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Weed Control
Weeds that occur
in turf can be
very unsightly,
use precious
moisture, and
rob the lawn of
its nutrients.
The two most
common types of
weeds are grassy
or broadleaf.
Turf grass weeds
are treated
either with
pre-emergence
(applied before
weed emergence)
or
post-emergence
(after the weed
emerges)
herbicides.
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Grassy
Weeds
Grassy type
weeds that most
often occur in
Minnesota lawns
are; Crabgrass,
Quack grass,
foxtail, tall
fescue, and
yellow nut
sedge. The seeds
of these grasses
fall to the
ground the
previous autumn
and germinate
the following
year, from
mid-spring thru
midsummer.
Germination
depends on soil
temperature, not
air temperature,
and generally
begins when
surface soil
temperatures
reach 55 to 60
degrees, usually
around May 15.
They grow best
in warm
temperatures
with a good
supply of water.
Each plant
produces
thousands of
seeds from
midsummer
through early
fall, when the
first frost
kills them.
There are
several
approaches to
managing grassy
type weeds in
your lawn. They
include both
cultural (non
herbicidal) and
chemical
techniques:
As a homeowner,
there are many
things that you
can do to aid
GreenCare in
providing you
with a "weed
free" lawn.
Below are some
cultural methods
that can be
used.
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Mow
as high as
possible
during the
summer months.
The seeds of
some weeds
require high
light
intensity to
germinate. The
shaded
environment
near the soil
surface in a
high-mown lawn
helps deter
weed seed
germination.
In addition,
the higher
mowing height
produces a
healthier
grass plant.
Crabgrass and
other annual
grassy weeds
are much more
common and
aggressive in
lawns that are
mowed too
short.
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Mow
often enough
so that no
more than
one-third of
the grass
blade is
removed during
a single
mowing.
Letting the
grass grow
tall and then
cutting it
back to a low
height reduces
turf density
allowing
grassy weeds
to compete
with the
desirable
grass.
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Irrigate
properly.
GreenCare
recommends one
inch of water
per week.
Light,
frequent
irrigation
encourages
weed seed
germination so
try and avoid
this practice.
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Proper
fertilization
will help to
keep your lawn
strong and
healthy to
avoid weed
infestations.
A GreenCare
lawn program
will take the
"guess work"
out of it to
ensure that
this is being
done
correctly.
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Aerate
your lawn at
least once per
season to
reduce
compaction and
to control
thatch.
Aeration is
yet another
service
provided by
GreenCare,
contact us to
today for a
free lawn
analysis and
estimate.
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Chemical weed
control is best
applied by a
GreenCare
professional.
Pre-emergent
herbicides
control
crabgrass by
preventing
seedlings from
becoming
established. To
be effective,
they must be
applied before
the seed
germinates. In
south central
Minnesota, seeds
can germinate
from late April
to mid May. To
avoid weed
infestations
later in the
season, a
GreenCare lawn
technician will
apply the
herbicide
uniformly across
the lawn to
establish a
chemical barrier
on the soil
surface. This
barrier will
last up to 16
weeks and will
provide season
long control of
crabgrass.
Broadleaf
Weeds
Broadleaf
weeds that are
most common in
Minnesota lawns
are; dandelions,
plantain,
clover,
chickweed,
creeping
charlie, spurge,
and oxalis.
These weeds are
most effectively
treated with a
post emergence
application of a
broadleaf
herbicide. Once
again, this is
best applied by
a licensed and
trained
GreenCare
professional.
Call us today
for a free, no
obligation lawn
care analysis
and estimate. We
will work with
you to custom
design a program
that best fits
your needs.
As
a reminder, all
pesticide
products that
are used by
GreenCare and
other lawn care
operators are
registered with
the EPA and have
been through an
extensive review
process. Lawn
care pesticides
that are sold by
retail stores
and used by lawn
care
professionals
usually only
carry a caution
label, meaning
they are very
safe products
when used in a
manner that is
consistent with
the label.
GreenCare
employs are
highly trained
on the safe use
of pesticides
and will not
jeopardize the
safety or health
of themselves or
others.
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