How Can I Prevent Weeds in My Lawn and Garden this Spring?

Spring is prime-time weed prevention before they start popping up! Beat those weeds to the punch this spring by using these three weed-prevention tips to help your lawn grow thick and lush (leaving no room for pesky weeds!).

Tips to prevent weeds before they start growing in spring:

Look for where weeds are likely to occur

Spotting weeds is easiest during the early spring months when your lawn first starts to green up. Weeds grow best in thin grass and bare areas of exposed soil. Common places for thin grass include:

• Damage from winter
• Pets
• Shady areas
• Roots at tree bases
• Heavy traffic areas

Tackling problem areas before weeds get too big will prevent them from spreading! If you notice compacted soil, brown spots, or bare spots with poor growth you may want to try topdressing or aerating. Both will help with the conditions in your yard before you start seeding.

Pull weeds early with a preventative weed killer

Pulling weeds early is key to getting them under control this spring.

Hand pulling individual or large weeds to remove the entire root. If that’s not doable you may need to use a preventative weed killer.

Spray lawn weed killer to control crabgrass and other weeds. Our weed preventer also has iron to help green up your lawn too!

Why you should pull weeds when they’re little: Smaller weeds have underdeveloped roots that are easier to pull from the ground. You’ll also notice that by pulling weeds when they’re small you don’t disturb the soil as much. Weed killers also work better on younger weeds than mature weeds.

Top dress thin areas to prevent weeds

Encouraging your lawn to grow in thick and lush is one of the best ways to prevent weeds. Even lawns with the best maintenance will experience dead grass each year. By topping off your lawn each spring you can prevent weeds from filling in thin spots.

How to Top Dress Thin Lawn Areas:

Look for thin spots when it’s consistently above 50° for cool-season grasses and 70°F for warm-season grasses.

Apply weed preventer and compost mix to thin spots.

Seed your lawn.

For best results, overseed your lawn every spring or fall (cool-season grasses) and spring (warm-season grasses). This will ensure a thick carpet of grass that’s tough for weeds to penetrate.

Bonus Tips to Prevent Weeds All Season Long

Don’t want to worry about weeds next Spring? Follow these simple steps to give yourself a head start this season.

• Water wisely: Too much water and not enough water are both causes for weed development. Lawns that are watered correctly are more resistant to weed.
• Mow your grass to the right height: Taller grass can help prevent weeds by shading out weed seedlings.
• Use a dandelion and weed killer to target hard-to-remove weeds without damaging your lawn or garden.

Additional ways to prevent weeds year round

overseed every year. You don’t want to just seed once and think your weed problem is gone. Annual seeding will create a thick mat of grass that’s hard for weeds to crack through.

Just remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Acting in the spring to stop weeds before they start will set you up for a weed-free lawn all season long. Learn where weeds are prone to grow, pull weeds as soon as you see them, and use these tips to prevent weeds from spreading!