![\"tall](\"http://lawnstarter.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/tall-fescue.jpg\")
We take pride in our lawns in Columbus. The grass that covers your landscape is like a cover to a book. People will assume the inside of your home is just as pristine as your yard. That’s why this quickstart guide to lawn care in Columbus is crucial. Contents: The 4 Most Popular Grass Types […]
\n","content":"\nWe take pride in our lawns in Columbus. The grass that covers your landscape is like a cover to a book. People will assume the inside of your home is just as pristine as your yard. That’s why this quickstart guide to lawn care in Columbus is crucial.
\n\n\n\nContents:
\n\n\n\nSince we get more than the average amount of precipitation (more than 56 inches a year), lawn care in Columbus is relatively easy. We still need to water occasionally and mow often. How often you should mow, and water depends on the type of grass covering your landscape.
\n\n\n\nTall fescue grass is perfect if you don’t want to spend a lot of time watering and maintaining your lawn. This variety is drought-resistant and will survive a hot, dry summer. It also holds up well during our cold winters.
\n\n\n\nIt does grow quickly and will need mowing at least once a week. It looks best when mowed between 3 and 3½ inches.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZJelm3O3DzG-doQdR0rekiXL7qGVKJkSrPMH5HtEnRlFQG1syvtDf97LmhStDSawKjpyNspADimLJDukiJt27dgNso9M6DtmZ149IM6dducfpnoF_YFeAlbSUpRE0mOR-BKOpiaO\")
This is the most common grass you’ll see on Columbus lawns. Kentucky bluegrass is an eye-catching shade of deep green, but in the spring, the bluish-purple buds tint the landscape blue.
\n\n\n\nAs a cold-season grass, Kentucky bluegrass holds up well to winters here. It’s long-lasting and resilient to heavy foot traffic, It’s also more resistant than other grasses to disease. If you’re planting a new lawn, keep in mind bluegrass takes one to three months to establish itself, so it’s best to plant it in the spring or fall. We recommend mowing this grass to a height of 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vzmTOQphoueWk2oivJZRNZ0nObnaicYDQED1O7Pkx_t6faunOvLpkDV07otpxZ4I801ugNHs1nBw_yCFJeamA6ZerGu-TMWtXd8WxmfCCxEd-Q5jq8q-VQSXgoyhNnuMpHH2mtUy\")
Got kids and pets? Perennial ryegrass is perfect for your yard. As one of the toughest sods, it can stand up to heavy foot traffic and hot and cold weather. Like Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, it continues to grow in poorly drained soil. It’s best to keep this grass shorter, 1½ to 2½ inches.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"http://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/rsz_pixnio-4149-2560x1920-1.jpg\")
Buffalo grass is a North American native turf you can plant and almost forget about. It’s extremely versatile and doesn’t require a lot of attention. It’s also durable and can bounce back after a heavy snowfall and a lot of foot traffic. You should mow Buffalo grass at a height of 2½ to 3½ inches.
\n\n\n\nNever cut more than one-third of the height of your grass. If you cut too much off at once, your grass becomes vulnerable to pests and diseases. Got an overgrown lawn? Sorry: Do multiple mows, taking off one-third each time. Most turfs need a weekly mow until late fall when the growth slows down or stops. Vary the pattern and direction each time you mow. It reduces compaction of the soil and stops your grass blades from leaning in one direction, making the cut uneven. Leave the clippings in the yard as you mow. They will decompose and fertilize your lawn. If you hire a lawn service professional, make sure to remind this person.
\n\n\n\nMaintaining your lawn mower is an essential part of lawn care in Columbus. A poorly maintained mower can damage your lawn.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"/](\"http://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/rsz_11pixnio-46676-6144x4096-1.jpg\")
Dull mower blades will tear the grass instead of cutting it. Shredded grass blades are ugly — and less disease-resistant. With sharp mower blades, you cut efficiently and put less strain on your mower’s engine. Many hardware stores can sharpen them for you, or you can do it yourself in less than an hour. Just make sure you disconnect the spark plug or cord first.
\n\n\n\nYou can adjust the cutting height by raising or lowering the mower’s wheel. Look on the side of your lawnmower and find a knob or lever that adjusts the height for your grass type.
\n\n\n\nClean the blades often, so you don’t spread fungus and other lawn diseases throughout your yard. The same goes for pruning shears and other gardening tools.
\n\n\n\nOnce you put the mower away, you’ll need to make sure your lawn stays thick and green once it comes out of dormancy in the spring. You can do this by preparing it in the fall.
\n\n\n\nYour lawn will start to look tired and worn out after a summer of use. By raking up all debris and thatch and spreading fresh seed, you can replenish some of those bare patches over the fall and winter. A thinning lawn is an invitation for weeds and pests. You can spread seed over the smaller areas by hand, or rent a seed spreader for the entire lawn.
\n\n\n\nYour soil can become compacted after a summer full of heavy traffic. Poking tiny holes in the lawn, or aerating, gives the grass a chance to take in more moisture and nutrients. It also raises the lawn’s resistance to diseases and pests. Do this in the fall, just before you add fertilizer. Fertilizing the lawn at the end of September will help it make it through the cold winter. Before deciding which fertilizer to use, find out what your lawn needs. You can get a home soil test kit at your local home improvement store. The extension office at The Ohio State University can recommend labs in your area to test the soil for you.
\n\n\n\nYour lawn may need a little more moisture before it goes dormant over the winter. Keep your sprinkler ready until the first frost. A few good soakings will give the roots of the grass the strength it needs to make it through the winter. You also want to make sure the new seeds and fertilizer work their way into the soil. Check with the city or Wikilawn’s post for lawn watering restrictions in your area.
\n\n\n\nWhile you won’t be mowing in the winter, you can’t completely forget about your lawn after it goes dormant in fall. It’s crucial that you rake up the leaves, or mulch them finely with your mower. Wet leaves that pile up will suffocate your lawn and invite disease. Be sure to remove any lawn furniture from the grass and avoid walking on the lawn when it’s covered with snow or frost. This could damage the lawn when it’s dormant.
\n\n\n\n1. How do I clean my lawn mower blades?
\n\n\n\nLay the lawn mower on its side and spray down the mower casing and blade with a high-pressure hose to remove all the grass and debris. It’s crucial that you empty the gas tank and disconnect the spark plugs first.
\n\n\n\n2. Will lawn decorations harm my grass?
\n\n\n\nYes, especially if those ornamental decorations are heavy. Avoid heavy holiday decorations to save your grass from mold and tearing. As far as those garden gnomes? Look for smaller ones and place them at the edge of your yard. You may also want to move them around every so often to allow the sun and water to reach those covered spots.
\n\n\n\n3. Will long periods of snow in the winter damage my lawn?
\n\n\n\nIt can. When the snow and ice melt, your lawn becomes vulnerable to snow mold, a fungus that can affect cool-season grass types. You can prevent snow mold by avoiding walking on your snow-covered lawn and by fertilizing in the fall, before the first frost.
