Many weeds are bad, but they can help diagnose problems with your lawn.
(Courtesy: Jackfre2)
When weeds start to appear on the lawn, then the temptation is to search for and buy chemicals that best eradicate the foes. However, these substances are not good for your lawn or your garden. And we are using a whole lot of it. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans dump 90 million pounds of pesticides and herbicides on their lawns every year. Their goal is to create a lush, green yard. However, the result is the presence of nerve-damaging and environmentally hazardous stuff that are getting into our homes and traveling to our neighbor’s lawns and homes.
You may be use to applying Roundup, which contains glyphosate, and Scotts and Weed B Gone, which includes 2,4-D.
Believe it or not, there are organic alternatives that can get rid of weeds.
Know What You’re Dealing With
Believe it or not, you can actually eat some weeds. Edible weeds include dandelion, purslane, clover, lamb’s quarters, plantain, chickweed, mallow, wild amaranth, and curly dock.
Moreover, certain weeds can help you diagnose what could be wrong with your lawn.
Here are some weeds that you could encounter in your lawn, what they indicate about your lawn and how to eradicate them if necessary.
· Clover. Actually, clover is one of those good weeds. They pop up when your lawn is low in nitrogen and then help to bring the nitrogen to the soil. When mowed, the clippings will add nitrogen. Weed experts suggest that you just leave them alone.
· Dandelions. Although weed gurus say you should eradicate them, dandelions actually alert that there may be a nutrient imbalance in the lawn. These problems are usually present when there is too little calcium or too much potassium or the grass is too acidic. You should schedule a soil test to determine what specifically is wrong and then develop a plan to properly balance the nutrients. Spraying undiluted white vinegar kills the weed, but shoot carefully because the vinegar can also harm grass. If you feel energized, then use a weeder to dig out the roots. Spread corn gluten on the lawn next spring to keep the dandelions from germinating.
· Crabgrass. Crabgrass loves sunlight. Just a little bit of it penetrating the grass will allow this weed to sprout. This particular weed appears when you cut the lawn too short. Dig out the crabgrass from the roots and cut the grass higher to keep them from coming back. You can also spread corn gluten in the early spring to prevent a return.
· Mildew. This is obviously not a weed, but it can cause damage to your lawn and give it a white sheen. It appears as a result of overwatering or using too much fertilizer. Avoid fertilizing and water the lawn in the morning instead of the early evening. Grass left wet overnight is more susceptible to mildew and other fungal infections.
You can prevent the use of pesticides and herbicides on your own lawn, but the chemicals could be making their way on to your property from your neighbor’s yard. If you are aware that he or she is using chemicals, then experts suggest you dig a foot wide and 6-inch deep ditch between your property and the neighbor’s. Line the ditch with woven landscape cloth and cover with gravel to ensure that the chemicals are blocked from entering your lawn.
