Tips to get Rid of Hard to Control Weeds

Warm weather brings a rush of weeds, which are a blooming headache for homeowners.

Here are the top five hard-to-control lawn weeds and how best to get rid of them.

Plantain
This broadleaf weed is identifiable by its rosette of dull green, oval leaves and thick green stalks.

Plantain likes soil that is compacted and not maintained. A good fertilization program, aeration and use of an approved herbicide will help get this weed under control.

Ground Ivy
Also known as creeping Charlie, this low-growing perennial weed has rounded, scalloped leaves, small purplish flowers and a mint-like odour. It is regarded as the most difficult to control weed, growing in areas that are shady, lack fertility and/or have excessive moisture.

Hand pulling is not an option. Instead, raising the mowing height and using an approved herbicide is the recommended control method. Treatment while the ivy is flowering has shown the best results.

Black Medic
Considered an annual clover, this broadleaf weed is distinguished by its small, nearly spherical clusters of yellow flowers. It grows in lawns that are sunny, compacted and in need of fertilization.

Hand pulling in spring can work for black medic control; however, it’s very time-consuming. Instead, herbicide treatment in conjunction with a full lawn care program is a good way to reduce the presence of this weed.

Thistle
This aggressive perennial weed has purple or white flowers and stalkless, spiny dark green leaves. It can rapidly spread by seed or rhizomes (underground horizontal roots), making control difficult.

Mowing turf at the proper height will help choke out the weed. In gardens, cultivating the soil will help deplete root reserves or kill roots outright. Herbicide treatment can be greatly effective, particularly when used in combination with mowing or cultivation.

Crabgrass
This grassy weed first shows up in sunny, compacted sections of the lawn. It is a real nuisance because it spreads quickly, can take several years to get under control once established and, over time, can start to choke out desirable grass.

The best defence is a lawn that has few open sites for crabgrass to establish. In fall, any bare or thin areas should be top-dressed to ward off crabgrass seeds from sprouting the following spring. There are also a few pre-emergent weed killers available.