\n\n\n\nDon’t have the time or energy to keep your lawn looking pristine? We’ll help you find a lawn care and landscaping professional who can handle the work for you while you sit back and enjoy your yard.
\n\n\n\nMain photo credit: Rawpixel
\n","title":"Your QuickStart Guide to Lawn Care in Columbus, Ohio","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5247776365946633,"src":"/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/1789c/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/107df/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.jpg 320w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/293e9/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.jpg 500w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/f2cbb/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.jpg 800w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/1789c/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.jpg 960w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/c26c2/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/1dd6e/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/67b76/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.webp 320w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/8df11/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.webp 500w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/98a65/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.webp 800w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/1dd6e/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.webp 960w,\n/static/7cd9ef2ce2f7b7cc97bf1a5993e08a4f/3cc96/rsz_2screen_shot_2022-08-08_at_10209_pm.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"Your QuickStart Guide to Lawn Care in Columbus, Ohio | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Want a lawn that will turn your neighbors green with envy? Our Columbus, Ohio lawn care & mowing guide will help you keep your lawn green and lush."}},"relatedPosts":[{"node":{"id":"1e29b4b2-88ce-5c3d-8adf-117bde6af896","slug":"the-2018-community-cultivator-awards","path":"/blog/the-2018-community-cultivator-awards/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Wikilawn","id":"706a455e-0b9c-56ea-aeed-4f411c6c1973","path":"/author/wikilawn/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fd0301960c52ded452e0b5fc145cb264?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"}],"date":"January 16th, 2019","excerpt":"The 2018 Community Cultivator Awards recognize the top gardening blogs of 2018. Editor’s Note: We would like to give a big thanks to all members of the gardening community! Please keep up the hard work as we enter the new year. Winners of our award may display our Community Cultivator Award badge on your favorite blog post, home page, or […]
\n","content":"\nThe 2018 Community Cultivator Awards recognize the top gardening blogs of 2018.
![\"\"/](\"https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zupWsS_c1ZNb_kp7eDlCdRI5WebLPZtcsj2u8BPWBbL4j9ceyE6erFquHWVCijlIEZeVFDyHqvN4F0AmtIg7t_4OuDwqzFxqsewbJcE_Y6Dltl9wXbr96P31L69234SrjLZ7CzJT\")
Editor’s Note: We would like to give a big thanks to all members of the gardening community! Please keep up the hard work as we enter the new year. Winners of our award may display our Community Cultivator Award badge on your favorite blog post, home page, or however you see fit. If you have any feedback for us, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to us.
Gladwell’s 10,000-Hour Rule states that anyone can become an expert in their field if they dedicate 20 hours of work per week for 10 years.
Certainly, this list of gardening bloggers met and beyond exceeded Gladwell’s Rule. They are leading experts in their fields, or more accurately, their garden beds.
It wasn’t easy, but we scoured the internet to find the 50 best gardening blogs of 2018 to continue reading in 2019.
\n\n\n\nWe know that gardening goes beyond our own individual gardens, and that’s what the Community Cultivator Award is all about! Bringing our online gardening community together.
Here’s the deal, there are literally thousands of incredible, hard-working gardeners who share their stories, photos, and expertise with the online community every day, but we couldn’t possibly include them all.
Therefore, our Editorial Team has spent countless hours searching for what we think are the most interesting gardening articles on the internet, and of course the blogs that created them.
Our selection of the top 50 gardening blogs is based on the following criteria:
\n\n\n\nBy sharing stories of their successes and failures, these bloggers help keep the online gardening community thriving, and ensure a community for future gardeners.
Best of all, you can help us strengthen the online gardening community by sharing this article with your friends, and leaving your comments below.
But now, let’s find out who the winners are…
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Carla Weir
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/gaia-s-organic-garden.jpg\")
Gaia’s Organic Gardens is Carla Weir’s dream blog. She encourages other gardeners to grow their own food and use sustainable living practices, while offering encouragement and advice on how to avoid pesticides and toxins in your garden. If your goal is to have an organic lifestyle and be aware of your environmental impact, Gaia’s will offer you a plethora of advice.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Make a Wicking Bed
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Urban Gardeners Republic Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/urban-gardeners-republic.png\")
Urban Gardeners has a mission to create 1,000 gardens in 100 cities in the next 5 years. Wow! What a goal! Their goal is to inspire people and provide the knowledge necessary to start these gardens. They want to write DIY posts and build a community of urban gardeners that can help readers locally. That is a mission, and a blog, that most readers can appreciate.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Indoor Herb Garden for Herbs Nerds
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Linda Ly
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/garden-betty.png\")
Linda is the woman behind Garden Betty, and she focuses her blog, growing her own food and using that food for great meals for her family. Her blog also features information on backyard chickens, parenthood, outdoor adventures, and more. Many of these topics fascinate gardeners as well. She offers information for new gardeners and those with more experience.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Boost Your Brainpower: Sniffing Rosemary Can Make You Smarter
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Ann Katelyn
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/sumo-gardener.jpg\")
Ann, the owner of Sumo Gardener, loves gardening, and her goal for her website is to offer the best guidance for readers. She offers advice for experienced and beginning gardeners; you can find something for everyone on Sumo Gardener!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Level a Bumpy Lawn
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Erin Schanen
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-impatient-gardener.png\")
If anyone has a passion for gardening, it’s Erin. She is a DIY gardener on 1.3 acre of property. She gardens in southeastern Wisconsin, in zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening. You can find the ugly truth and the amazing beauty in her blog. She talks about the funny things and the goof ups – because they happen. At the same time, you’ll find information and inspiration.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Treat your pruners right with a spring spruce-up
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Cottage Life Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cottage-life.png\")
Perhaps you’ve heard of Cottage life before. It is a well-known home and gardening magazine that began in 1988. The Cottage Life blog has agricultural information along with style ideas for your outdoor living spaces. If your goal is to become a master gardener, Cottage Life is for you.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Gorgeous gazebos we’d love to take shelter in this summer
\n\n\n\nAuthor: SeedMoney Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/seed-money.png\")
Gardening and cooking experts go hand in hand, and Seed Money offers that. Their goal is to provide financial support for public food garden projects. This is important work, particularly in areas without access to healthy produce. You also can find delicious recipes that utilize the fresh produce grown in the gardens.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Planting Garlic in the Fall
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Alaska Master Gardener Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/alaska-master-gardener.jpg\")
Growing a garden in Alaska isn’t the easiest feat considering the drastically cold temperatures and short growing season. Alaska Master is a place where gardeners can share their knowledge and expertise in Alaska gardening. The gardeners talk about the challenges they face in different parts of the state and how they overcome these challenges. It’s helpful for those who live in this climate and inspirational for those of us who don’t. Plus, the pictures shared are lovely.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Interior Gardeners: Like Ducks to Water
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Pam Dawling
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/sustainable-market-farming.jpg\")
Pam is the author of two books – Sustainable Market Farming and The Year-Round Hoophouse. On her blog, you can read about her farming at Twin Oaks, her farm for the past 25 years. Her blog gives you an insider’s viewpoint on the happenings of the farm and how they manage the three and half acre gardening space. She offers tons of photos, as well as links and resources to help you along your journey.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Alliums for November: Plant garlic, sow onions in a hoophouse, eat leeks
