July 27, 2020
Summer Weed Control For Michigan Yards
Weeds in summer are as inevitable as having to deal with annoying mosquitoes . There’s just too many of them, and they seem to appear out of nowhere. Weeds can quickly ruin your home’s curb appeal and all the hard work you put into it. So how do you fight summer weeds? First, you need to understand how a weed’s life cycle works.
A Weed’s Life Cycle
A weed’s life begins as a seed bedded down in the soil of your yard. Once spring arrives, warm temperatures and direct sunlight help the seed germinate. Weeds grow faster than our grass and can quickly crowd it out. If the weed is left alone, it will flower and then go to seed in the fall. Some weeds can have two generations in a single year. The seeds are distributed on the wind and spread across your yard and even into your neighbor’s yard. Here they will bed down in the soil and wait for spring to arrive and begin the cycle all over again.
Start As Early as Possible
The most important step in preventing summer weeds is to get them as early as possible. That means breaking out the pre-emergent weed control. Pre-emergent weed control should be applied in the spring before the weeds have a chance to germinate. Pre-emergents come in liquid and granular form and work by preventing the seed from growing. This can give you an edge on battling weeds later in the season.
Target Summertime Weeds
If you were able to eliminate spring weeds early, then this next step should be much easier. But if you weren’t able to, it’s never too late to start summer weed control. Summer weeds must be targeted with post-emergent herbicides that do not harm your grass. The goal here is to kill all of the weeds before they can seed and spread their seeds over your yard. Keep in mind, there are many types of post-emergent products on the market, and each target different kinds of weeds.
Common Weeds in Michigan
- Bindweed
- Chickweed
- Thistle
- Clover
- Dandelion
- Fleabane
Irrigate Properly
With weeds taken care of, it’s time to make sure your grass gets enough water to stay strong and healthy. Our summers can get quite dry, and our yards can turn from green to brown rather quickly without water. This is when weeds take over. Staying on a strict watering schedule will not only keep your grass green but it will thicken up and prevent new weeds from germinating. Your grass should be
irrigated
at least two to three times per week and long enough to allow the water to soak deep into the roots. Use a screwdriver to check if you are watering deep enough. Remember to only water early in the day to prevent the outbreak of fungus and disease at night.
Mow High
Another way to encourage your grass to grow thick is to raise your lawnmower height . We recommend a mowing height of about 2 ½ inches to achieve optimal thickness. Letting your grass grow longer helps it stay greener longer in the dry summers and prevents weeds from getting a foothold.
Professional Help From Visionary Landscaping and Fertilization
At Visionary Landscaping and Fertilization , we specialize in Michigan lawn care. Our lawn fertilization program is designed specifically for your yard and the Michigan growing season.
We also provide comprehensive tree and shrub care programs to boost the health and productivity of your trees and ornamentals, making them more likely to attract beneficial pollinators.
