5 Effective Ways to Control Weeds on Your Lawn This Summer

The mortal enemy of lawns all over the world, weeds are stubborn plants often able to grow in some of the harshest environments, making taking over a well kept lawn an easy feat. Below is a run down of the most common weeds found in Calgary lawns and how you can control weeds.

Different types of weeds in Alberta

The first step to determining how to rid your lawn of these pesky intruders is determining what kind of weed(s) you’re dealing with, here are a few of the most common weeds Calgary residents can expect to find in their lawns:

• Canada Thistle – Many weeds look pretty at first glance, but can be dangerous to any other vegetation around them. Canada Thistle is no exception. Sprouting up with small purple flowers, you may be tempted to leave these weeds alone and let them grow, but be warned. Their creeping roots are known to crowd out forage grasses and outgrow native species, taking over pastures and rangelands. 

• Dandelion – As one of the most common and well known weeds, dandelions are recognizable by their bright yellow flowers, turning to white balls of fluff near the end of their life cycle. Although the growing buzz around the potential health benefits of dandelions may make it tempting to let them flourish in your yard, it is not recommended. Once allowed to fully establish its 10-inch-long taproot, dandelions are notoriously difficult to get rid of.

• Common Milkweed – This perennial weed bears balls of pink flowers and large leaves, along with a poisonous milky latex sap called cardenolide. When ingested in large quantities, this substance can cause cardiac arrest in humans and animals alike making common milkweed dangerous to ignore.

• Crabgrass – Named for its crablike qualities, crabgrass appears to be a coarse, light green clump of grass, but don’t be fooled. With stems resembling crab legs, and a low profile, crab grass easily eludes lawn mower blades, easily allowing this annual plant to live long enough to spread its seeds and reappear in years to come

Now that we know a little bit about what we may be dealing with, what can you do to prevent or eliminate these nuisances?

1. Be Proactive

The best way to control weeds in your lawn is by being proactive and creating a less than optimal environment for weeds to sprout up in. Maintaining healthy soil by properly applying fertilizer at the right times creates a thicker turf, in turn providing your lawn resistance to control weeds. Crowding out weeds, reducing garden digging and using mulch in flower beds are a few other ways you can proactively prevent future weed growth.

2. Leave it Alone!

While it may be tempting to reap the benefits of tilling, it’s recommended you avoid as much digging and turning over of the soil as possible. Tilling can bring new seeds from weeds you’ve already eliminated to the surface where they’re able to germinate and spread, sending you frustratingly back to square one making it even harder to control weeds.

3. Mulch Much?

Topping flower beds off with mulch is a simple and economical way to keep weeds at bay. Mulch blocks the light, depriving weeds of one of the most important things it needs to grow. Using an organic mulch can also provide nutrients, keep the soil cool and reduce loss of water through evaporation. 

4. Maintenance is a Must

When it comes to control weeds, a proper lawn maintenance schedule is crucial. Regularly tending to your flower beds and mowing your lawn throughout the summer season is one of the simplest ways to prevent weed invasion. We also recommend leaving seeding and, if necessary, aerating for when the leaves start to change and the mercury drops. 

5. When in doubt, call the professionals

If you’ve done everything right, and still find yourself with hard to control weeds as stubborn as a toddler with a “great” idea, there’s only one thing left to do – call in the professionals. Offering 3 lawn care packages covering everything from basic maintenance to season long fertilization and weed control services, overseeding, and our signature Love Potion, our lawn care specialists at Lawn Lovers are happy to answer any questions and help you choose the best package for your lawn’s individual needs. Contact us if you need help to control weeds!