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Elien Lewis
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/home-grown-happiness.jpg\")
Ellen, the author behind Home Grown Happiness, lives in New Zealand with her family and garden. Homegrown Happiness is where she shares how she grows as much homegrown and homemade food as possible. Not only does she share gardening tips and advice, like how to use manure in gardens, but she also provides delicious recipes that she makes for her family. Some of the recipes even include awesome videos!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Healthier Homemade Ginger Beer
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Carol Bartlett
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-sunday-gardener.png\")
Carol has over 20 years of gardening experience in New England. Her diverse garden includes herbs, wildflowers, and other plant life. The Sunday Gardener is a garden guide with plenty of information for gardeners, on topics such as flowering plants or climbing plants.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Why Deadheading is Important
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Ann T.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/keeper-of-the-home.jpg\")
Keeper of the Home is more than just a gardening blog. It’s a one-stop blog for people who like to live a natural lifestyle. The writers share homemaking and family advice, natural remedies, real food recipes, and ways to reduce the toxins in your household. Many people who garden also are interested in these topics, so it’s a nice mix of encouragement and information.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Teach Your Child to Love Vegetables: Gardening with Children
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Jay
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-scientific-gardener.jpg\")
Do you want to grow melons? The Scientific Gardener is a melon master, and he grows everything from cucumbers to Caroselli. The blog provides tips from creating the best soil to how to control diseases on these plants. Chances are you’ve never seen many of the melons that are featured on this blog. It can be quite fascinating, especially because he provides ample pictures!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: The Tondo Tarantino Melone
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Roger Brook
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/no-dig-gardener.jpg\")
Roger is a gardener addict with years of experience. The No Dig Gardener gives Roger a place to spread his gardening knowledge. What he offers is beyond the basic information for those who are ready to dig deep into gardening. He doesn’t want to recycle information, so what you find here is often fascinating.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Don’t Fluff Up Your Soil
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Gayla Trail
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/you-grow-girl.jpg\")
Gayla Trail started You Grow Girl in 2000, and the blog has continued to grow over the years. It is a space for gardeners and do-it-yourself lovers to learn how to explore growing plants. She offers a different approach to growing plants and enjoys breaking traditional molds.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Tomato Growing Guide
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Jeanne Grunert
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/home-garden-joy.jpg\")
Jeanne is a Master Gardener from Virginia, and her advice can be found in publications such as Mother Earth News and the Virginia Gardener. She offers expert advice about gardening and organic solutions, as well as a, peek into her own garden. You can’t help but love the recipes she includes as well!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Organic Solutions to Control Squash Bugs
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Lee Miller
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/a-guide-to-ne-gardening.jpg\")
Lee Miller is a well-experienced gardener, and A Guide to Northeastern Gardening gives those who live in this area of the country advice and help. She includes expertly researched articles that include everyday gardening tips as well as advice for those growing rarity plants. If you love her blog, Lee also published two gardening books – A Guide to Northeastern Gardening and Landscape Design Combinations.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Deer Resistant Plants in the Landscape
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Lisa Steele
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/fresh-eggs-daily.jpg\")
Any chicken owner and lover know the blog Fresh Eggs Daily. Lisa is a master gardener and an herbalist who strives to raise her animals as naturally as possible. She offers practical advice and inspirational pictures that will make you want to go get a whole flock of chickens right now.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Plant an Edible Flower Garden for Your Chickens
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Keri Byum
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/miss-smarty-plants.jpg\")
If the name of this blog doesn’t make you smile, the information that author, Keri, gives to her readers sure will! Keri is a Florida expert in gardening, and she works as a horticulture expert for a large theme park in Orlando. Miss Smart Plants provides easy-to-follow advice for gardening, as well as lawn care! All of the images on her site are her own, which really helps you connect to the articles she writes.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Help Your Lawn Look Its Best This Summer
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Dee Nash
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/red-dirt-ramblings.jpg\")
Dee Nash, an Oklahoma native, has an eye towards color and a passion for gardening. Red Dirt Ramblings offers guides for different plants and gardening techniques. Her articles are made even more enjoyable by the gorgeous pictures she includes of her gardens and plants.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Best Summer Plants for Containers
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Jessica Lane
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/104-homestead.jpg\")
Jessica Lane is the author behind The 104 Homestead, and she is on a journey to learn how to become self-sufficient. On her blog, you can find new and traditional methods of homesteading. You can use these methods and advice to help start your self-sufficient homestead, even if you live in the city.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Composting Guide for Beginners
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Caro Shrives
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-urban-veg-patch.jpg\")
Caro Shrives is an outdoor adventurer and a home cook who watched her grandparents in their gardens as she grew up. Her childhood encouraged her to begin her own garden. Urban Veg Patch is where you can learn about the food-growing process and see the process. You learn how to grow the veggies and then how to use them in the kitchen.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Timely Tips for a Heatwave Garden
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Erin Benzakein
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/floret-flowers.jpg\")
Chris and Erin Benzakein are the brainchildren behind Floret Flowers. They run a small flower farm that will take your breath away with their inspiring colors. The Benzakeins won the 2014 Martha Stewart America Made award.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: “Other” Fun Fall Bulbs
\n\n\n\nAuthor: One Green Planet Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/one-green-planet.jpg\")
As you might imagine from the name of the blog, One Green Plant focuses on compassion for the environment. One of the goals of One Green Plant is to help homeowners understand how to avoid water waste and pollution of the natural surroundings. The gardening advice offered on this blog is eco-friendly and “green.”
Our Favorite Post of 2018: An Overview of Square-Foot Gardening: How to Do It and Why You Should
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Helen Johnstone
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/patient-gardener.jpg\")
If you love gardening, The Patient Gardener will feed your soul. Helen, the blog’s founder, works outside of the home, but she uses this blog as a way to pen her own personal notes from her garden. Best of all, Helen offers solid tips and advice about seasonal gardening.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: End of the Month View – October 2018
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Helen and Sarah
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/toronto-gardens.jpg\")
Living in such a cold climate means that growing plants, particularly flowers and veggies. Toronto Garden features two writers – Sarah and Helen. Both are witty and produce high-quality gardening advice. If you live in such a cold climate, Toronto Gardens will help you learn how to ensure your garden survives in such cold temperatures. It’s a good read!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: On Ants, Aphids, and Mutualism
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Jean McWeeney
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/dig-grow-compost-blog.jpg?fit=896%2C1024&ssl=1\")
Jean is a biology major from the University of Texas, and she has a love and fascination for gardening. She is a full-time “Natural Garden Coach, helping others have their dream garden. Her blog is worth reading especially with her 40 years of experience!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: What is it about Austin Gardens?
