When the winter weather rolls into your town, the last thing on your mind is weed control. Cold winters can slow the growth of weeds, but those warm winters provide a ripe environment for them. You never can tell what Mother Nature has in store for your area. That is why you need a winter weed prevention plan. Without some intervention during the colder months, you could end up with crabgrass or chickweed in your yard.
Winter Is the Perfect Time for Weed Growth
As all your turf turns dormant for the season, weeds continue to grow throughout the winter. Crabgrass and henbit love the cold, and they will slowly grow over the season. When the weather starts to warm up, you can expect to see them flourish throughout your yard. In turn, these pesky weeds will take all those valuable minerals and water from your grass and plants.
Even if you don’t live in a warm winter climate, you still should be concerned about weed control. One warm winter can provide a suitable environment for those weeds. You want to have a plan for winter weed treatment. With the right treatments, you can catch those weeds and prevent their rapid growth in your lawn.
Winter Weeds Can Damage Lawns
Whether you have cool- or warm-season grasses, they can all be affected by winter weeds. If you want to prevent any of these weeds from harming your lawn, you need to stop them from taking root. For those overseeded lawns, these winter weeds can be extremely harmful to your seedlings. Your new growth is very vulnerable, and you need to protect it to ensure a healthy lawn. Unfortunately, winter weeds are aggressive and prevent vital nutrients and water from reaching your seedlings’ roots. If you have cool-season grasses, you want to take special care since winter weeds can be devastating to these varieties.
Choose a Pre-Emergent for Your Lawn
In the fall, you want to apply a pre-emergent weed control product to stop those winter weeds. Pre-emergent products can be applied to the ground when the temperatures are around 30 to 50 degrees. If you want to apply the product to the entire yard, you can use a spreader or sprayer. In some cases, you might not see any results with these products. For those cases, it may be time to use a post-emergent solution. These products are applied directly to the weeds. Unfortunately, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. You need to choose products based on your specific grass species.
Identify Those Weeds
Before you start to spray your yard, you need to correctly identify the invasive growth in your lawn. In some situations, you may need to wait until they break the ground. When the weeds are large enough, you can visually identify them. At this stage, the weeds can be effectively treated. However, you can create some problems by waiting to treat your lawn. During this time, nutrients and water have been siphoned away from the root system of your grass. In turn, you may see some brown spots in your yard.
Common Weeds in the Winter
Henbit and annual bluegrass are some of the winter weeds that you could see in your yard. However, crabgrass is the most destructive weed in the winter. Crabgrass is insidious as it can begin to germinate early in the season when homeowners are not focusing on their lawn care. When the temperatures start to break the 50-degree mark, you will start to see those thick blades of grass penetrating the ground’s surface.
Crabgrass is a nuisance because it can quickly spread. If you think that mowing crabgrass will remove it, you may want to find another solution. Those small patches of crabgrass can drop seed throughout your lawn. These seeds will start to sprout in early February, but the growth may not show up until mid-March. For those homes with warm-season grasses, the elimination of crabgrass can be a hassle. You will want to apply a pre-emergent weed control treatment to your space. Many of these treatment options work the best when the temperatures are cooler. For that reason, it is vital to create a winter weed treatment plan.
Winter Weed Control Methods
In addition to pre-emergent weed control, there are other products on the market. Some of them are even designed to target certain weeds, such as crabgrass. As previously stated, you need to know the type of weed in your yard. Not all weed control products can remove crabgrass from your turf. You might end up spending money on products that will not provide you with the best results for your space. With the right information for your yard, you can find a formula and solution to prevent these winter weeds in your lawn.
Winter weed control treatments can stop those weeds from germinating in your yard. Once the weeds have established themselves in your turf, then you start to limit your options to remove them from your space.
Don’t Stop Weed Control for the Winter
While it is cold and dreary, you still need to think about the health of your lawn. As everything is dormant, those winter weeds are slowly growing under your property. You need to keep up on the maintenance of your yard, including winter weed control measures. If these weeds are left untreated, you may have a big problem when the weather starts to warm up. Before you have a massive problem in your outdoor space, make sure to take care of those winter weeds.
We’re Ready for Those Winter-Related Issues
At Charlestown Landscaping, we can help you stop those winter weeds from choking your grass and plants. Our team has the expertise to apply the right methods to prevent the weeds from spreading throughout your space. If you have an existing issue, we will find a solution to keep your lawn looking its best. For those who need expert help with their lawn care issues, please take a few minutes to fill out the contact form.