A healthy and beautiful lawn not only improves your home’s curb appeal but also makes you feel good. But there is more to it than watering and mowing correctly. You need to fertilize your lawn at the best time and ensure no weed comes up to waste the nutrients.
Doing this ensures a full and lush lawn. But it all begins by understanding these methods and giving your lawn a professional touch.
Today, we shall introduce you to weed prevention and fertilization. Keep reading to discover more.
What is Weed Prevention and Fertilization Treatment?
Keeping a healthy and attractive lawn is never easy. You will need to do so many things to ensure it remains healthy. Among them are weed prevention and fertilization treatment.
So, what is it? In simple terms, it prevents weed growth in your lawn and gives your grass proper nutrients for healthy growth. Weed and lack of nutrients can prevent your property from thriving, and that is why you need these two activities. It all comes down to how you always want to keep your grass healthy.
Weed Control
Weed management is done based on the plant life cycle, infestation, weather conditions, and your needs. Understanding the plant and soil type and choosing the best management method is crucial. Also, it is not something you will do once and forget, as there is a need to monitor the effects over a certain period of time.
Weed control is a primary way to ensure you have a healthy plant. It could be that you desire to have the greenest lawn but don’t know where to start.
Weed control methods
The following definitions concern weed prevention in lawns.
Pre-emergent
These are substances that prevent weed seeds from germinating. That means you can use this method to target seeds that have yet to emerge from the soil. It suppresses germination, allowing only your grass to thrive.
Post-emergent
As you may have already guessed, post-emergent weed control deals with weeds that have already germinated and are growing. The control substance is applied to kill the weeds, ensuring they don’t grow back again. In this method, you have the choice of selective and non-selective varieties. We recommend using a selective post-emergent method that targets the weeds without damaging the grass.
When to apply a specific weed control method
While pre- and post-emergent weed control methods are both effective, timing is crucial. There is the best time to apply a certain approach; other times will not work for the other method.
If you have warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia, it will help a lot to combine emergent and post-emergent applications quarterly. Knowing when to apply the pre-emergents is crucial since they come before the weed seeds germinate.
The best conditions for post-emergent control measures are when the soil temperatures are between 50 and 55 degrees. This happens somewhere between February and March and in late fall. Waiting until spring may be too late since the seeds are germinating already.
For post-emergents, it is best when the weeds are already growing during their peak season. You don’t have to know the exact period. Just wait until you see the weeds and you are ready to apply the desired weed control method.
Types of Weed Control
Here are the main weed control types for lawns and other plants:
- Preventive control: This should be done once weed infestation becomes apparent. Early detection is crucial as there is a need to apply methods that prevent further spreading.
- Cultural control. This method involves the establishment of competitive and desired vegetation to prevent or slow down certain weed species. It is the most sustainable weed control method.
- Chemical control. Using herbicides and similar methods to control the weed efficiently. This is one of the most time-efficient methods.
- Biological control. This is the use of living agents, like certain insects, bacteria, or fungi, to suppress the vigorous spread of weeds. This method does not seek to eradicate but to reduce and limit the growth rate.
- Mechanical control. This method involves different ways of killing or suppressing weeds using physical disruption. Examples include pulling, digging, disking, plowing, and mowing. It is a highly efficient way of keeping your plants or lawn in check.
The exact method to use depends on your specific needs and the area size you are working on. Hiring an expert weed control team that understands different ways to achieve the best results is more convenient.
Fertilization Treatment
Fertilization treatment is an excellent method of fueling grass growth. There are three common nutrients used: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Some phosphorus-free fertilizers protect water sources from gaining too much of this component. But most types have a combination of these three nutrients to ensure healthy, lush, and greener growth.
Best time to apply fertilizers
Just like weed control, timing is also crucial when it comes to fertilization treatment. The process aims to keep your lawn healthy and greener, which is why doing so at the right time and using the right amount is extremely important.
It is necessary to fertilize your space twice to four times a year per your soil type and the grass. Do it mostly during the growing time to give the grass the necessary fuel for proper growth.
Avoid getting too excited, though, since over-fertilization can lead to a patchy look. Some areas will seem to grow more vigorously than others.
Conversely, under-fertilization may make your lawn appear sparse, allowing for faster weed growth. Thus, you must give your lawn the right touch to get the best results.
Another important aspect of fertilization and weed control is to understand the local climate, soil, and grass type. This will help you create and maintain a perfect lawn since you will know the most effective methods.
Let the Experts Help
Your lawn or garden deserves the best. And that is why we recommend hiring a professional for all your weed control and fertilization treatment needs.
Call us today, and you can forget about all the hard work. We are here to ensure you get a healthy environment.