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Alea Milham
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/premeditated-meals.jpg\")
Alea Milham shares her love for cooking and living intentionally on her blog She shows readers how to save time and money, allowing them to have more resources to devote elsewhere. She shows readers how to grow vegetables at home, and shows them delicious recipes for the veggies!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Prepare Your Flower Beds in the Fall for Next Spring
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Emma Cooper
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-unconventional-gardener.jpeg\")
Emma loves edible and useful plants, and The Unconventional Gardener is where she puts all of her information that she knows. Emma has a lot of background knowledge, so you will learn plenty by reading her articles. You will learn how to protect your crops from pests, but you may also journey with Emma to some different parts of the country.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: The Elephant (Hawk Moth) In the Garden
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Simon Eade
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/garden-of-eaden.jpg\")
The Garden of Eaden began in 2008, and it’s a leading gardening blog in the UK. The Garden of
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Growing Your Own Food From Seed
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Claire Jones
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-garden-diaries.jpg\")
Claire, the writer behind The Garden Diaries, has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Style Magazine. Her blog focuses on her passion as a garden designer. She also offers insight on how-to gardening posts and beloved fairy gardens. In fact, some of her designs have been featured on Houzz!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: DIY Birdseed Ornaments
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Jessica Wood
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/rusty-duck.png\")
The Rusty Duck follows the author, who decided to move to a simpler life in the country. They purchased a cottage that needs to be updated and a garden. It’s a fascinating blog where you can also see their wanderings and places that they visit.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: The First Day of Spring
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Alexandra Campbell
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-middle-sized-garden.jpg\")
Is your garden a bigger than a courtyard but smaller than an acre? Then the Middle-Sized Garden blog is for you! The author, Alexandra Campbell, covers everything from composting, gardening books, and garden decorations. Her blog focuses on showing readers how to save time, money, and effort in their middle-sized garden. She wants to make your life easier, and we think that’s pretty awesome.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: The 25 Best Self-Seeding Plants to Save You Time and Money
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Marianne Willburn
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/small-town-gardener.jpg\")
We love The Small Town Gardener and her insights into gardening. You can find posts about whether or not you should clean up your fall garden and if weeding during the winter is a good idea. Marianne Willburn, the author, talks about her favorite plants and the maintenance required in her garden. Her pictures are inspirational and lovely!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Growing a Beautiful, Not Just Edible, Vegetable Garden
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Sunita Mohan
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-urban-gardener.jpg\")
Sunita Mohan, the author behind The Urban Gardener, covers a lot of flowers and ornamental gardening that readers value. Her pictures are lovely, and her blog has won several awards such as the Best Asian Blog and The Best Garden for Wildlife Blog. You’ll love all of her insights!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Choices for a Gardener
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Lisa K. Wagner
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/natural-gardening.jpg\")
Lisa Wagner is the writer behind Natural Gardening, and her blog covers three gardens in different locations – Quebec, North Carolina, and South Carolina. She focuses on planting native plants that are homes to birds and insects from the regions. Most of her posts are small segments that may cover something she is thinking about that day or a recipe she found for the day. All of her posts have lovely photos that might be from her walk in one of her gardens or preparing for the gardening season ahead.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Weeding Overgrown Beds
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Darren Sheriff
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-citrus-guy.jpeg\")
Darren Sheriff, a Master Gardener, uses The Citrus Guy blog to teach and educate his readers about gardening. He talks about growing citrus fruits, ordering seeds, and taking care of his native plants. Darren recently wrote a new book too, so if you love his blog, check out his book!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Citrus Freeze Damage and What You Should or Should Not Do
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Shawna Coronado
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/shawna-c.jpeg\")
Shawna is a wellness lifestyle advocate who is a photographer and author. Her blog covers a multitude of topics from healthy recipes and travel, along with gardening. Most of her gardening posts a simple how-to blogs that her readers find helpful, like how to get rid of Japanese beetles and how to grow a shade vegetable garden.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Best Chocolate Avocado Smoothie Recipe
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Luke Marion
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MIgardener.jpg\")
MIgardener is the brainchild of Luke Marion, where he focuses on giving great gardening advice along with top gardening products. He sells non-GMO seeds and fertilizers, along with other items. The blog is an awesome source of information, like how to use grow bags and gardening with dogs.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Garden Barefoot with These 5 Amazing Living Ground Covers
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Lynn Hunt
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-dirt-diaries.jpg\")
Lynn Hunt loves gardening, in particular, he loves roses. Her blog focuses on her garden outside of her North Carolina cottage, which has a lot of roses. She loves roses so much she is called The Rose Whisperer, and she is an award-winning writer. Lynn doesn’t write posts too often, but when she does, they’re eloquently written with lovely pictures and plenty of inspiration.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Birds I Have Known
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Gardening Wizards Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/gardening-wizards.png\")
Gardening Wizards cover a variety of topics, and they offer several buying guides. Looking for the best bug zapper or the best electric log splitter? They have a guide to help you with thoroughly written reviews for the best products. You’ll also find plenty of how-to posts like how to grow turmeric and how to grow a yield of potatoes!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How Long Does It Take to Grow Potatoes
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Garden Collage Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/garden-collage.jpg\")
If you like to look at pictures of beautiful gardens, Garden Collage is for you. Take a peek at some gardens in Paris or stroll through a New York Botanical Garden. The authors take you around the world to see different gardens and gain inspiration.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Use Face Oils
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Garden Reviewers Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i2.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/garden-reviewers.png?fit=1024%2C176&ssl=1\")
Garden Reviewers has an abundance of posts from buying guides to gardening infographics. They offer articles like The Best Wheelbarrow of 219 and tips for winterizing your lawn. You can find creative gardening ideas or how to create a pet-friendly garden. So, the Garden Reviewers is a place to check for a variety of information and posts.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Health Tips for Those People Who Love to Garden and Work around the House
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Rhonda Gales
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/mother-2-mother.png\")
Rhonda is the mother behind Mother 2 Mother and she really blogs about everything from adult education and parenting tips to recipes and gardening. Mothers can truly relate to her blog since it’s a collection of things we do every day. We love her gardening category because it includes a bit of everything like gardening projects for kids and how to clean up a fall garden. Rhona has a bunch of goodies for her readers!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Start a Sweet Potato Vine from a Cutting
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Gardening Know How Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/gardening-know-how.jpg\")
Gardening Know How offers tips for all gardeners, whether you grow herbs, vegetables, or native plants. You can find something useful on this blog. They share posts like The Best Greenhouses and the Top 5 Orchids. Gardening Know How shares a lot of how-to posts as well for new and experienced gardeners.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Soak Seeds Before Planting and The Reasons for Soaking Seeds
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Isis Loran
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/family-food-garden.jpeg\")
Isis is the main author behind Family Food Garden, and her goal is to grow as much food for her family. She is a modern homesteader. Her blog doesn’t just stop with vegetable gardening. She also includes tips for indoor gardening and flower beds. Isis talks about family life, homesteading, and home remedies. You’ll find great posts like how to grow a year-round garden and a homesteading task list month-by-month.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Cheap Mini Greenhouse for Seed Starting
\n\n\n\nAuthor: The Farmer’s Wife
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/the-real-farmhouse.png\")
Are you interested in a farmer’s life? Check out The Real Farmhouse. They share posts like how to grow food for profit and why you should use heirloom seeds. Her posts often are very actionable with tips and tricks you can use and apply now.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: The Perks of Living on a Farm
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Kevin Espiritu
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/epic-gardening.jpg\")
Kevin, the author behind Epic Gardening, helps thousands of people become expert gardeners. His posts are full of knowledge and tips. Some of his recent posts include things such as how to use cornmeal in the garden and what to feed your worm compost!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: How to Grow Spinach The Right Way
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Linda Lehmusvirta
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/central-texas-gardener.jpg\")
Central Texas residents should take a look at Central Texas Gardener. It’s full of resources and interesting blog posts. All of the articles are related to what Central Texas residents might experience, such as dealing with drought and picking the right fruit trees for the region.
