Question
hello Ronald, nice to meet you

My lawn, which has many kinds of plants, is heavy with weeds this time of year. How do I get rid of the weeds using spray? I have been told that weed-killing sprays will also kill the plants.
What are my choices?

Thanks for your reply.

Chris

Answer
Dictionary.com defines a lawn this way.
"a flat and usually level area of mown and cultivated grass"
The important words are "mown", "cultivated" and "grass".
Let us deal with the "grass" aspect alone.

Your lawn most probably has desirable grasses, undesirable grasses and broad leaf plants.
Those undesirable grasses and broad leaf plants we will call 'weeds'.

You must first decide which 'grass' you want to cultivate and mow. You will have to identify and assess to determine whether you have enough of that desirable grass, to expend the time and effort and money to make it cover your lawn.

Let us assume that you have done this. The next step is to get rid of the broad leaf plants; and here is the first obstacle. You must choose a selective weed killer - one that will kill all the broad leaf plants (easy) but leave your desirable lawn grass unharmed (moderately difficult). 2.4D will do this but it kills some grasses - almost all that grow from seed, and others (like St. Augustine) which grow from pieces. Atrazine is safe on St. Augustine and will kill broad leaf plants BUT! It kills some grasses (like Bahia) that grow from seed.

I am not ducking the issues when I say that it is all up to you.

A lawn is a highly prized element of your landscape and you will derive great pleasure and value because of it. It is also an investment of time and money. You might well find that it is better and more economical to resod with your choice of turf.

Whatever you decide, my hope is that I have made it easier for you.