost is a great solution like Texreefer mentioned. New Earth on IH10 going towards Seguin has a compost called Landscapers Compost. This will give you all the nutrients you could want at a very reasonable price. Dont ask what it is though although once you are there you will have a good idea. lol

Funny...I have no idea what you are talking about....dicots, monocots....Guess it is time to do some research while I am at the store. I have no idea what kinda weeds they are. Oh wait - definately have dandelions (sp?) among many others....my son likes to blow the seeds everywhere.

this has been the savior to all my back aches of weed pulling:

Wow....something that pulls them up for you....AMAZING. I think my back would love this invention.

We love our goats for weed control. They totally eradicated poison ivy for us. Plus they're cute and non-toxic.

heheheh.....I don't think my neighboors wouldn't appreciate that.

Good stuff.....thanks everone!!

[Gseclipse02]

We love our goats for weed control. They totally eradicated poison ivy for us. Plus they're cute and non-toxic.

thats it im buying a goat!!!

[Europhyllia]

You can rent them out to the neighbors and make money with weed removal or have a petting zoo

[FireWater]

Take apic of the weeds in question. If they are a grassy type weed then it will be harder to get rid of them. Broadleaf weeds are easier to get rid of with herbicides. What type of grass is in your yard? Mike(Texreefer) gave good examples of what you should be doing - good news is it is never to late to start.

I personally do not like to use man made products because of the possibility of cross contamination. Therefore I use mostly natural products. If you keep up with regular mowing, watering, and care to keep the grass healthier then that is the best defense against weeds.

Anyway, if you can get some pics and I will try to help as much as possible.

[kkiel02]

If its dandelions just ask for a broadleaf herbicide.
Dicots= broadleaf
monocots= grasses

[allan]

Dude, I had a forest in my back yard and the only reason my front was green was because that's the color of the weeds that I have.

I've fertilized, and I put down chemicals (I concur with the all natural approach but these weeds have gotten me to stop thinking like a hippie and go down that chemical path to enlightment). I think I used Spectracide. I waited a week with no results aside from some minor wilting.

I then mowed my grass and watered. The next week I mowed and layed down Weed B Gone, much better results. I waited two weeks, mowed and laid down another layer of chemicals (my yard is obviously addicted). I'm still getting some weeds and some pesky bright green clump of grass that is sprouting up like little insurgents bent upon allan-lawn domination. I pull them out.

Additionally, I've picked up a yard of compost from a place down the street a bit for 29 dollars... go in uniform and get 10% off. Spreading it is heck on the back and arms, but WOW does it make your grass green!!!

Additionally I've put down a bag in the front and a bag in the back of grass seed for that full green summer bloom. I missed the late winter seeding for that early spring bounce back from the winter gloom... although I plan on doing it again this coming fall.

I think there's a lot to lawn care that most people just don't know (myself included, always looking for tips) and others who are willing to chime in with advice.

[Teeb]

This year, they're horrible. My front looks just good enough for my neighbors not to hate me. They backyard, I've given up on. My solution this year....got the boy a powerwheels and let him go nuts for a couple hours a day. Weeds should be dead within a few weeks, at least the ones in his path.

[FireWater]

Alot of the difference is in the grass type itself. St. Augustine variations tend to choke out weeds - this can be accomplished by several things like high mowing height, good fertilization practice (compost in the Spring, winterizer in the Fall, and good low nitrogen fertilizer in the Summer), stop overwatering. Bermuda variations are a lot more susceptible to weed infestation due to its thinner growth habits. Much of the same care tactics I mentioned above for St Augustine grass can be used for Bermuda strains as well. Bermuda requires a little more frequent fertilization and definitely more frequent mowings. There is much more to it than I can type right now - but, I will try to answer all that I can.

[apedroza]

They do sell a weed control for southern lawns. I use it to kill any sprout ups. I also used the true green service the first year we moved in and they totally got rid of the weeds. You can literally see the line between me and my neighbors lawn. After that I use compost and top soil to help get good roots and the occasional spraying of any stray weeds. We are currently trying to landscape our backyard which is huge. I plann getting rid of as much grass as possible and do some xeriscaping.

[allan]

Hey John, is the St augastine grass a year around grower?

Apedroza, what is xeriscaping?