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Lessons from Urban Farmers to Grow in Heat
\n\n\n\nAuthor: Savvy Gardening Team
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/savvy-gardening.png\")
Savvy Gardening has several writers that share their gardening expertise and tips. They have sections on ornamentals, edibles, insects, and more. You can find information about growing tomatoes and different houseplants. They post articles about fertilizers and drying herbs and flowers. It’s a collection of awesome info!
Our Favorite Post of 2018: Shade-Loving Perennial Flowers: 15 Choices
That’s all folks! Once again, thank you to all memebers of the gardening community, featured in this list or not. Let’s keep it up in the new year!
\n\n\n\nPlease visit our Lawn Care page if you’re looking for lawn care advice or visit our Home & Garden section for gardening articles of our own.
\n","title":"The 2018 Community Cultivator Awards","featured_media":null,"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"The 2018 Community Cultivator Awards | Top Gardening Blogs | WikiLawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":""}}},{"node":{"id":"c8821141-6409-59b1-9d5a-5a8360c22227","slug":"how-to-test-and-improve-your-soil","path":"/blog/how-to-test-and-improve-your-soil/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Alison is a Midwesterner through and through, and loves to spend her time baking and reading. Always at home in the dirt, as a kid, Alison raised a vegetable garden with her dad, and flower gardens with her mom.","name":"Alison Hoover","id":"2d4efd75-80f4-58b0-b715-bcefffb32f2f","path":"/author/alison-hoover/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/54d52d00b8587655742aec8164f06427?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"5bb57152-2e9b-5822-a133-bc84c122adab","name":"Landscaping","count":42,"path":"/category/blog/landscaping/"}],"date":"March 11th, 2023","excerpt":"A great-looking lawn begins with great soil. Testing the acidity and composition of your soil is an easy process. Let’s break down why and how to test and improve your soil, as well as the soil amendments you’ll want to consider. In this article, we’ll cover: Why You Need to Test and Improve Your Soil […]
\n","content":"\nA great-looking lawn begins with great soil. Testing the acidity and composition of your soil is an easy process. Let’s break down why and how to test and improve your soil, as well as the soil amendments you’ll want to consider.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\nPlant growth is impacted by the pH balance of the soil. Grass and plants can’t survive in soil that’s too acidic or has too much alkaline. The pH number ranges from 1 to 14. A level below 7 is considered acidic, and above 7 is alkaline. A measurement of 7 is neutral.
\n\n\n\nKnowing the pH of soil lets you decide what to plant and where. The results of a soil test will also indicate how you can improve plant quality. This includes adding fertilizers and other amendments.
\n\n\n\nYou can buy a soil test kit at any home improvement or lawn and garden store. Choose a kit based on what you want to learn about your soil. These kits will come with detailed instructions from the manufacturer.
\n\n\n\nAt-home testing kits are accurate enough for the casual gardener and lawn enthusiast. If you’re looking for something more specific, you should consider a full nutrient analysis. Your local cooperative extension office can provide you with the soil testing kit and perform the analysis.
\n\n\n\nThe testing process will vary slightly depending on the kit you purchase, but the general process will be the same.
\n\n\n\nPro Tip: If your sample has lots of earthworms wiggling about, this means your soil already has a strong composition of organic matter.
\n\n\n\nA soil amendment is anything added to the soil to improve nutrients, water retention, pH levels, air intake, and absorption. The goal of mixing amendments into your soil is to improve the environment for healthy root growth.
\n\n\n\nThere are two categories of soil amendments:
\n\n\n\nWhile mulch can be used to improve soil properties, it is not considered an amendment since it sits atop the soil.
\n\n\n\nThere are many options for amendments depending on what your soil test indicates. Cover crops and composted manure are great options, but not always necessary for home gardeners.
\n\n\n\nMost residential soils will benefit from one of the following common amendments:
\n\n\n\nSome gardens will require very specific adjustments and might require one of the following:
\n\n\n\nThere are three broad classifications of soil based on the rock particles it contains. Texture can be amended by adding organic matter such as compost or plant material.
\n\n\n\nGarden soil should be about 5% organic matter. Organic matter ensures the release of nitrogen is adequate to support your lawn and plants without additional fertilizers.
\n\n\n\nWhen should you add soil amendments?
\n\n\n\nAdd organic amendments in the fall, allowing earthworms to work it deeper into the ground by spring.
\n\n\n\nIf you need to amend in the spring, do so as soon as the soil is dry enough to work with.
\n\n\n\nHealthy soil is the first step to healthy and lower maintenance gardens.
\n\n\n\nWhat elements should I keep in mind when amending my soil?
\n\n\n\nFrequent testing will help you determine if your amendments are working. Once you get the soil where you want it, you only need to test every couple of years.
\n\n\n\nSamples should come from near the plant roots. This could be a specific garden bed or a tree’s root system. To assess the soil quality in your lawn, take samples from different areas based on conditions.
\n\n\n\nPhosphorus: Promotes root growth, plant maturity, and winter hardiness.
\n\n\n\nPotassium: Disease resistance, drought tolerance, and plant strength.
\n\n\n\nCalcium: Improves soil structure, aeration, and water retention.
\n\n\n\nMagnesium: Improves plant growth and chlorophyll production.
\n\n\n\n
While testing the soil in your yard might not be an overwhelming task, amending it might. If you find yourself short on time, patience, or ideas, consider calling on a local lawn care professional. The pros know just what to do to keep your soil healthy and when to do it, allowing you to simply enjoy the outcome.
