My half acre lot is filled with weeds. For many years I have used Scott’s weed and feed and still had plenty of weeds. Without ripping out my lawn and starting over, is there a product that I am missing?
Getting rid of weeds clover in the lawn, tips please!
- Thread starter dermacie
- Start date
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Weed be gone
What Height are you mowing at.
Leaving the grass a bit longer 3.5-4 inches helps keep weeds down as the grass is stronger. It also uses less water and the mower will stripe it better.
Remember to do all four steps in fertilization. Pre emergent in the spring. 2x weed and feed over the course of the summer about 6-7 weeks apart and winterguard after you do your fall cleanup.
Another option which my dad always did is to use a commercial fertilizer service such as Trugreen. He never had any weeds.
I hope this helps.
WK78
Leaving the grass a bit longer 3.5-4 inches helps keep weeds down as the grass is stronger. It also uses less water and the mower will stripe it better.
Remember to do all four steps in fertilization. Pre emergent in the spring. 2x weed and feed over the course of the summer about 6-7 weeks apart and winterguard after you do your fall cleanup.
Another option which my dad always did is to use a commercial fertilizer service such as Trugreen. He never had any weeds.
I hope this helps.
WK78
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
Clover
Don't get rid of clover, it fixes nitrogen into the soil by way of symbiotic bacteria. Thus you end up with greener, healthier grass.
And the bees like clover too.
Don't get rid of clover, it fixes nitrogen into the soil by way of symbiotic bacteria. Thus you end up with greener, healthier grass.
And the bees like clover too.
Clover and Oxalis look similar, but are two different types of weeds. I haven't found any type of weed-and-feed product to be effective on Oxalis. The only thing that did work was a product called "Weed Free Zone," and it requires a sprayer for application. It used to smell like vinegar, but I bought some recently and it now smells more like weed killer, so that's something to keep in mind if you have pets.
I am cutting low and not using the four steps. I will look for trugreen.
Trugreen is good:
But stop cutting low and mow between 3.5 and 4 inches. Three inches is OK in early spring and late fall, But NEVER go shorter than that. Also make sure you are scraping out the deck and sharpening the blade regularly. When Northern grasses are cut low it weakens and dries them out and this allows the weeds to overtake. Also the mower will not leave a good stripe in grass cut too short.
WK78
But stop cutting low and mow between 3.5 and 4 inches. Three inches is OK in early spring and late fall, But NEVER go shorter than that. Also make sure you are scraping out the deck and sharpening the blade regularly. When Northern grasses are cut low it weakens and dries them out and this allows the weeds to overtake. Also the mower will not leave a good stripe in grass cut too short.
WK78
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">When we moved in this house four years ago, the lawn had been neglected for a while and was more weeds than grass. We use a local service who come out at least four times a year to do the basics. If we see any weeds in between they will come out and treat them at no cost. Four years later our lawn is weed free and has filled in nicely. I think it took two years for the weeds to be completely gone and the grass has filled in nicely. He leaves a document each time outlining what he did and with recommendations on watering. He even helped us calibrate our sprinkler timer so we didn't over/under water the lawn. I know he had a discussion with my husband on how high to cut the grass but I don't know what they decided. I just know that sometimes he cuts high, sometimes low. Sometimes he catches the grass and sometimes he doesn't. I don't deal much with the outside stuff so I can't say much about the reasoning for when he does what.</span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">I would recommend a service like this. We pay I think $67 per application, four times a year. It's not as cheap as doing it yourself obviously but they analyze the soil and other factors and adjust the treatments for those factors. If you have the ability to determine these factors and adjust your treatments you will probably save some money we just don't know enough about it to do it ourselves while getting the results we wanted.</span>
<span style="font-family: helvetica;">You will save money using a local company vs. some of the national ones. We found ours on nextdoor.com and have been happy with them. We have become familiar with the gentleman who comes to do the service. He always calls the day before to make sure we are not planning to cut the grass that day or run the sprinklers, etc. </span>
Gordons Trimec And it really works! I do not have a weed in my half acre lawn. I apply it two or three times per year. https://www.lawnandpetal.com/trimec-weed-killer-review-top-3-recommended-trimec-products/
Probably a very different climate here, grass grows fast and most of the year, but I made a very deliberate decision to let part of my lawn and garden go petty to meadow and it looks fantastic! I’ve wild flowers off all sorts, lavender, wild garlic and butterflies, bees and birds are loving it. I left tree stumps and dead wood too to improve insect habitat and it’s really paid off.
As for my lawn - I quite like the daisies, moss, clover, forgetmenots and even the dandelions. It gets a mow once in a while but I like to keep it a bit wild and fluffy. I’ve about a quarter of an acre as that kind of lawn, another quarter as wildflower meadow and the final quarter is dense deciduous trees and kept petty wild but slightly tidy.
As for my lawn - I quite like the daisies, moss, clover, forgetmenots and even the dandelions. It gets a mow once in a while but I like to keep it a bit wild and fluffy. I’ve about a quarter of an acre as that kind of lawn, another quarter as wildflower meadow and the final quarter is dense deciduous trees and kept petty wild but slightly tidy.
norgeway
Well-known member
I mow
About 1 inch if it lives it lives if it dies it dies I have 2 acres to mow The quicker i stunt its growth the better the less i have to mow
About 1 inch if it lives it lives if it dies it dies I have 2 acres to mow The quicker i stunt its growth the better the less i have to mow
billythekid
Member
OP said...."without ripping out my lawn and starting over, is there a product that I am missing?"
