How To Get Rid Of Weeds Without Killing Grass In South Africa
What are called weeds?
weed, general term for any plant growing where it is not wanted. Ever since humans first attempted the cultivation of plants, they have had to fight the invasion by weeds into areas chosen for crops.
How To Get Rid Of Weeds Without Killing Grass In South Africa
1. Apply Corn Gluten Meal
There are nontoxic products that you can use on your grass that work just as well as herbicides, and the best is corn gluten meal. Corn gluten meal is great for your grass because it contains nitrogen, and it also prevents the seeds from weeds from germinating. You shouldn’t use it if you’ve planted seeds you want to keep, though, as it can have an adverse effect on these as well. It’s best to use corn gluten meal early in the Spring before you see weeds. Applying it to already-established weeds will just be feeding them and can make your problem worse.
2. Lay Down Mulch
One of the best ways to get rid of weeds is to prevent them from taking root in the first place. Weeds can get out of hand pretty quickly, so it’s important to do everything you can to keep them from invading your yard. For flower beds, patios, and walkways, you can apply mulch to the top of your soil. Mulch prevents weeds from getting the sunlight they need to grow, so they can’t start to grow.
3. Pull Weeds by Hand
Sometimes, the best way to get rid of weeds is to pull them out by hand. While this is not a great solution for a weed problem that’s gotten a little out of hand, it is a good — and effective — solution if you’ve just started to notice weeds popping up in your grass. Always make sure you grab the weeds at the base of the plant so you can make sure you pull up the roots as well. You can also purchase a stand-up weeder to make the job easier on your back and legs.
4. Use the Right Amount of Fertilizer
If you don’t fertilize your grass, it’s time to start. Fertilizer is essentially food for your grass, and it provides it with all of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. While it may seem counterintuitive, fertilizer can be a great way to curb a weed problem; the trick is to make sure you’re using the right amount. Too much fertilizer can encourage weed growth and send them into overdrive, whereas not enough fertilizer will make your grass too weak to stand up to weeds. The best defense against most types of weeds is a thick lawn to ensure there’s no room for them to take root.
5. Water Your Lawn Deeply
One of the biggest mistakes gardeners and homeowners make is how much they water their lawns and flowers beds, and this can have a big effect on your weed situation. Instead of watering lightly and frequently, it’s best to water your grass deeply and not too often. This kind of watering schedule will allow your grass’s roots to take hold, letting them grow strong and healthy. Strong and healthy grass means it can compete better with weeds.
6. Mow Your Lawn High
Regularly mowing your lawn is essential to keeping your lawn healthy, and it can also prevent weeds from growing and getting stronger. Even if your lawn has been cut recently, you can adjust your lawnmower to a higher setting if you’re noticing weeds appearing. Run your lawnmower over these weedy spots on a setting that’s high enough to leave your grass relatively untouched but low enough that it decapitates the unwanted weeds. If you do this regularly, eventually the weeds will stop coming back and they’ll die off. Keeping your lawn high can also prevent weeds like crabgrass from taking hold.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Why do weeds grow? Weeds are considered opportunistic and grow when conditions are favorable, such as specific temperatures, lawn moisture levels, bare or thin turf areas, and can even grow in cracks in the roads, sidewalks or driveways. Weeds have the ability to grow anywhere there’s room.
How fast do weeds spread in South Africa?
A typical garden weed can grow anywhere from 1 to 3 inches every 24 hours. A completely new weed can sprout up in your lawn or garden within 12 hours. The factors that affect weeds’ growth rate include the outside temperatures, presence of herbicides, soil conditions, and surrounding shrubs and trees.
Why do I have so many weeds in my lawn?
Conditions that cause the growth of annual grassy weeds are overwatering or light, frequent watering, a mower blade set too low or compacted soil. Grassy weeds take hold in lawns that are mowed to a height of less than 2 inches.
What are the uses of weeds?
- Weeds are used for mulching when dried.
- Some weeds like carpet grass and Bahama grass can be used to control erosion.
- Some weeds like guinea grass are used for feeding livestock.
- Weeds like waterleaf are eaten by man as a vegetable.
- The decomposition of weeds can add organic matter to the soil.
Why do weeds spread quickly in South Africa?
Competitive Ability. Some weeds grow extremely quickly because they have a short period of growth between germination and flowering. This means that they can complete seed production quickly soon after flowering. For example, the Canadian Thistle matures seed within two weeks of flowering.
Will vinegar kill weeds but not grass?
Vinegar will kill both weeds and grass, so use it carefully in your yard.
Why are weeds bad for plants?
The bad news for other plants in your yard is that weeds compete for nutrients in the soil and sunlight, which can lead to stunted growth for your vegetables, flowers and lawn. On a similar note, weeds also take up space, which can make it harder for gardens to flourish.
Is it possible to kill weeds but not grass?
In order to kill weeds growing in your yard without doing any damage to your grass you can: Spray a selective herbicide designed to kill broadleaf weeds and ignore grass. Choose a crabgrass-killing spray that is safe for your lawn grass. Spread pre-emergent in spring and fall to kill weed seeds as they sprout.
Why do weeds keep coming back?
Sometimes the cause of constant weed growth is simply down to the fact that the weeds you are removing aren’t being removed properly. Some come out easily by hand but others may leave bits of root behind and it’s these roots that allow weeds to keep coming back.
Does Dethatching remove weeds?
It also keeps moisture in the soil and prevents weeds. If you can keep your thatch at a small amount, there is no need to dethatch. The problems discussed above that thatch can cause only becomes an issue when there is too much of it.
Will grass grow back after vinegar?
Yes, unless the grass seedlings are under two weeks old. In that case, the roots are not developed enough to grow new blades. Broadleaf grasses are more likely to die back to the soil, but the roots will grow new leaf blades anyway.
Is Pulling weeds a waste of time?
By pulling weeds when they’re small, they’re not only simpler to remove, but they also don’t get a chance to bloom and go to seed, which significantly increases weed problems. Being conscientious in early weed removal also reduces the need to use chemical herbicides that are not healthy for the environment.
Will new grass choke out weeds?
In order to keep your lawn weed-free with overseeding, first, kill any existing weeds, then prep your lawn and spread new grass seed. The thick growth of new grass will choke out new weed seedlings as they attempt to sprout.
When should I treat my lawn for weeds?
Spring and early fall are the two best times to treat weeds. Grass is obviously dormant in winter, but it can also go through another dormant period in summer during an extended period of dry weather.