Main photo credit: Rawpixel | CC0 1.0
\n","title":"How to Test and Improve Your Soil","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.518987341772152,"src":"/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/1789c/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/107df/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.jpg 320w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/293e9/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.jpg 500w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/f2cbb/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.jpg 800w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/1789c/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.jpg 960w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/c26c2/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/1dd6e/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/67b76/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.webp 320w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/8df11/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.webp 500w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/98a65/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.webp 800w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/1dd6e/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.webp 960w,\n/static/6ff1687d7c242a663bf398fbfcca52d9/3cc96/rsz_1screen_shot_2022-08-10_at_14109_pm.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Test and Improve Your Soil | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Healthy soil produces healthy plants and lawns. We’ll show you how to test and improve your soil for a greener lawn."}}},{"node":{"id":"92f50ab2-818b-5568-95a0-6b1bdfa44cc8","slug":"how-to-make-homemade-weed-killer","path":"/blog/how-to-make-homemade-weed-killer/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"LaShonda Tucker is a freelance writer, poet, and spoken word artist in Atlanta. She earned her masters from the University of Georgia and enjoys playing her violin.","name":"LaShonda Tucker","id":"f7fdb6d3-a89a-5295-963a-aac47afa7cee","path":"/author/lashonda-tucker/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ce61747b62dbfb82f56a8611f2835988?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"August 7th, 2023","excerpt":"Getting rid of weeds doesn’t have to involve toxic chemicals or break the bank. Herbicides pose health risks to humans and the environment and can harm pets. On the other hand, the organic herbicides you can buy at the store and online are expensive. The solution is homemade weed killers! Keep reading to find out […]
\n","content":"\nGetting rid of weeds doesn’t have to involve toxic chemicals or break the bank. Herbicides pose health risks to humans and the environment and can harm pets. On the other hand, the organic herbicides you can buy at the store and online are expensive. The solution is homemade weed killers! Keep reading to find out how to make a homemade weed killer that actually works.
\n\n\n\nThese options kill weeds without exposing you and your loved ones to poisons that can have detrimental effects, and you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry.
\n\n\nA vinegar solution is probably the simplest, most effective, and most popular homemade weed killer you can make. Here’s how to do it with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/white-vinegar.jpg\")
Photo Credit: NatureFriend from Pixabay / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nIngredients:
\n\n\n\n— 1 gallon of white vinegar (make sure it’s at least 5% acetic acid)
— 1 tablespoon of dish soap
— 1 cup of salt
How to Use: Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and add the table salt. Mix them until the salt dissolves. Next, add the dishwashing liquid, which helps the solution stick to the weeds. You can use Castile soap for an all-natural option. Make sure the solution is well-mixed, then spray it directly onto the weeds you want to kill.
\n\n\n\nVinegar and salt can kill any plants, including grass, so be careful not to get the solution on plants you want to keep.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"apple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/apple-cider-vinegar-next-to-apples-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: tylim / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nIngredients:
\n\n\n\n— ½ gallon apple cider vinegar
— ¼ cup salt
— 1 teaspoon dish soap
How to Use: Pour the apple cider vinegar into a large spray bottle. Mix in the salt until it dissolves completely, then mix in the dish soap. Apply the mixture directly to the weeds. This vinegar weed killer will destroy other plants, too. So, be careful when targeting weeds in your flower beds or on your lawn.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe acetic acid in the vinegar breaks down the plant’s foliage by extracting moisture, killing the leaves. This natural weed killer works best on young and small weeds.
\n\n\n\nVegetation with deep taproots, like dandelions, may survive treatment. The top growth of these types of plants may be the only part that is killed. If the plants are very young and the roots undeveloped, the weed killer may work.
\n\n\n\nHerbicidal vinegar, which is 20% acetic acid, is a better solution for larger weeds and perennials. Weeds like crabgrass are better controlled with multiple treatments of herbicidal vinegar. However, herbicidal vinegar can burn your skin and eyes, so be careful when applying it.
\n\n\n\nTable salt also pulls out moisture. It contains acetic acid, too. Adding it to your vinegar solution improves the weed killer’s ability to dry out foliage.
\n\n\n\nLiquid dish soap acts as a surfactant that reduces the surface tension and allows the homemade weed killer to spread more evenly across and stick to the leaves, allowing it to penetrate the plant more effectively.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"using](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/using-spray-to-kill-a-weed-in-mulch-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: killerb10 / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nSpraying during a sunny day helps the acetic acid work more effectively. Spray directly on the targeted weeds. But remember that this solution is non-selective, so in addition to killing most broadleaf weeds, it can also kill other plants. Be careful not to get the solution on your grass or other landscape plants.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlthough the cons of using a homemade vinegar solution are not as severe as using herbicides with harsh chemicals like glyphosate, there are some things to keep in mind. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using a vinegar solution to kill weeds.
\n\n\n\n| Pros | Cons |
| ✓ Less harmful to humans and pets than commercial herbicides. | ✗ Vinegar with 11% or more acetic acid can burn the skin and cause severe eye injuries, including blindness. |
| ✓ Effective on most young broadleaf weeds. | ✗ Kills any plant it makes contact with. |
| ✓ If organic dish soap (i.e. Castile soap) is used, the solution has no synthetic chemicals. | ✗ Some dish soaps have synthetic ingredients that are harmful to the environment. |
| ✓ Acetic acid is biodegradable. | ✗ The typical 5% acetic acid concentration may not kill larger or more established weeds. |
| ✓ Very effective for weed control on patios, gravel, and sidewalks. | ✗ Multiple applications are typically needed. |
| ✓ You most likely already have all the required ingredients and won’t need to spend any additional money. | ✗ Only kills the foliage it is sprayed on and not the roots, meaning new weeds can sprout again unless you manually remove the roots. |
![\"table](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/table-salt-spilled-out-on-a-table.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Sebalos / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nHere are some other natural weed killers you can make using ingredients you have in your home already or can easily purchase at the grocery store.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSalt can kill weeds on its own or in a spray solution with water. You can use either table salt or rock salt. Learn how in our article on how to use salt to kill weeds.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPut a pot of water on the stove, let it boil, pour it into something with a spout – like a teapot – and soak the weeds you want to kill. Apply it to the leaves of the offending weeds and allow it to soak into the roots.
\n\n\n\nIf you have to pour the boiling water from a container without a spout, pour it on weeds in areas away from other plants, like walkways or cracks. That way, if the boiling water splashes or lands in a wider area than on the weeds, you will not damage other plants.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse a ratio of 2 tablespoons of alcohol to 1 quart of water and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spot-treat the problem plants by spraying the mixture directly on the weeds. The solution kills the plant by draining moisture from the foliage, much like vinegar and salt.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Hands](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/crabgrass-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Sergii Petruk / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nIf you get to the weeds when they are young and there are just a few of them, you can avoid the use of any weed killer. Except, of course, yourself. You can pull up weeds when they have just a few leaves and small root systems.
\n\n\n\nWeeds are easier to remove manually if the soil is wet, so water the lawn or garden before weeding or wait for a rainy day. When the soil is moist, use your hand, a weeding tool, or a garden trowel to pull up as much of the root system as possible. If you don’t get all the roots, the weeds can grow back.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCan you use homemade weed killers on weeds in grass?
