Control Weeds Now for a Fabulous Fall Lawn
Whether you are new to gardening and lawn care or you are a seasoned veteran, taking the steps to prevent and maintain weeds in your lawn through the year is essential. Make it easier on yourself and take some time to identify the weeds that are making a presence in your lawn. Knowing what weeds you need to control will help you to determine your plan of attack for a vibrant and victorious lawn!
Weed control can differ throughout the year. Now is the time to start weed prevention for the upcoming cool season weeds and to maintain control of warm season weeds, like crabgrass. Before you can start your journey towards a barefoot-friendly lawn, it is important to familiarize yourself with the different types of weeds in your lawn.
COOL SEASON WEEDS
Poa Annua
Poa Annua, also known as Annual Bluegrass, is a cool season weed. It looks like a flowy meadow grass. In the fall, Poa Annua is known to invade desirable turfgrasses here in the southern states. It begins to emerge in the late summer and early fall, usually when the temperatures begin to cool towards the 60’s and when moisture is abundant.
It can continue to germinate into the spring. In ideal conditions, Poa Annua can create a competition with warm season grasses and it will dominate. Poa Annua weeds can produce several hundred seeds in one season and even when the stalk is cut short, it will continue its seed production.
Rescuegrass
Rescuegrass, also known as Prairie Grass, is a cool season weed. It is a common weed to invade many lawns here in Texas. Its active growing season is in the fall through the spring. Rescuegrass is a grassy weed with strongly flattened spikelet’s that can resemble grains.
Rescuegrass has an extensive root system and can survive in a variety of different habitats and climates, tolerating cool temperatures and drought well. The main threat of Rescuegrass is its dense growth. Thick concentrations of the grass can outcompete native plants and prevent natural regeneration.
Clover
Clover is a cool season weed with 3 petal-shaped leaves and a white bloom that forms between spring and into the winter. Clover has a fast-growing rate and can take away from the uniformity of your turf. It can be tough to control with its aggressive spreading habit.
Clover weeds start to spread when the soil temperatures get cooler and when the flowers turn to seeds. These seeds will germinate in the fall.
Chickweed
Chickweed is a cool season weed that produces ½-1 inch stems that sprawl across the lawn. They have a cluster of oval leaves topped with small, white blooms. The root system is shallow and fibrous.
Chickweed spreads by reseeding itself. It flowers and seeds at the same time causing a rapid spread in your lawn. Chickweed has adventitious roots and prefers to grow in high traffic areas.
Henbit
Henbit is a cool season weed with a greenish to purplish square stems. It has an upright growing habit with different levels of leaves. The leaves are oval and contain blunt, teeth-like edges. The small flowers are purple in color on the upper leaves of the weed.
Henbit reproduces by seed that germinates in the fall or winter. It can quickly invade thin turfgrasses. Shaded areas also help encourage the growth.
WARM SEASON WEED CONTROL
Crabgrass
Crabgrass is a warm season weed that is likely at a more established stage during this time of year. Crabgrass is named after its tough demeanor and crab-like shape. Its growth habit is one of the reasons it is so dominant in your lawn. The stems trail along the ground without rooting. Its low profile makes being walked on or mowed irrelevant as crabgrass remains unbothered. It spreads by its seeds which makes it spread easier, but it can also make it easier to control.
In the fall, an additional pre and post-emergent treatment is needed as the plant produces more seeds in an attempt to increase its numbers before the winter season. The pre-emergent will help stop the new seeds from germinating and the post-emergent control will slow the growth of existing weeds. Also, pulling these weeds is essential to help maintain control in your lawn through the winter season for an easier spring.
Dandelions
Dandelions are a warm season weed. You may remember pulling these and giving them to your mom or for making a wish when you were a kid. Dandelions have little yellow flowers with fluffy seed puffs. They spread in the wind and the plant sends down a taproot, up to 10 inches long, making removal in its entirety difficult.
In the fall, these plants transfer its nutrients from its leaves to its roots, making it a great time for a weed control treatment application. Although this plant can die back in the winter, the roots below the ground are still thriving. Pulling these weeds during the winter is also an effective form of control, as long as all of the weed is removed.
PRODUCTS FOR WEED PREVENTION
When choosing which product to use, always remember to read the instructions, especially if you have a new lawn. Always use a rotary spreader to apply granular fertilizers. Don’t own a spreader? No problem! You can borrow a spreader from our store nearest you!
Complete Control
Get pre-emergent and post-emergent control with Bonide® Weed Beater Complete. Bonide® Weed Beater Complete is a highly selective herbicide to help control sedges, annual grass, and broadleaf weeds. Prevent new weeds from germinating and suppress the growth of visible weeds. For best results, apply on a damp lawn and wait 48 hours to water.
Prevention Control
A fantastic choice for weed prevention for the DFW area is Bonide® Crabgrass & Weed Preventer with Dimension®. It can be used on cool season and warm season grasses. Dimension® is a selective turf and landscape herbicide that prevents the emergence of undesirable weeds. It controls crabgrass, foxtail, and many other weeds in established lawns. Bonide® Crabgrass & Weed Preventer with Dimension® can also provide post-emergent control of seedling crabgrass and is effective for up to 4 weeks after crabgrass has germinated. For the best results in your Texas lawn care, apply a few days after mowing. The product will become activated by rainfall or irrigation.
For your Houston weed prevention, use Nitro-Phos Barricade®. Nitro-Phos Barricade® contains a selective turf and landscape herbicide that prevents the emergence of undesirable weeds.
Another option for pre-emergent weed control in your lawn care is ferti-lome® Broadleaf Weed Control with Gallery®. Gallery® is a pre-emergent herbicide to control broadleaf weeds from developing. Apply before the targeted weeds can germinate in the early fall. It is recommended for use in established cool and warm season grasses like Bermuda, Ryegrass, and Zoysia.
Natural Control
Looking for natural ways to control weed growth in your Texas lawn? Good Natured® Corn Gluten Granules or Soil Mender® Corn Gluten Meal works as a pre-emergent and is an ideal product to use for Texas lawn care. It is slow release and all natural. It is safe and easy to apply around trees and shrubs.
3 WAYS TO SHOP FOR WEED CONTROL
Take control of weeds and shop with ease! At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have convenient ways to shop for your weed control products. Our open-air stores are here for you to enjoy, shop online, or you can call our store nearest you and place an order over the phone for Curbside Pickup!
Questions about plant care, availability, or quantities of plants? Call our store nearest you! Our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals are here to help with your planting needs!
Preventing weeds now will help you and your lawn have a happier, healthier future. With just a few simple steps now, you can enjoy a fabulous lawn this lawn this fall and easier maintenance in the spring!
