fbpx
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Legal Notices
Lagniappe Mobile
  • News
    • Cover Story
    • Latest
    • Serial Stories
    • Bay Briefs
    • Community News
    • Open Documents
    • e-Edition
  • Baldwin
  • Commentary
    • Damn the Torpedoes
    • Hidden Agenda
    • Beltway Beat
    • The Real Deal
    • Weather Things
    • The Gadfly
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Cuisine
    • The Dish
    • Word of Mouth
    • Beer and Loathing
    • Cuisine Directory
  • Arts
    • Artifice
    • Art Gallery
    • The Reel World
    • Calendar
  • Music
    • Music Feature
    • Music Briefs
    • Music Listings
    • Submissions
  • Sports
    • The Score
    • The Starting Line-Up
    • From Behind The Mic
    • Upon Further Review
  • Style
    • Media Frenzy
    • Mobile Magnified
    • Horoscopes
    • Master Gardeners
    • Style Feature
  • Lagnia-POD

Select Page

Controlling Weeds in Your Yard

Posted by MOBILE MASTER GARDENERS | Feb 24, 2020 | Master Gardeners | 0 |

By Jack LeCroy, Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System / [email protected] or [email protected]

As you walk into many stores right now, you will already start to see fertilizers, weed herbicides and many other types of products for your lawn. Many people across the state of Alabama routinely deal with problematic weeds growing in their yard. Weed removal may seem like a simple task, but the results could be devastating if not done correctly. Here are some steps to consider before chemically treating your lawn.

Know your grass type: Not all chemicals are safe to spray on all types of grass. Many property owners have two or even three types of grasses in a lawn that weeds invade. So, make sure the chemical can be sprayed on those grass types, too.

Identify the weed: Knowing what kind of weed you’re dealing with helps you understand its lifecycle. Chemicals may be most effective for certain weeds at certain times of the year. You could waste time and money if you try to chemically treat a weed at the wrong time of the year.

Practice healthy turf management techniques: Make sure your grass is healthy before applying any weed control chemicals. A healthy lawn incorporates proper mowing heights for grass, having sharp mower blades, not cutting more than one-third of the leaf blade off at a time and making sure proper fertilizer practices are being followed. You also want to avoid treatments during periods of drought and seasonal transition periods such as spring green-up and fall dormancy periods.

Conduct a soil test: Soil is where the nutrients are held for the grass to grow. Is the pH appropriate for your specific grass type? The pH determines the availability of nutrients. If nutrients are in excess or are lacking in your soil, then your lawn can start to struggle. Be sure the soil contains enough nutrients for adequate grass growth and avoid adding needless fertilizer later.

Check your lawn equipment: Do your neighbors, friends or family members borrow your lawn equipment? If so, make sure the equipment is clean before using it to avoid weeds or seeds from another yard invading your lawn.

Read product labels: The label on any chemical bottle will tell you how to apply the chemical. Labels are often more easily read online — just be sure to search for the exact product name. It will also list active ingredients, what protective equipment you may need to wear and the ideal outdoor temperature requirements for spraying. If you spray yard chemicals during sweltering Alabama summers, then you could damage your grass and other plants.

Remember, a healthy, dense stand of grass is the best defense against pesky weeds. Crowding out the weeds and making sure they don’t have room to grow is the ideal goal. Practicing healthy turf management techniques will help limit weed growth.

For more in-depth information, check out Lawn School 2020 (below), coming up March 9-10. The $10 registration covers the classes and dinner both nights.

 


Spring Gardening Events for Your Calendar

What: Alabama Master Gardener State Conference

When: March 30 – April 1

Where: Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel, Mobile

What: Great speakers, vendors and gardeners from all over Alabama. Public welcome!

Registration open: alabamamg.org/amga-conference/2020-conference-mobile-al

 

What: Mobile County Master Gardeners Monthly Meeting

When: Thursday, March 5 (10-11:30 am)

Where: Jon Archer Agricultural Center, 1070 Schillinger Road N., Mobile

Speaker: Jason Whatley and Lesli James, “The Truth vs. Myths About Snakes”

 

What: “Seussical Jr.” for all ages, presented by The PACT

When: Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m.

Where: On the Great Lawn, Bellingrath Gardens and Home

For details: thepactmobile.com   

 

What: Lawn School 2020

When: March 9 and 10, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, 1906 Springhill Ave., Mobile

Cost: $10 covers classes and dinners both nights

Registration required: Call 251-574-8445

 

What: Plantasia Spring Plant Sale 2020

When: March 20-22. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 Museum Drive, Mobile

For more info: mobilebotanicalgardens.org

 

What: Step-by-Step Gardening Series, hands-on teaching garden demonstrations

When: March 12 (5:30-7:30 p.m.); April 12, May 14, June 11 (6-8 p.m.);

July 9 (6:30-8:30 p.m.)

Where: Jon Archer Agricultural Center, 1070 Schillinger Road N., Mobile

Cost: $70 for series or $15 per class

To register: Call 251-574-8445

 

What: Zen Gardens at the Annual Festival of Flowers

When: March 26-29

Where: Providence Hospital Campus, Mobile

What: Landscape gardens, vendors and seminars

For more info: festivalofflowers.com

 

 

 

This page is available to our subscribers. Join us right now to get the latest local news from local reporters for local readers.

The best deal is found by clicking here. Click here right now to find out more. Check it out.

Already a member of the Lagniappe family? Sign in by clicking here

Share:

Rate:

PreviousMusic Listings: February 26 – March 3, 2020
NextA Keynote to address

About The Author

MOBILE MASTER GARDENERS

MOBILE MASTER GARDENERS

Mobile County Master Gardeners are volunteers dedicated to improving quality of life by sharing horticultural knowledge & facilitating community projects. The Alabama Master Gardener Volunteer Program is an educational outreach program provided and administered by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Related Posts

The perennial return of autumn

The perennial return of autumn

August 16, 2017

Spring is perfect time to start a butterfly garden

Spring is perfect time to start a butterfly garden

April 6, 2016

The August embrace of an oak

The August embrace of an oak

August 12, 2020

The beginning of Mobile’s nursery industry

The beginning of Mobile’s nursery industry

December 19, 2018

Recommended Stories

As I lay dying

By Ashley Trice

More ’80s movie sequels, please

By Rob Holbert

Newest holiday ripe for Mobile’s plucking

By Kevin Lee

The summer bounty fills the fridge with cucumbers

By Andy MacDonald

Keep on Truckin’

By Stephen Centanni



  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contacts
  • Jobs
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Join the Sunday Brunch Newsletter

Search This Site

Browse the Archives

© Lagniappe Mobile 2022