Out Smarting Lawn Weeds – Naturally

If you are starting a new lawn, there are some simple steps to take in the beginning that will give you a big advantage in the weed wars.

  1. Be picky about the topsoil you bring in for a new lawn
    When you buy topsoil, some weed seeds are inevitable, but topsoil made from heated compost will have been heated high enough to kill a majority of the weed seeds.
  2. Use quality grass seed
    The more expensive grass seed mixes will not only contain patented, named seed varieties but will have less weed seeds as well. Learn to read the back of the seed package. It will state the percent of weed seeds in the seed mix.
  3. Sow seeds thickly to leave little room for weeds to grow
    Save seeds from the package to use after the first sowing has germinated. Then you can reseed over the thin spots once you see how well the seed is germinating.
  4. In our area, a lawn seeded in the fall will have fewer weeds popping up than a lawn seeded in the spring
    This is because some weed seeds need warm weather to germinate. When you seed in the fall, the new lawn will be thick enough to crowd out weeds before the warm weather of summer arrives.
  5. Don’t scalp the lawn, but keep the lawn mowed regularly
    Then the weeds that do sprout can’t grow tall enough to flower and go to seed.
  6. Once the lawn is well established, water only when the ground is dry
    Keeping the soil constantly moist allows weeds such as moss, buttercup and veronica to move into the lawn. Plan on giving your lawn one inch of water a week when it doesn’t rain.

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