No mention of using a surfactant (wetting agent); using this with weed killers significantly improves performance. Makes killing to weeds like clover and especially oxalyis using weed-b-gone easy. Oxalyis leaves are like a freshly waxed car, weed killer without a surfactant just beads up and runs off, waste of time and product.
No mention of using a surfactant (wetting agent); using this with weed killers significantly improves performance. Makes killing to weeds like clover and especially oxalyis using weed-b-gone easy. Oxalyis leaves are like a freshly waxed car, weed killer without a surfactant just beads up and runs off, waste of time and product.
I agree, clover isn't so bad. In fact it can be kind of cute.
The problem on my block is that I estimate about 1/3 of the front lawns are pretty much weed patches. The other 2/3 are reasonably well maintained, either lawns or rock gardens.
My front lawn is mostly grass, although I don't mind the occasional low lying vegetation that isn't exactly grass. Dandelions and similar weed seed spreading stuff I tend to remove.
The problem on my block is that I estimate about 1/3 of the front lawns are pretty much weed patches. The other 2/3 are reasonably well maintained, either lawns or rock gardens.
My front lawn is mostly grass, although I don't mind the occasional low lying vegetation that isn't exactly grass. Dandelions and similar weed seed spreading stuff I tend to remove.
viewsaver
Member
Ortho does make a Weed-B-Gone version for oxalis, wild violet, clover and other hard-to-kill weeds. I chase plenty of these weeds along with a whole host of others. I find the Weed-b-Gone products (as well as their crabgrass preventer) are superior to any "weed-n-feed" product and better than most of the other brands of liquid weed killers.
Chris
Chris
I think sooner or later those clean cut immaculate English lawns will go the same route as floor to floor carpeting or caged eggs.
Usually the US is the trendsetter of the world but on this one I think you`re just late to the party.
How could anyone consider the beauty of clover or dandelion as weed?
Just let it grow, enjoy the flowers for a while then mow them and repeat as desired.
Of course you can`t do this if 99% of the neighborhood still believes in Monsanto and considers anything else as a neglected mess.
Sorry for my rant, I know it`s not helpful
Usually the US is the trendsetter of the world but on this one I think you`re just late to the party.
How could anyone consider the beauty of clover or dandelion as weed?
Just let it grow, enjoy the flowers for a while then mow them and repeat as desired.
Of course you can`t do this if 99% of the neighborhood still believes in Monsanto and considers anything else as a neglected mess.
Sorry for my rant, I know it`s not helpful
The clover never bothered me until the neighbor next door got a lawn service who sprays for weeds. Now mine looks bad. I am too frugal to pay for a service, I did spray with Ortho weed clear on Friday. We shall see how well it works.
Or do what I'd like to do....concrete the whole yard and paint it green
Greg, sometimes I say I'd like to concrete the yard too, so I wouldn't have to mow it. Then I remember I'd have to clean it!
I like having violets, and they're one of my favorite parts of Spring. Clover is ok, and dandelions while they're yellow.
I like having violets, and they're one of my favorite parts of Spring. Clover is ok, and dandelions while they're yellow.
justjunque
Well-known member
Derek,
Your yard sounds a lot like ours. Also a half acre. Also, comprised mostly of weeds.
Granted, mowing is about the only thing we do by way of maintenance.
I've never felt the need to have a perfect lawn. Most lawns in our neighborhood are pretty close to perfect though.
Ours is presentable if you're just passing by. Especially when it's freshly mowed. At least the weeds are green.
Clover is a big presence in our yard. This year, for the first time, I've actually avoided mowing most of the side lot. It's not easily seen from the road. And, when I tried to mow it, it was absolutely teeming with honeybees.
Since we're huge fans of the little yellow guys, I won't hit them with the mower. Then, even when they're gone in the late afternoon, I didn't have the heart to destroy all their flowers.
So, one section of our yard is a little meadow of white flowers; full of happy little honeybees.
I know this does absolutely nothing to answer your question. I apologize for that.
But, your yard sounded so much like ours, you just inspired me to share my story.
Thanks for reading. I hope someone enjoyed it!
Barry
Your yard sounds a lot like ours. Also a half acre. Also, comprised mostly of weeds.
Granted, mowing is about the only thing we do by way of maintenance.
I've never felt the need to have a perfect lawn. Most lawns in our neighborhood are pretty close to perfect though.
Ours is presentable if you're just passing by. Especially when it's freshly mowed. At least the weeds are green.
Clover is a big presence in our yard. This year, for the first time, I've actually avoided mowing most of the side lot. It's not easily seen from the road. And, when I tried to mow it, it was absolutely teeming with honeybees.
Since we're huge fans of the little yellow guys, I won't hit them with the mower. Then, even when they're gone in the late afternoon, I didn't have the heart to destroy all their flowers.
So, one section of our yard is a little meadow of white flowers; full of happy little honeybees.
I know this does absolutely nothing to answer your question. I apologize for that.
But, your yard sounded so much like ours, you just inspired me to share my story.
Thanks for reading. I hope someone enjoyed it!
Barry
