Lawn weeds not only affect the hobby gardener's green business card visually, but also in their entire existence. To successfully remove dandelions, speedwell and the like, we have put together the 10 best tips for you.
What is the best way to control weeds in the lawn?
To effectively combat weeds in the lawn, you can use manual weeding, mechanical scarifying, black plastic film, chemical sprays, combination products of weed killer and fertilizer, liming, natural home remedies, professional mowing, turbo reseeding or rolling turf. Use sandwich method.
Tip 1: Remove lawn weeds manually – this is how it works
Using the classic weeding method, you remove unwanted growths from the lawn by hand. In the early stages of the infestation, this effort can prove to be quite effective in permanently removing lawn weeds. First and foremost, it is the annual seed weeds that need to be destroyed. Remove perennial root weeds such as brownwort or buttercups as follows:
- Ideally, a downpour has softened the grass ground
- Use a weed cutter (€8.00 on Amazon) to reach deep into the soil to capture the plant including roots and runners
- Shake the device back and forth a little and pull the lawn weeds out of the ground
The weed cutter is designed so that no pieces of roots remain in the ground. The plants are able to sprout again from even the tiniest remains.
The most common lawn weeds
Almost 1,000 plant species are classified as weeds by definition. The following table shows which species particularly stand out as lawn weeds:
| Annual lawn weeds | Perennial Lawn Weeds | Lawn moss |
|---|---|---|
| Chickweed (Stellasia media) | Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) | Silver pear moss (Bryum argenteum) |
| Medium plantain (Plantago media) | Small dock (Rumex acetosella) | Sparrowed Wrinkled Brother (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus) |
| Millet/Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa) | Creeping Gunsel (Ajuga reptans) | Moss (Muscopsida) |
| White clover (Trifolium repens) | Small brownnock (Prunella vulgaris) | Liverworts (Hepaticopsida) |
| Thread Speedwell (Veronica filiformis) | Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) | Hornmosses (Anthocerotopsida) |
| Daisies (Bellis perennis) | ragwort (Senecio vulgaris) | Peat mosses (Sphagnidae) |
| Report (Atriplex micrantha) | Sorrel (Lotus corniculatus) | |
| White Goosefoot (Chenopodium album) | Common horn trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) |
Tip 2: Remove weeds from the lawn mechanically
If lawn weeds are already causing havoc over a large area, there are limits to manual control methods. In order to free the stressed green area from weeds, you can get help from a scarifier. This is a special device that uses its blades to comb out clover, moss and other weeds. Here's how to do it:
- Mow the lawn to a height of 2 cm
- Scarify the area lengthwise and crosswise
- Carefully remove and dispose of the combed out weeds
- After waiting 7-14 days, fertilize the lawn and spray it repeatedly
Tip 3: Destroy lawn weeds with foil
On smaller patches of lawn, you can destroy weeds without any physical effort or mechanical support using a black plastic film. This acts as an effective remedy against weeds because it interrupts the supply of light. Where no sunlight reaches, there is no photosynthesis and therefore no growth.
The tarpaulin is fixed with stones, sand or plastic anchors. After a wait of 2-3 months, the lawn weeds died. The grass, on the other hand, will recover quickly as part of professional lawn care. It's even quicker to reseed a type of lawn that's suitable for the location.
Tip 4: Use chemical sprays against weeds in the lawn
If you have to deal with hard-core weeds in your lawn, manual and mechanical techniques will be ineffective. If you don't want to decide on a new plant and don't want to turn your lawn into a wildflower meadow, you can't avoid using a chemical weed killer. The following sprays are approved for home gardens and have proven to be effective:
- Bayer Garten universal lawn weed-free
- Anicon Ultra Lawn Weed Free from Celaflor
- Compo Lawn Weed Killer Perfect
- Lawn Weed Free Plus from Neudorff
- Banvel M lawn weed killer
For these weed killers to develop their full potential, spray them preferably in mild, dry weather. Ideally, the lawn was fertilized 14 days beforehand because sprays work through the leaf mass. We therefore recommend not mowing the lawn in the days before.
Tip 5: In a double pack against lawn weeds - this is how it works
Take control of lawn weeds with a combination product of weed killer and fertilizer. While the contained agent is active against weeds, the grasses are supplied with nutrients over a period of 100 days. In this way, you not only free the green area from annoying plants, but also transform it into the lush green carpet you long for.
