How to Control Weeds

They're the scourge of homeowners everywhere: those dandelions and clumps of clover that appear out of nowhere. It's not fair, after all the work you put into your lawn. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to take care of weeds in your yard.

Most lawn weeds belong to one of two categories: broadleaf (dicots) or grassy (monocots). A typical broadleaf weed is the dandelion. Crabgrass is in the grassy category.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

When your lawn is stressed, it's ripe for takeover by weeds. A few simple steps can protect it.

• Deep Watering — helps you compete by encouraging deeper root growth
• Set your lawn mower higher — using a higher setting helps shade weed seeds, so it's harder for them to grow
• Proper Feeding — feeding at regular intervals helps your lawn thicken up and fill in bare spots, making them less welcoming to weeds

How to Help a Lawn That's Full of Weeds

When it almost seems as though you have more weeds than grass in your yard, you can still get the lawn you want. For best results, try a weed–and–feed product. It kills dandelions and other major lawn weeds.

How to Help a Lawn With a Few Weeds

When you see a weed here and there, it's tempting just to pull them out by hand. Trouble is, the roots often break, and the parts that remain sprout new weeds. You're better off using Weed Killer for Lawns. It targets weeds and leaves the lawn unharmed.