The Best Way To Banish Dandelions From Southeast Michigan Lawns

"Why doesn't my neighbor have dandelions?" It's a question often asked by Michiganders who live next door to Visionary Fertilization customers. Getting rid of weeds is a balancing act in the spring. Your grass needs to be fertilized after the harsh winter weather and heavy snow. But the last thing you want to do is feed the weeds. Turns out, some of the best spring weed control starts in the fall. Yep, you read that right. So let's see how it works.

Weeds You’re Most Likely To See In Southeast Michigan

There are two main types of broadleaf weeds, annual and perennial. Annuals start as a seed, grow, flower, produce more seeds, and then die within a year. Crabgrass is an example of an annual weed that pops up in the spring, whereas Chickweed grows in the winter. Perennials, on the other hand, typically have a two-year life cycle and can produce from non-seed parts like roots, underground tubers, and fragmented stems. Dandelions fall under this category.

Dandelions can sprout twice, in the spring and again in the fall. It's one of two reasons it's so challenging to get rid of them. The other reason? Dandelions can flower again from a broken stem. So make sure you pull the entire taproot out if you're weeding by hand.

Three Simple Ways To Fight Weeds

Like grass, weeds grow during the winter. They're just waiting for the warmer weather and abundant sunlight to appear. A dense, healthy turf is the best defense against weeds. It leaves little room for these opportunistic plants to access sunlight and space. Three ways to maintain healthy grass include:

Proper Mowing – Longer grass helps block the sun from hitting ungerminated seeds, so aim for 3 and 4 inches.
Fertilization – Proper nutrition helps boost grass health. You want to make sure you use a spreader for even distribution.
Irrigation – Weeds benefit from a dryer soil surface. Choose frequent light soaks over a singular deep soak.

Use Pre and Post-Emergent Herbicides

Pre and post-emergent herbicides are another way to help control weeds in your yard. They seem pretty self-explanatory. Post-emergent herbicides, or 'weed and feed' as they are known, are applied in late spring to help kill weeds after they've just started to grow when they are still tiny.

Pre-emergent herbicides work a little differently. According to Brad S. Fresenburg, at the University of Missouri Plant Science & Technology, they help form a layer on the soil surface to kill seedlings before its root contacts the soil. Timing is everything. You want to make sure the weather is warm (late spring, summer, early fall) and that you also follow the application up with light irrigation of about .025 to .05 inches deep to activate the pre-emergent herbicide.

Get Ahead of Spring Weeds In The Fall

Visionary Fertilization are experts at keeping weeds at bay year-round. Spring weeds are particularly tricky, but our lawn care specialists have perfected a fall treatment plan. Our team's key to success against springtime weeds is a pre-emergent designed for your lawn. We spray it in early fall to create a barrier in the soil, which is needed because your grass tends to thin out and grow short in the winter. This helps kill the current weeds and prevents seeds from taking root. It also helps minimize visits for spot-spraying patches of weeds in winter.

Maintain A Weed-Free Lawn With Visionary Fertilization

We live in Southeast Michigan, so we know the weather and soil conditions of your yard, as well as which weeds to watch out for and when they grow. Our knowledgeable and highly-trained team can help you achieve greener, healthier grass. Our 7-Step Year Round Treatment can help you stay ahead of weeds, keep root systems in top shape, and make your yard an outdoor haven. Call 586-281-5273 or contact us here to set up an instant quote today!