How to Have a Weed Free Yard

There are different methods to keeping a lawn and garden weed-free.

If your lawn is being overrun with grass weeds, there are several methods that you can use in combination to get your grass healthy and make the lawn weed-free. One of the biggest weed controls is having thick, dense grass. This naturally suppresses weed growth as the grass "chokes out" the weed, taking the majority of nutrients and sunlight away from fledgling weeds. Other resources should be used at the same time to rid your yard of weeds.

Things You'll Need

• Lawn mower
• Fertilizer
• Fertilizer spreader
• Oscillating sprinkler
• Pre-emergence weed herbicide
• Grass seed (optional)
• Landscape fabric
• Organic/inorganic mulch
• Rubber garden border
• Hand tiller

Instructions

Weed-Free Lawn

1. Set your lawn mower deck near the highest setting and mow your lawn on a regularly scheduled basis early in the morning. Taller grass that is routinely cut will grow more dense, suppressing weed growth. Regular cut grass encourages growth.

2. Broadcast fertilizer over your lawn with a spreader after cutting it and water it immediately to coerce the granules down into the soil.

3. Set your water sprinkler system to water just before dawn to enhance the nutrient effects of morning dew.

4. Spread pre-emergent weed herbicide with a spreader on a regular schedule. Consult the manufacturer's application instructions to get the maximum benefits.

Weed-Free Garden or Planter

1. Roll out landscape fabric in your garden or planter. This fabric assists in trapping heat for faster plant/flower growth as wells as creating a barrier from the lawn grass and any creeping weeds. In addition, landscape fabric helps to trap water in the soil.

2. Mulch around your flowers and plants using organic or inorganic mulch -- whichever is best for your specific plants and flowers. Spread a 3- or 4-inch layer of mulch to help control weeds.

3. Install a rubber garden border around your garden. This impedes weeds from getting into the garden and helps to retain the water in the top soil.

4. Aerate the soil once a week with a hand tiller. This keeps the soil loose and helps to excavate weeds before they sprout and begin to mature. Hand tilling also helps the soil to grow more dense plants and flowers, a natural weed suppressant.

Tips & Warnings

• Spread grass seed to thicken lawn grass if necessary. Water thereafter as directed by the manufacturer.

References

• "The Lawn Guide"; Philip Sharples; 2008
• "The Healthy Lawn Handbook"; Lane L. Winward; 2001