How quickly weeds appear

A weed is a plant that grows where it is not wanted. Keeping a lawn free from weeds is nearly impossible as their seeds are very quick to germinate and only need to be within an inch of the soil surface to be able to sprout. Once they have sprouted, it doesn't take long for them to appear.

The key to weed control is to make sure you stay ahead of them. If your garden is neglected, even for a couple of weeks, it could quickly become overrun with weeds.

How to keep weeds away

A weed is just like any other plant that requires nutrients, except they compete with other plants to get the nutrients they need. A way of keeping your lawn free from weeds is to focus on how to make your lawn grow healthier.

The key things to having a strong and healthy lawn are, proper watering, sufficient nutrients and regular aeration. A healthy, strong lawn will become an unhealthy habitat for weeds. It will then be able to fight off the weeds and pests that try and take over.

What to do once they appear

Weeding is an ongoing process but once you have a healthy lawn, weeding shouldn't take much of your time at all. When they appear, the way to keeping your lawn free from weeds is to simply dig or pull them up as you see them appearing and your lawn will be kept weed free with the minimum of effort. A little weeding here and there is far better than a whole weekend's worth of work.

Use of chemicals to fight weeds

Daisy is a weed that can stand close mowing and still flower. It spreads by seed so it will be able to cover anywhere quite quickly. They are however susceptible to weed killers and you would only need to use one application to kill them.

Dandelion is a perennial weed that has large rosettes and bright yellow flowers. It can stand close mowing so the best control method is to pour salt on to the center of the weed, which will kill it overnight and then remove it by hand with removing the long tap root.

Always be careful when using any kind of chemical. Most chemicals that are used are for keeping your lawn free from weeds. However, they can also be used in flower beds but do not use chemicals until the existing plants and flowers have matured to at least four or five inches in height.

The use of herbicides should be used as a last resort. When applying any type of chemical or herbicides, make sure you have the correct weather conditions, as the slightest breeze can carry the chemical onto your plants and flowers and kill them. When spraying weeds, the nozzle should be kept close to the ground and sprayed directly onto the weed itself.

A beautiful lawn requires regular care, including the time to keep the lawn free from weeds. A little bit of time spent controlling weeds each week is much easier and more successful than trying to get rid of the weeds once they have taken over.