Weed Plants: Lawn Weeds | Grass

Weeds are an inseparable part of the garden but everyone tries to weed out the garden weeds. It is a challenge to all lawn managers and keeping the garden or lawn weed free is a challenging task. These unwanted guests in the garden cannot be easily eradicated and total removal seems impossible. However, proper planning your actions plan against lawn weeds can help you succeed against these unwanted plants to a certain level easily

What are garden Weeds

[hana-code-insert name=’large rectangle’ /]Weeds are also called nuisance-undesired plants, which prop up in the garden automatically and spread everywhere if not contained on time. In simple terms weeds are just natural plants and like other plants, they also need water, sunlight, and nutrition in order for them to survive but they are not required in the garden. , Like other plants weeds may be perennial or annual.

From where do garden weeds come from?

Weed seeds are airborne, which means that humans, animals, insects, and even water can carry them. Even the mowers used in different gardens used by profession lawn grass management agents can possibly carry the seeds from one garden to another making your lawn prone to weeds.

Choosing and planning your preventive steps are guided by weed identification and its life cycle characteristics. Both things are important, since there are weeds that die naturally at the end of the season or are annual weeds. Some weeds can also be harmful or poisonous. Crab grass, dandelion, plantain, English daisy, dock, ground ivy, henbit, moss, and oxalis are the most common lawn weeds.

Tips to contain weed growth

Cultivate a good ground and soil.

Plants prefer fertile and less compact soil whereas weeds like poor, infertile and compacted soil. Look for weeds first before planting the plants and seeds. A through check in the starting can be beneficial than later removing the weeds

Mow often but plucking often is better.

Cutting off the weeds would help prevent weeds from growing, but apart from that, mowing might carry the seeds of weeds, so plucking out the complete weed is better than mowing. Assure that the entire root of the weeds is pulled-out so that it is unable to regenerate.

Mow at the right height and intervals.

Trimming the lawn at the shortest height will make the abrupt growth of weed seeds because they are exposed to the sunlight, which is a catalyst for weed growth. The more the sunlight the more the weeds grow faster. So maintaining proper grass height is important

Herbicides the lawn weed killers

Herbicides are good option to kill weeds, but have a drawback too, as they contain chemicals so issues of allergy, environmental safety and toxicity level should be taken care of properly. Herbicides should be used in the right quantity as overdose can kill other plats also.  Weeds should be properly identified, and related herbicide should be used. Read labels and pamphlets provided in the herbicides packing for optimum use.

Weeds Season

Check for the season in which weeds grow the maximum. Which season is favourable for weed plants? Take extra care of the lawn during this season and relax the rest of the time

Seek for professional help if you are not successful.

Consulting a lawn-care specialist would be helpful if you find yourself confused or not able to contain the weeds. Adhere to the tips provided by the professionals

Reboot the lawn.

If nothing helps the wise decision will be to remove all the plants / grass start over again.

Lawn Grass

Lawn is a small area in a garden, which is planted with grass or similar plants, which are maintained at a small and even height. Now days this is maintained by the lawn mover for an impressive look and if the lawn is small it can be maintained without a lawn mover also. Maintaining a small lawn in the house if not a garden is everybody’s dream. A well-kept lawn makes the owner happy and makes the interaction with nature pleasurable and also adds to the beauty of the house.

[hana-code-insert name=’large rectangle’ /]The lawn grass is the backbone of the lawn. Selection of lawn grass depends upon the climatic conditions in that area, its usage and its season of plantation. In spite of putting efforts, patience and care, in maintaining the lawn the final results always depends upon the quality of lawn grass.

So much research and attention is required in selection of the proper type of lawn grass suitable for your garden to maintain the garden always very beautiful and soothing.

Types Of Lawn Grass

Lawn grass can be broadly categorized into two types. One, which requires warm and humid temperature, and the other, which requires cool and dry weather. The other categorization is according to their season of foliage. The type also depends on the usage of the lawn like it may be used as turf, pitch, field or just a green sitout.

Hot and humid Season Lawn Grass

Warm season grasses only start growth at temperatures above 10 °C, and grow fastest when temperatures are between 20 °C and 40 °C and go dormant in cooler months, turning brown.

Bahia grass

Bahia grass is a perennial grass variety that lasts indefinitely. Bahia grasses are warm season lawn grasses and its resistance to diseases and pests has made it popular in this segment than some of the other warm season grasses. Bahia Grass is basically a pasture grass that can survive hot weather and even a draught like condition. This grass requires very little maintenance in terms of mowing and irrigation. So if you are looking for a grass that requires least maintenance, Bahia would be the right choice for you.

About the only visual disruption about this grass is the fact that it is a prolific grower and thus can require mowing every week during summer growth months and the other is its course look.

Bahia Grass advantages

• Easy to start from seed.
• High disease and insect resistance.
• It can survive in a variety of soils from sandy to clays.
• Bahia grows well on infertile, dry soils.
• It can withstand traffic wear and high foot press.
• Bahia grass grows thick enough to compete with weeds.

Disadvantages

• Prolific seed head production during growing season can be annoying to eyes.
• Coarse texture.
• Not suitable for high PH soils.
• Not suitable for high shade areas – performs best under direct sunlight
• Susceptible to lack of iron, causing yellow color in spring & fall.

Tip

Do not over water your bahiagrass; this grass is drought tolerant, and too much water can encourage weed growth

Bermuda grass

Bermuda grass seed produces a widely adapted warm season grass that is used for lawns, sports fields, golf courses etc. This Bermuda grass basically thrives on sunlight, which is a must like Bahia grass and require as little maintenance as Bahia grass but these lawn grasses are more prone to insects’ infections and weeds.

Carpet grass: for shady areas

One of the advantages of carpet grass is that it grows well in unfertilized soil where other grass fails to grow. Carpet grass grows well on wet soil and can even grow in shady areas where most other grasses won’t grow. Carpet grass grows best in damp, sandy soils and it is also very dense.

This kind of grass is very sturdy and can withstand heavy foot traffic and pets. Carpet Grass is shallow rooted and therefore is not drought tolerant.

Centipede grass

Centipede lawn grasses are also very low maintenance grasses suited to sandy and acidic soils that have very low fertility. Centipede grass takes a little longer to establish as compared to Bermuda grass but the advantage is it produces a dense, attractive, weed free turf.

Centipede grass is a slow-growing, creeping grass and has short stems growing upward. Centipede grass forms a thick sod and has a uniform growth pattern. Centipede grass can easily be rated best in warm season grasses, needing less watering and mowing.

Centipede goes into dormancy during winter months and due to its slow growing nature it takes longer to green up in the hot months.  It is not suitable for high foot

Cool Season Lawn Grass

Creeping Bent grass

Bent grasses are one of the most beautiful cold season grasses. Bent grass produces a good fine textured, silky soft, dense, carpet-like lawn, but needs to be carefully maintained otherwise it can quickly lose its attractiveness. It requires frequent watering and low mowing

Bluegrass

Bluegrasses are another kind of lawn grasses that is well adapted to cool season and is the standard for appearance against which other cold season grass varieties are measured. They require less maintenance. Blue grass has a dense growth and requires comparatively less maintenance. As the name suggests this grass is deep bluish or bright blue green in appearance. This grass goes dormant during hot, dry, summer weather.

Fescues Grass

Creeping fescues grass has hair like leaves and is the most shade tolerant lawn grass in the cold grass category but requires some sunlight during the day.

Fescues Grass germinates rapidly in a week or so and establishes quickly. The grass is medium green in color and spread by short creeping rhizomes. During long hot and dry season, fine fescues may lose their color rapidly.