Copyright 2010-2011 Updated December 9, 2011 Ultralawn, Inc. 1055 East 260th Street Euclid, Ohio  44132 (216) 731-7756 (440) 951-3738 About • Lawn Care • Trees/Shrubs • Pest Barrier • Questions • Contact Lawn Care   We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions Broad Leaf Weed Control A dense, healthy stand of grass is the best way to reduce broad leaf weeds in home lawns. Even with proper management, troublesome broad leaf weeds can still invade the best-cared-for lawns. These may require the careful and selective use of broad leaf weed control herbicides. A totally weed-free lawn is rarely attainable, even with herbicides. It is better to maintain a healthy lawn and tolerate a few weeds rather than to make many applications of herbicides in an attempt to eliminate all weeds. Why Doesn’t the Weed Control Kill Crabgrass? Lawn weeds mare divided into two classes based on the way in which they emerge from the seed. Mono cots emerge with a single seed leaf but Dicots emerge with two seed leaves. Most mono cot weeds found in turf grass are termed weedy grasses. Examples include crabgrass, poa annual, tall fescue, nutsedge, and quack grass. Dicots, on the other hand, are broad leaf weeds and include such plants as dandelion, clover, ground ivy, plantain and many others. Why Do I Still Have Weeds? Applications of weed control kill only those weeds already present when the herbicide is applied. They do not prevent weed seeds from germinating and developing in the lawn at a later date. Timing is Key: For effective control, weeds must be actively growing when the herbicides are applied. Applications of weed control during July and August when things are not growing as quickly can produce poor results. There is an increased risk of causing damage or discoloration to the lawn due to the increased temperatures and the lawn going through drought stress if one isn’t aware of these potential problems. Cultural Control: A dense, healthy turf is the best defense against weeds. Therefore mowing at a higher height is beneficial to the lawn. Longer grass shades the soil surface keeping it cooler, helping it retain moisture, and making it difficult for weeds to germinate and grow. (The rule of thumb is to mow often enough that you never cut off more than one third of the height of the grass blades.) Correct watering is also a very important factor in dealing with lawn weeds. With the correct watering practices the turf will become very lush, healthy, and be able to compete with the weeds.