Question
Hello! I just happened to google a question and wound up at this wonderful web site.  I have a 3 year old established lawn consisting of Bermuda tiff in zone 8 (TX. Every spring I face the same thing in March as we get warmer here much earlier.....that is, NUMREOUS fire ant hills and massive weeds (dandelion, clover and chickweed mainly).  

I have traditionally annihilated my lawn using various chemicals but have become increasingly aware of these dangers around my children and pets.  I no longer want to buy 3 40 lb bags of Over and Out and the same of Scott's Weed and Feed (which never really seems to be effective anyway).

This all showed up in the last 30 days and we are on a budget to treat this 1/3 acre suburb property. The only methods I know is spending $200+ for the items I listed above and then strategically having my children and pets avoid the lawn for a week (super hard!). Are there any easy, safe and affordable alternatives out there?

Please help. I especially have a big pet peeve with these little red ants!! Thank you!

Carol

Answer
Bermudagrass is an amazing plant.  You have a Grass that basically out-grows Weeds most any day.  Not ALL Weeds.  But enough.  Most Weeds.  What you need to do is pay more attention to the health of your Bermudagrass, to make it work up to its potential.

Mowing your Grass correctly -- the right height, the right frequency, the right time -- will boost its vigor almost immediately.

Watering it correctly -- the right time, the right amount -- will also boost its vigor.

Meantime, the right watering and fertilizing quickly weakens the Weeds.  Very efficient.

Let's talk about your 'Red Imported Fire Ants', Solenopsis invicta Buren.  I feel your pain.  Who needs 'em?

Back in 1997, Texas lawmakers earmarked $2.5 million for Red Imported Fire Ant research at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M, University of Texas, Texas Tech University and the Texas Department of Agriculture.  Together, they all came up with 'The Texas Two Step' was one of the results of the research.

Instructions for the Texas Two Step are posted at the Clean Air Gardening website:

http://www.cleanairgardening.com/fireants.html

Right now is the time to deal with Red Ants.  Your followups welcome.