Having a weed-free lush green lawn is high on everyone’s garden wish list. There’s a huge sense of pride and achievement when you have a perfectly mown, weed-free lawn.
There are many different types of weeds that you may find are invading your lawn. Trying to eradicate these weeds can be a challenging task. You want to ensure that you are removing the weed without damaging your lawn. Some lawns are much more sensitive than others and require greater care.
Most Common Weeds
- Clover
If your lawn is full of clover, this means that your lawn is in need of attention. Clover thrives in soil that is low in nitrogen, this usually occurs when there has been infrequent or inadequate fertilising.
The most common form of clover is the flowered variety which is known as Trifolium. It is typically found to spread in Autumn and Winter and is best treated before it flowers. There are herbicides available that specifically treat this type of weed, and usually, two applications are required 6-8 weeks apart to effectively treat the problem.
- Creeping Oxalis
This is a small-leafed weed that is highly invasive and will spread through your entire lawn very quickly. You may not even notice that you have it at first as it is known to grow under the cover of the grass and establishes roots as it spreads. The first sign that may catch your attention is when it starts to flower.
This weed is easy to pull out. However, if you leave any leaves behind, it will continue to spread. It’s important to try and take control before it starts to flower. It responds best to particular lawn feeders, and it is best to speak to your local nursery for advice depending on the type of lawn you have.
- Bindii
Typically found in Summer, bindii is one of the most common weeds you will find in your lawn. It spreads easily and isn’t great when walking barefoot! It is known for the tiny and very sharp seeds that are painful if they end up stuck in your feet (or the kids!).
Bindii grows during Autumn and Winter, but the seeds appear during Spring and Summer. The seeds are usually spread by pets and human traffic.
You may choose to pull out bindii, but there are specific herbicides available that directly treat bindii before it has a chance to flower. You should spray your first dose in Winter and repeat every 6 weeks for two or three doses.
- Capeweed
A favourite weed amongst kids, they love to pick the yellow flowers that capeweed produces. Commonly known to make daisy chains, you may think the flowers look pretty, but the weed is one that lawn lovers love to hate!
This weed has deep roots and is extremely difficult to pull out. It thrives in poorly maintained lawns, so prevention is key when it comes to capeweed. Ensure that your lawn is well-fed and watered with no bare patches.
How to treat weeds
There are many weed killers on the market that are suitable for all common weeds. However, it’s important that you choose the correct one for your lawn. Some lawns, especially buffalo, are extremely sensitive, and these weed killers can end up burning your lawn.
If you would like to try a natural remedy, a simple solution of salt, vinegar and dish soap will be effective against most types of weeds. Using a spray bottle, treat the weeds at the sunniest time of day for the best results. This solution works by the acid from the vinegar, the salt draws moisture from the weeds, and the dish soap acts as a surfactant.
If you use the solution on a warm sunny day, you will see some results in a matter of hours, the weeds should start to turn brown and wilt.
Whilst the natural remedy may appeal to many, it is important to know that, unlike chemical solutions, the natural remedy won’t work its way down into the root system, meaning you would need to repeat it on a regular basis.
Speak to your local nursery to find the best solution for your lawn and the type of weeds in your garden.
With all our ‘How to Blogs’, we recommend that you use this as a guide only and do further research by visiting the HIA website. The HIA Website provides expert knowledge in all areas of building and home renovation.
