Spring has sprung and so have the weeds. Get ahead of the weeds with our Perennial Weed Control Tips.
First off, a weed is anything you don’t want. Second, May is always a good time for the lawn. It’s growing like crazy and most of the winter broadleaf weeds are dying or already dead. The winter ryes and fescues are also on their way out. The bad news is that what’s left over will stay through summer unless you impose your will upon them. Before you select a method or product you need to know what type of grass you have. The next step is identifying if the weed is broadleaf or grass. Clover is a typical broadleaf weed and on the grass side is Crab (annual), Johnson and Dallis (perennial).
Before you ask, it’s late for pre-emergent herbicides. What you are looking for is a post-emergent herbicide. This is where knowing the grass type is critical. Some products that are safe for Bermuda and Zoysia will kill St. Augustine. Sometimes in small areas, physical removal (shovel) is the best option. For larger infestation, other methods are needed. “Weed and Feed” products come into the conversation about this time. I’m not a big fan, because there are other (safer) ways to do it.
There are both all-natural and synthetic options when it comes to weed control. The grassy weeds are the hard to kill ones. The Feds have taken so many products (MSMA) off the market that it left a large hole in the product selection. One of the replacement products that has risen to the top is called “Celsius WG”. It can be used on most of the common turf grasses (including St Augustine) in north Texas. It’s a powder (very good shelf life) that comes in a 10 oz. container that will cover over an acre. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it’s expensive. As always read and follow the label directions.