No one wants a lawn full of crabgrass, dandelions, or other weeds. Yet, those pesky plants seem to pop up everywhere and thrive even in the inhospitable desert region. If you want to enjoy the sort of lawn that you’d love to run around barefoot on, you’ll need to take a few precautions to prevent weeds from invading your territory—or call a professional landscaper to do it for you.
When Laying New Turf
If you’re establishing brand new turf, you can use landscaping fabric to prevent weeds from settling in. After bringing in a load of topsoil and preparing the soil, lay down sheets of landscaping fabric directly on the soil. The fabric should only be one layer thick. Then, install the new turf on top of the fabric. The new grass will be able to grow roots through the fabric, but weeds won’t be able to push up through the fabric.
During the Spring
Early in the spring, you should apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your entire lawn. Herbicides are typically comprised of toxic chemicals, so be sure to wear gloves and take other safety precautions as directed on the product label. Then, monitor the lawn for signs of new weed growth. Hand-pick any weeds that do emerge as soon as possible to prevent them from going to seed and multiplying. You can also use post-emergent spot herbicides, which are sprayed directly on existing weeds.
In the Fall
Fall is a great time of year to strengthen the resiliency of your lawn. You can reseed any areas of the lawn that have gotten patchy to help prevent new weeds from establishing there. You can also apply a layer of fertilizer and have a professional aerate the lawn.
For all of your lawn care needs, you can trust the expert landscapers at Complete Landscaping. We provide Tucson-area homes and businesses with a full suite of services, including landscaping maintenance, design, installation, and irrigation repair. We’ll even spray for weeds twice per year at no additional cost for HOAs! Call (520) 323-8918.