Are You Using the 4 Major Methods of Weed Control?

Does your lawn care plan integrate the four types of weed control? If you're not sure, here's what you can do to use each control method's strengths for the overall success of your landscape. 

Mechanical Weed Control

Mechanical weed control is where you use some kind of tool, this also includes your own hands, to physically pull weeds.

Pulling weeds is likely to always be some part of your lawn care routine, but it's the most inefficient of all methods and one that can only target one problem at a time. Your goal should be to reduce the need to mechanically pull weeds by stepping up other, less intensive methods. 

Cultural Weed Control

Perhaps the least invasive and most long-lasting weed control method is cultural control. This method establishes a type of culture in your lawn that is not conducive to weeds growing.

For instance, choosing the right type of grass for your climate, drainage, shade levels, and location helps your lawn grow strong and thick — which in turn pushes out weeds. Optimizing your soil conditions for grass and using them to discourage particular weeds is one way you can keep your lawn looking nice without having to put in too much maintenance work after the first installation. 

Biological Weed Control

Don't underestimate the use of biological agents to help fight weeds. These agents are usually insects and other plants that help reduce weed growth. For instance, a fungus or bacteria that attack the seeds of certain weeds prevent these from germinating into full-fledged weeds. Or you might introduce and encourage specific insects that only eat the seeds of offending weeds.

While biological weed control takes more time and experimentation than most other forms, it's not very invasive and uses all-natural elements. 

Chemical Weed Control

The last resort for most home or business owners should be chemical weed control. Chemicals weed killers, or herbicides, are often very effective at targeting the weeds infesting your yard. However, they can be dangerous to use on residential lawns that are used by people, kids, pets, and other wildlife. And they may cause damage to your surrounding ecology. 

Therefore, using this method should only come with other, more proactive methods of weed control if you find the other methods too insufficient. And you should endeavor to use more organic versions of chemical weed control products whenever possible. 

Where to Start

Want to know more about how to apply each of these four parts of the weed control puzzle? Begin by consulting with an experienced lawn care service in your area. They will work with you to achieve your weed control goals while minimizing both laborious tasks and potentially hazardous materials. Call a residential lawn care service, such as Topeka's Affordable Lawn Care LLC, today to make an appointment.