\n\n\n\nYes, you can use homemade weed killers to kill weeds in grass, but you have to apply them carefully. DIY weed killers are non-selective, meaning they kill all plants they come in contact with, not just weeds. When applying homemade weed killers to lawn weeds, use a spray bottle to target the weeds directly, and get as little of it on your grass as possible.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAre homemade weed killers safe for pets?
\n\n\n\nYes, the homemade weed killers on this list are safe to use around pets and kids, too. See our list of the best pet-safe weed killers and our article on how to choose pet-safe weed killers to learn which commercial herbicides are also safe for pets.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIs there a DIY weed and feed?
\n\n\n\nCorn gluten meal is an organic alternative to weed and feed, although most homeowners won’t have this ingredient readily on hand.
You can buy organic herbicides that contain corn gluten meal as an active ingredient, or you can purchase corn gluten meal on its own. It acts as a pre-emergent and keeps weed seeds from germinating. It also contains nitrogen to fertilize the lawn. Corn gluten meal must be applied before seeds germinate, or it can cause the weeds to grow. Use the meal when it is going to be dry for at least two days. Multiple applications are typically required.
Commercial herbicides like Roundup contain dangerous chemicals. You can protect yourself, your family, your pets, the environment, and your grass and garden with safer homemade weed killer solutions. Of course, prevention is the best option. Practicing good seasonal lawn care and garden maintenance habits can help keep weeds at bay.
Whether you are using chemicals or DIY options, weed-killing and lawn maintenance is time-consuming and takes planning to be effective. Connect with a local lawn care professional who can help you manage weeds and keep your lawn and landscape healthy.
Main Photo Credit: AprylRED / Canva Pro / License
\n","title":"How to Make Homemade Weed Killer","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/1789c/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/107df/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/293e9/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/f2cbb/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/1789c/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/c26c2/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/1dd6e/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/67b76/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.webp 320w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/8df11/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.webp 500w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/98a65/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.webp 800w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/1dd6e/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.webp 960w,\n/static/617039f0a74add35e0831e9f6186a6ea/3cc96/person-spraying-weeds-on-a-fence-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Make Homemade Weed Killer | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Want an effective weed killer but not the poisons they contain? Learn how to make homemade weed killer that's safer for your loved ones and the environment."}}},{"node":{"id":"c27b03e6-fdd2-5ff3-abe2-fe3d9cdf3f61","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-weeds-in-grass","path":"/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-weeds-in-grass/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"LaShonda Tucker is a freelance writer, poet, and spoken word artist in Atlanta. She earned her masters from the University of Georgia and enjoys playing her violin.","name":"LaShonda Tucker","id":"f7fdb6d3-a89a-5295-963a-aac47afa7cee","path":"/author/lashonda-tucker/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ce61747b62dbfb82f56a8611f2835988?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"}],"date":"August 7th, 2023","excerpt":"Different people have different expectations and goals when it comes to lawn care products to get rid of weeds. Some prioritize getting the task done over any risks chemicals in products may cause. Others place safety over the convenience conventional lawn care products may provide. That is why we present how to get rid of […]
\n","content":"\nDifferent people have different expectations and goals when it comes to lawn care products to get rid of weeds. Some prioritize getting the task done over any risks chemicals in products may cause. Others place safety over the convenience conventional lawn care products may provide. That is why we present how to get rid of weeds in grass using traditional, synthetic herbicides and safer methods like homemade recipes and manual tips.
\n\n\n\nWith so many ways to get rid of weeds, you do not have to let them confiscate your property.
\n\n\n\nThis article will also cover weed prevention. Keep reading to discover all the options you have for weed control on your lawn.
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/5e95d48d-7801-4974-9206-35bbdb36b571.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nWeeds are unwanted plants growing in lawns, gardens, and fields. They compete with wanted vegetation for nutrients. Like any other plant, they can be categorized by their life cycles and type. Weeds can be annuals, biennials, or perennials. These unwanted plants fall into three types: broadleaf, grassy, and grass-like.
\n\n\n\nBefore you can get rid of weeds, you have to identify what type they are so you can choose an effective control method. Not all herbicides or manual removal methods work for all weeds.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLearn a weed’s life cycle to figure out the best time to apply pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to control that weed.
\n\n\n\nAnnual weeds live for less than a year and spread by seed. Summer annuals sprout in the spring. They grow in the summer and fall and die in the winter. Crabgrass and goosegrass are some examples. Winter annuals sprout in late summer and early fall. They die when it gets hotter out, in late spring or early summer. Some examples of winter annual weeds are chickweed and henbit.
\n\n\n\nBiennial weeds have a two-year life cycle and germinate by seed. They are not as common in lawns as annual and perennial weeds. Common burdock and wild carrot are two examples.
\n\n\n\nPerennial weeds are also spread by seed and by stolons, bulbs, and rhizomes. These weeds are harder to control than annual weeds because they keep coming back, year after year, unless you remove their entire system of growth, including roots, stolons, and rhizomes. Plantain, thistle, and dandelions are some examples.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSome chemical treatments are only effective for certain types of weeds or specific weeds within a category. So, you must be able to identify the weeds growing in your grass before you can choose a suitable herbicide.
\n\n\n\nBroadleaf weeds have broad and flat leaves that are not grass-like. Examples are perennials like thistle, plantain, chickweed, dandelions, and henbit.
\n\n\n\nGrassy weeds have blades that look like grass. Crabgrass, quackgrass, annual bluegrass, and foxtail are some common grassy weeds.
\n\n\n\nGrass-like weeds resemble grass but do not look as much like it as grassy weeds. The blades are triangular or tubular and shiny. Some examples are nutsedge, wild garlic, and wild onion.
\n\n\n\nOnce you have identified the type of weed in your yard, you can select the best organic herbicide, homemade weed killer recipe, synthetic herbicide, or manual removal method to control that specific weed.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrganic herbicides have ingredients that are safer than the toxic chemicals found in traditional synthetic herbicides. However, you typically will not find these organic herbicides in most kitchens, like you would the options listed in the homemade weed killer section.
\n\n\n\nOrganic weed control products with the following active ingredients can be purchased from stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other home and garden suppliers.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/4a16ada4-5ea8-4f9b-8641-f6c78f02e677.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Olga Kriger / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nCorn gluten meal acts as a weed and feed product. It kills weed seeds like a pre-emergent herbicide and contains nitrogen to feed the grass.
\n\n\n\nHow to Use It: Corn gluten meal is only effective at preventing weeds and fertilizing grass when the soil is wet, so give the lawn a light spray of water after using this product unless rain is forecasted later in the day to do it for you.
\n\n\n\nApply it before weed seeds germinate – in early spring for summer annuals and early fall for winter annuals – because corn gluten meal does nothing to kill weeds that have already sprouted. The nitrogen it contains can actually promote the growth of existing weeds.