- Beckmann premium lawn fertilizer with weed killer
- Compo UV Lawn Floranid
- Substral lawn fertilizer with weed killer
- Dehner weed killer plus lawn fertilizer
- Floranid lawn fertilizer against weeds and moss
- Manna Dur UV weed killer with lawn fertilizer
In order to achieve the desired result, the lawn is first mowed and scarified. Then use the spreader to distribute the combination anti-weed agent and water with the lawn sprinkler. Mowing will only start again when there are no more fertilizer grains to be seen.
Tip 6: This is how lime acts as an effective weed killer
A perfectly maintained lawn has a pH value between 6 and 7. If this value falls below 5.5, the soil acidity drifts into the acidic range. Most weeds and mosses thrive in such soil. Therefore, first test the pH value of a weedy lawn using a test set from the hardware store. According to the results, the lawn is limed carefully.
So that the lawn can process the lime as well as possible, it is scarified in advance if possible. If fertilizer is to be administered, there should be an interval of 3-4 weeks between the two preparations. Do not spray any anti-weed products during this time, otherwise an incalculable accumulation of the active ingredients could occur to the detriment of the lawn.
If you are confronted with lime-loving weeds such as horn trefoil, we strongly advise against liming. Since the pH value in this case is likely to be above 7 anyway, lime now has a counterproductive effect.
Tip 7: Remove weeds from the lawn using natural means
In the naturally managed garden, home remedies are king. Environmentally conscious hobby gardeners are therefore always on the lookout for a natural remedy against weeds, beyond the back pain caused by weeding, expensive rental fees for scarifiers and the chemical club. With a lot of persistence you can remove lawn weeds like this:
- Sprinkle dandelions repeatedly with pure charcoal ash in autumn
- Seed weeds, such as couch grass, should never be allowed to bloom by consistently plucking them out
- Water root weeds with boiling water, pull out the dead part and water again
- Cut thistles off shortly before a rainstorm so that the stems rot afterwards
Tip
A traditional home remedy for killing weeds is frowned upon today. In Grandfather's time, vinegar and s alt were used as sprays on paths and surfaces. However, the two active ingredients combined destroy all life in the soil. In the new version of the Plant Protection Act of 2012, spraying vinegar and s alt is prohibited and non-compliance is punishable by heavy fines.
Tip 8: Professional mowing as a means of combating weeds – this is how it works
Used correctly, the lawn mower serves as a powerful tool against weeds. Lawn weeds rely on a sufficient amount of light to germinate. Therefore, do not mow deeper than 4 centimeters. At this cutting height, weed seeds are permanently shaded by the grass, which prevents germination.
To free the lawn from weeds, it should be mowed as regularly as possible, every 7 days. Over time, the unwanted growths weaken and ultimately retreat. If you also give the green area adequate care, new weeds will no longer take root. A balanced water and nutrient balance is just as important as annual scarifying and ventilation.
Tip 9: Suppress weeds in the lawn with turbo reseeding
Various weed control products leave more or less large bare spots and holes in the lawn. So that cunning lawn weeds do not immediately colonize here again, reseeding with a turbo effect counteracts this. For this purpose, specialist retailers offer products that consist of a special lawn soil and quickly germinating lawn seeds.
The gaps or unevenness are filled with the agent, rolled and then watered. In the period that follows, the new lawn grows so quickly that flying weed seeds have no chance to germinate.
Tip 10: Rolled turf sandwich method as final weed destruction
If a lawn only faintly resembles a green carpet, creative hobby gardeners use the turf sandwich method. Within a day, the garden is decorated with a velvety showcase lawn, completely free of weeds. This is how it works:
- Mow the weedy lawn as short as possible
- Compensate any unevenness with a mix of compost and sand or topsoil
- Lay the freshly delivered lawn rolls side by side and offset
- Finally, roll the new lawn lengthwise and crosswise and water thoroughly
The dense sod of the rolled turf reliably prevents the lawn weeds underneath from fighting their way to the surface.
Tips & Tricks
While mulch on the lawn promotes the growth of weeds, grass clippings themselves serve as effective mulching material in the bed. However, fresh cuttings should not be used. Simply let it wilt in a corner of the garden and spread it thick in the kitchen garden or perennial bed. This suppresses weeds, the soil stays moist longer and is supplied with additional nutrients.