How to get rid of weeds on the lawn with selective and continuous herbicides
Compared to alpine slides and flower beds, lawn maintenance is easier. However, in order for them to maintain their ideal appearance for a long time, it is necessary to trim them in a timely manner and remove the emerging weeds. Unwanted vegetation introduces an element of chaos to the aesthetic appearance and draws nutrients from the soil. Let's take a look at how you can get the most out of your lawn weeds.
How weeds appear
The soil itself is a repository of seeds for a variety of weeds, which begin to grow along with cultivated specimens. On lawns, especially those that have just been sown, weeds are inevitable. Their seeds are carried by the wind, birds, animals. In addition, weed seeds are often brought by people on the soles of their shoes.
Weeds on the lawn are any plants that have not been used for turf. Their main danger lies in reducing the immunity of cultivated plants and slowing down their development.
Mostly unwanted vegetation on green lawns is dandelions, annual bluegrass, clover, plantain, quinoa, bindweed, blackhead, wood lice and others.
Soil tillage before sowing a lawn
Preliminary preparation of a lawn for sowing includes several stages:
- Testing the soil to determine its texture. To do this, you need to slightly moisten a small piece of soil and roll a sausage out of it. If this is easy, then the soil is loamy. If the sausage makes a ring without a single crack, it is heavy loam. A ring with cracks means that the soil is loamy and of medium weight. Fracture of the soil while trying to roll the sausage indicates a light or medium type.
- Leveling the soil, getting rid of holes and lumps, planning water flow.
- Preparing optimal soil for your lawn. Stagnation of moisture is unacceptable, therefore, in the case of severe waterlogging, additional drainage or arrangement of surface runoff will be required. The preferred soil option is crumbly, with a sufficient amount of sand and organic fertilizers.
- Loosening the earth. At this stage, you need to dig up the soil to a depth of 25 centimeters. In small areas, this can be done manually, while larger areas require the involvement of special equipment.
- Removal of weeds.To do this, you need to treat the area with the "Round" preparation or another that has a similar effect, and loosen the soil to a shallow depth - about 3-5 centimeters.
- Leveling and compacting fertile land before sowing.
- Presowing fertilization with phosphorus, potassium and a small amount of nitrogen.
How to deal with weeds on the lawn?
To control weeds that appear on the lawn, you can use mechanical, chemical, as well as gentle folk methods.
Mechanical method
On small lawns, weed control can be done mechanically.
Mowing the ground parts of the weeds is not enough, since the roots remain deep in the soil. After 2-3 days, the harmful plant is restored again. Therefore, work should be aimed at destroying the weed root system.
For weeding, a garden fork, a sharpened knife, a sharp-edged scoop or a hoe can be used. If you want to destroy creeping weeds, it is recommended to use a rake.
Continuous herbicides
Continuous herbicides are nonselective chemical preparations that have a universal effect and are capable of removing a wide range of weeds. On lawns, such agents are used at the stage of early tillage before sowing.
The most famous and effective representatives of this group of herbicides are "Tornado" and "Dikovat".
"Tornado"
The universal herbicide "Tornado" is most in demand in the fight against dicotyledonous, cereal, and woody-shrub weeds. In relation to cultivated plants, the drug is very loyal, it helps to maintain an optimal level of soil moisture and does not disturb crop rotation.
"Tornado" contains a high concentration of active substances, therefore it is used in minimal quantities.
"Dikovat"
"Dikovat" is a contact type herbicide containing the same active substance. It completely dries out the weeds on the lawn in just 2-3 days. When working with this substance, it is important to take into account that if it is processed early and too much moisture, it can harm crops.
Selective herbicides
Selective herbicides are aimed at controlling one or more weed species on the lawn. They are used to treat specific crops without harming them, but only affecting weeds.
Selective herbicides in the form of granules, powder or liquid can be used on site. The most common drugs are Lontrel 300, Hacker and Demos. If the dosages specified in the instructions are followed, the lawn plantings do not suffer.
The principle of action of drugs in this category is as follows:
- The active ingredients penetrate the weed leaf barrier.
- Gradually, as they move by themselves, they move to the ground parts and the rhizome.
- Further growth and development of the weed plant stops.
"Lontrel 300"
Lontrel 300 based on clopyralid is applied after germination. Its action is aimed at the destruction of annual dicotyledonous and perennial root weeds. The first signs of weed suppression are observed 18 hours after treatment. It takes up to three weeks for complete destruction.
"Deimos"
This dimethylamine salt formulation maintains an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the lawn by killing broadleaf weeds. It is highly effective against more than a hundred varieties of weeds, including bindweed, dandelion and others.
"Hacker"
"Hacker" is a clopyralid-based postemergence systemic herbicide. It is marketed in the form of water-soluble granules. It is used to remove highlander, sow thistle, chamomile, field thistle and other weeds on lawns.
The advantages of the preparation are ease of use, ideal compatibility with other types of herbicides, as well as effective destruction of ground and root parts of weeds.
Folk recipes
With a small scale of weed growth on the lawn, you can use proven and safe folk methods.
Vinegar and salt is a well-known traditional weed remover. It is necessary to prepare a solution of one liter of water, five tablespoons of vinegar (9 percent) and two tablespoons of salt. After waiting for cooling, water the weeds.
Other folk methods are:
- a mixture of one part citric acid with three parts vinegar;
- medical alcohol with water in proportions 1:10.
- hydrochloric acid;
- rock salt, which is used in dry form to treat weeds (one tablespoon for each).
How to maintain a weed-free lawn
The first thing to consider is that the lawn must be densely covered with grass so that the weeds have no chance.
You also need to follow simple rules of care:
- Timely fertilize with fertilizers.
- Water the lawn regularly to protect against drought-loving weeds.
- Mow the lawn from spring to autumn.
No herbicides are needed to care for a young lawn. Mowing will solve the problem of annual weeds.
