Well, spring is here, which means gardening season (and dealing with nature’s pests) is just a few short weeks away. Before weeds begin taking over your lawn and garden, however, be sure to check out the excerpt from The River City News below to learn how to handle them this spring:
1. Crabgrass
Nip crabgrass early before it even starts with a pre-emergent. Post-emergent herbicides are not as effective. The best time for a pre-emergent treatment is now – spring, around March and April. Another way to keep crabgrass at bay is by making sure your grass is dense and healthy enough to compete against it. That means fertilizing through the season and over seeding plus and aerating every fall.
Tip: Avoid weed fabric. It only appears to work. Those crafty weeds are still under there, and once they find a hole, they are really difficult to get rid of. It’s also hard on your good plants because weed fabrics can act as a water barrier and retain heat, sometimes spiking your soil temperature to unhealthy highs.
2. Invasive Creeping Euonymus Vine
This pesky weed is a backyard bully. Euonymus vine (pictured) may be meant as an ornamental addition to your landscape, but it’s been known to creep out of the spot you picked for it, choking out all your other beloved landscape babies as it goes.
The best management is to roll up your sleeves and pull it out every time you see it pop up. Make sure to not let it climb anything, because when it does, it will seed and spread. If you really love it and want to keep it, be a good neighbor and keep it controlled. Whether they know it or not, everyone on your street will thank you!
Tip: A hand trowel is a handy tool. Have one at the ready in a really convenient spot and remove weeds on sight. If you give weeds your attention 20 minutes per week you’ll have no worries.
3. Japanese Honeysuckle
This exotic plant has a bad rap – and for good reason. It’s taken over our beautiful hillsides and woodscapes and it’s spreading profusely. It chokes out more desirable understory plants like red buds, dog woods and much more.
What do you do if you’ve got one in your yard? I love most plants, but not this one. Kill it. Cut it back severely or treat it chemically and then dig it out. In doing so, you’re saving the good plants.
Tip: One of the best ways to start the season with a clean slate is by cleaning up all excess debris and leaves and by trimming back your perennials. This will de-clutter your space and eliminate spots where weeds can hide and flourish. When everything’s cleaned up, mulch. Mulch is a great defender and protector. It keeps weeds at bay and protects the roots of the plants you love. Just make sure you spread your mulch properly to reap its full benefits.
Rent Lawn Dethatchers for your Landscaping Project
Want to get the ball rolling on that lawn-care project? Contact Rent It Today for the landscaping and lawncare tool rentals you’ll need to get the job done. You’ll find lawn lawn dethatcher for rent and find lawn aerator rentals to accomplish that picture perfect lawn you only see in pictures.
