Broadleaf weeds ruin the appearance of your lawn and monopolize nutrients, choking out the vegetation you want. They multiply easily and can quickly overrun an area if left unchecked. While many options are available, the best way to kill broadleaf weeds for good is to bring in a turf care specialist.
Broadleaf weeds can be a year-round problem. You can try to kill them with selective herbicides, manual weeding, and regular mowing. You can also avoid over-fertilizing, cutting grass too short, and using homemade solutions. Grover Turf Care provides weed removal and long-term turf management in Knoxville, TN.
What Are Broadleaf Weeds?
Broadleaf weeds are the unwanted invaders in lawns, gardens, and yards that give gardeners and homeowners a hard time. Big, nasty-looking plants like pigweed, nutsedge, and goosegrass are also tough and resilient. This makes it difficult to kill broadleaf weeds and eradicate them for good.
Common broadleaf weeds in Tennessee include:
- Giant ragweed
- Horseweed
- Palmer amaranth
- Wild cotton
Perennial varieties, in particular, are a challenge as they regenerate faster than they can be removed. They typically have wide leaves and grow from a central stem, often developing clusters of blossoms or single flowers that are considered undesirable.
Most broadleaf weeds have fibrous roots, which can be thin, taprooted, or a combination of both. They spread through seeds and underground plant systems, though some only reproduce via seeds.
Distinguishing broadleaf weeds from grassy weeds is relatively straightforward. Broadleaf weeds often have leaves with net-like veins, nodes containing multiple leaves, and may have showy flowers. In contrast, grassy weeds typically emerge as a single leaf from a germinated seed and can sometimes initially resemble desirable grasses.
How To Kill Broadleaf Weeds
To kill broadleaf weeds effectively, it’s important to choose the right methods. Using a broadleaf weed killer is a popular option. However, be cautious with chemical-heavy vegetation killers that disrupt photosynthesis. While they’ll kill the weeds, they can harm your grass too.
“Selective” herbicides are a safer choice, targeting biochemical differences between broadleaf weeds and grasses. Many “weed and feed” mixes, available at hardware stores, fall into this category. Keep in mind that covering your entire yard may require a substantial amount of product.
For a more hands-on approach, good old-fashioned weeding by hand is effective. Make sure that you remove the entire weed, including its roots, to prevent regrowth.
Additionally, maintaining a frequent mowing schedule can help control broadleaf weeds. Mowing prevents them from flowering and setting seeds, weakening them over time.
What Not To Do
It’s important to avoid certain common mistakes when figuring out how to kill broadleaf weeds. First, don’t over-fertilize your lawn. Excessive nitrogen can be harmful to your grass, actually benefiting the stronger weeds and allowing them to thrive.
Second, avoid cutting your grass too short. Scalping the lawn makes it difficult for grass to establish strong roots and compete with weeds. This creates an environment that favors weed growth.
Lastly, steer clear of homemade solutions such as vinegar. A homemade option isn’t the best broadleaf weed killer since it won’t have enough acidic properties to do an adequate job.
While homemade options may seem like natural solutions, they are non-selective, meaning they’ll kill both weeds and grass. Using homemade remedies can unintentionally harm your lawn, making it more susceptible to broadleaf weed infestations.
Stick to proven, selective herbicides when tackling broadleaf weeds. They will ensure the health and appearance of your lawn.
Long-Term Turf Management in Knoxville, TN
If you really want to know how to kill broadleaf weeds that grow on your lawn, look no further than Grover Turf Care. We provide effective long-term turf management in Knoxville, TN, using a proactive approach. To enjoy a healthy lawn with no room for weeds to thrive, take advantage of our yearly golf course approach with three applications per visit for comprehensive care.
We emphasize broadleaf and grassy weed prevention on our first visit. Using the best broadleaf weed killer, we create a barrier in the soil to prevent weed seeds from germinating. This is reinforced by a post-emergent control targeting winter broadleaf weeds like dandelions and clover. Additionally, a soil-adhering fertilizer fosters early grass growth as temperatures climb.
Our second visit sustains this approach with repeated applications of pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. A slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and micro-nutrient package further fortifies the turf against summer challenges.
In early summer, we use a preventative fungicide and insecticide application focused on grub worms and brown patch disease prevention. This is accompanied by a balanced fertilizer and herbicide for noxious weed control.
Late summer includes:
- Scouting for pests and diseases
- Spot-spraying for lingering weeds
- Applying recovery-oriented fertilizer
A balanced fertilizer and a final application of broadleaf weed killer as winter nears ensure enduring color and weed suppression. Our comprehensive strategy delivers year-round protection, fostering a lush, weed-free lawn suited to Knoxville’s climate.
Do you want a lawn that creates a lifetime of memories? Contact us today to get started!
Broadleaf weeds pose a year-round challenge. While selective herbicides, manual weeding, and consistent mowing can help control them, it’s crucial to avoid over-fertilizing, cutting grass too short, and using homemade remedies. For the most effective solution, turn to Grover Turf Care’s long-term turf management in Knoxville, TN, offering the best broadleaf weed control.
