Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I planted seeds a couple of weeks ago and the grass is growing nicely, but it has TONS of weeds coming up with it. When we bought our home it was overrun with weeds, we killed them and planted a beautiful lawn in the front, but the lawn coming in in the back is about 1/4 weeds, and many different kinds. I don't want to kill the new grass that is growing but I would like to know what I should do...

Should I just mow the weeds to keep them short until my grass is old enough to put weed killer?

Is there anything that I can put down now that would help kill the weeds that are there? I have read that corn gluten meal will prevent new weeds from emerging (and grass seeds too, right),but what about all the weeds that are there now?  what about sugar? I don't think I really understand how the sugar would work.

Or should I just wait and not do anything until the grass is much stronger?

Thank you!

Michelle

ANSWER: Tell me please what kind of Grass ye sowed.   And your zipcode or closest big city.

rsvp,

L.I.G.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I live in Covina, CA (91722). The biggest city nearby is Los Angeles. I planted tall fescue (Marathon I).

Thanks so much!

Michelle

Answer
Tall Fescue in Covina, CA.  Beautiful.

Because simply MOWING your Lawn correctly is the single best thing you can do to get rid of Weeds.  Yes, I know, that's very hard to believe.  Read on.  Maybe you'll convert.

How often are you Mowing?  How low are you Mowing?  This is a critical piece of information.  Mowing wrong opens the door for Weeds.  Your Mowing height is dictated by the kind of Grass you have -- Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Fescue, Zoysia.

Why do Lawns get Weeds?

There are a million reasons, Michelle, and NONE of them is "Not Enough Weedkiller".  Weeds do not overtake a Lawn because there is no Weedkiller.

One of my favorite articles appeared in the Kansas State University Coop Extension, 'Horticulturist Gives Top Reasons Weeds Invade Kansas Lawns':

www.oznet.ksu.edu/News/sty/2000/weedsinvade.htm

Next on the List of Things To Do For Your Lawn: Keep Mowing!

April and May are when cool Lawn Grasses do almost half their growing for the season.  If you mow them just right next Spring, you'll be making them stronger -- while weakening alien growth in your Lawn, unsightly 'patches' included.

Purdue University's Cooperative Extension website posting, '(Lawn Care/Basics for Homeowners-Lawn Care/Mowing)', explains why (www.purdue.edu/dp/envirosoft/lawn/src/mowing2.htm#Height):  'Each turf species has a characteristic mowing height tolerance range.  Mowing at heights above this range result in poor quality turf and where scalping occurs below the desired mowing height range.'

Some very scientific data says you should mow Tall Fescue at 2 1/2 inches to 3 inches.  During Summer Drought and Heat spells, mow a half inch higher.

Purdue points out that ALL Grass benefits from the taller recommended mowings.  Mowing high keeps the blade longer, which means more Photosynthesis, which means deep root growth and healthier, disease resistant, drought tolerant Grass.

Because Nitrogen is actually one of your best weapons for whacking Weeds.

University of Illinois studied Tall Fescue fed with different doses of Nitrogen for one published study:

'www.turf.uiuc.edu/research/summaries/1994/94_3.1.pdf#search='university%20test%20mowing%20height'.  The results:

"Annual bluegrass populations [Translation: WEEDS] were greatest in Tall Fescue maintained at a 1 or 2 inch mowing height."

Researchers also observed: 'Crabgrass populations increased as mowing height decreased...'

It did not matter how much Nitrogen the grass was fed.  Any Nitrogen at all was better than none when it came to weed suppression.

Putting down ZERO fertilizer had the worst results: 'Tall fescue that was not fertilized had significantly higher broadleaf weed populations than turf fertilized with any Nitrogen.'

It just boils down to giving the Grass what it likes.  Especially when the Weeds dislike it even more.

By the way, the researchers in the study above also said: 'Even a low annual rate of Nitrogen fertilization can decrease broadleaf weed populations and reduce or eliminate the need for herbicide control.'

Let's read that again:

"...REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR HERBICIDE..."

Music to my ears.