\n\n\n\nMonthly reapplication may be required for lasting control. Corn gluten meal can kill the seeds of weeds like dandelions, crabgrass, henbit, and more.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVinegar is most effective at killing weeds when the vinegar is 20% acetic acid. The vinegar in your kitchen is only around 5% acetic acid, so you will need a special product called herbicidal vinegar to kill weeds. Herbicidal vinegar is a popular active ingredient in organic post-emergent herbicides. It can kill larger weeds and perennials, but multiple treatments are required.
\n\n\n\nThe acetic acid removes moisture from the plant’s foliage, breaking it down and killing the leaves. A natural surfactant, like yucca extract, is usually included in herbicides to help the vinegar solution stick to the weeds’ leaves.
\n\n\n\nHow to Use It: Herbicidal vinegar is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it kills all plants it comes into contact with, including grass. Never apply vinegar all over your lawn unless you’re trying to kill the existing grass so you can start a new lawn from scratch. Instead, spot-treat unwanted plants by placing the solution in a spray bottle and spraying weeds directly. Many commercial herbicides with vinegar come in a ready-to-spray bottle.
\n\n\n\nWarning: Herbicidal vinegar can burn the skin and cause severe eye injuries, such as blindness. Wear protective glasses and long sleeves when applying this product.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou can also use ingredients already in your kitchen to make a homemade weed killer for your lawn. These DIY concoctions are safer for pets and humans than the chemicals in synthetic herbicides and much more affordable than organic herbicides you can buy at the store, but they may be less effective than either and may take multiple applications to produce results.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: tylim / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nVinegar solutions are a commonly used DIY weed control method. The following are mixtures you can make using regular kitchen vinegar.
\n\n\n\nWhite Vinegar Solution:
\n\n\n\n— 1 gallon of white vinegar
— 1 tablespoon of dish soap
— 1 cup of salt
Apple Cider Vinegar Solution:
\n\n\n\n— ½ gallon of apple cider vinegar
— ¼ cup of salt
— 1 teaspoon of dish soap
How to Apply: Mix the ingredients thoroughly and place the solution in a handheld spray bottle. Spray directly to weeds on a sunny day. The sun helps the acetic acid in the vinegar work.
\n\n\n\nThis non-selective DIY weed control will kill most broadleaf weeds and other plants, too, so be careful not to spray it directly on your grass. Solutions with 5% acetic acid may not kill dandelions and other plants with taproots. Use herbicidal vinegar for these types of stubborn weeds.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: Sebalos / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nSalt can change the pH level of the soil, make it sterile, and hurt plants, including weeds. The downside is that salt will also hurt grass and other landscape plants, so apply it only on the soil around weeds.
\n\n\n\nHow to Apply: You can start with a 3-to-1 water-to-salt ratio and increase the amount of salt daily until it kills the weeds. Learn more in our in-depth article about using salt to kill weeds.
\n\n\n\nIf preserving soil health is not a concern, apply a mixture with a 1:2 or 1:3 water-to-salt ratio. Add a small amount of liquid dish soap or white vinegar to make the weed killer stronger.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"rock](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/rock-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: BWFolsom / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nIf you live in a location with icy winters, you may have some rock salt on hand. This is the salt that eats away the ice. You can sprinkle some directly on the weeds or make a solution.
\n\n\n\nRock Salt Solution:
\n\n\n\n— 1 cup of rock salt
— 1 gallon of hot water
How to Apply: Mix until the salt is dissolved. Pour into a spray bottle. Spray weeds directly. Respray the weeds after five days. Reapply the spray after waiting another five days. Avoid saturating the roots, as this can damage the soil and nearby plants. To protect your grass and ornamentals, water nearby vegetation after applying the salt solution to dilute it.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBoil some water and pour it onto the weeds. This option, like all DIY weed killers, will damage your grass and other surrounding plants if it makes contact.
\n\n\n\nHow to Apply: It is best to place the hot water in a vessel with a spout, like a teapot. Allow it to soak into the plant roots. However, it may not kill the roots, which can result in weed regrowth.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRubbing alcohol kills weeds by draining moisture from the leaves. It will also drain moisture from grass blades and the foliage of other plants, so be sure to spray it directly onto the weeds, and do your best to avoid overspray.
\n\n\n\nRubbing Alcohol Solution:
\n\n\n\n— 2 tablespoons of alcohol
— 1 quart of water
How to Apply: Mix the solution in a spray bottle. Spray weeds individually, covering the leaves as much as possible with the solution.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Lawn-Treatment-with-Herbicides.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Bouillante / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nSynthetic herbicides come as pre-emergent, post-emergent, or as weed and feed products. These herbicides come with precautions as well as do’s and don’ts to be effective and not cause damage. Here are some examples:
\n\n\n\n— Be sure to use these at the right time of year and in the right temperature range. Pre-emergents and post-emergents work at different times, and if applied at the wrong time, they won’t do much at all.
— Synthetic herbicides can injure grass if applied during the wrong stage of your lawn’s growth. For example, pre-emergent products typically should only be applied to turfgrass that has been established for at least 12 months.
— Certain types of herbicides can only be used on certain grass types. Read product labels to find out which grass types it’s safe to use each product on.
— Not all chemicals kill all weeds. Some chemicals only work on broadleaf weeds, while others only work on grassy weeds. Some are even formulated to kill specific weed types. Read the product label carefully before purchasing a herbicide to make sure what you’re getting will actually work for the weeds on your lawn.
— Applying pre-emergents too soon after overseeding the lawn can prevent the new grass seeds from germinating.
Pre-emergent products must be applied before weed seeds start germinating. These herbicides kill weed seeds, but they do not kill grown weeds. Pre-emergent herbicides are for preventing future weeds, not getting rid of existing ones.
\n\n\n\nWhen to Apply: Administer in the spring for summer annual weeds, like crabgrass and goosegrass. Apply when the soil temperature is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit or above for about 2 days or more.
\n\n\n\nFor winter annual weeds, like annual bluegrass and chickweed, apply in the early fall. The best time is when the soil temperature is approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 3 days.
\n\n\n\nA note on soil temperature: Applying pre-emergents at the right soil temperature is imperative to their success, so use a soil thermometer to get an accurate reading. A soil thermometer costs about $10 or less at a local gardening store or online.
\n\n\n\nSelective vs Non-selective: Most pre-emergent herbicides used for lawn weeds are selective herbicides, meaning they kill specific weed seeds without damaging other plants.
\n\n\n\nNon-selective herbicides, on the other hand, target all plants. To avoid eliminating wanted plants and grass, spot-treat unwanted vegetation by applying non-selective herbicides with a handheld sprayer. These herbicides will also prevent grass from growing, so do not use them when you have recently seeded the lawn or plan to seed the lawn in the near future.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPost-emergent herbicides kill weeds that are sprouting. Weeds that are young and actively growing are the most susceptible to these types of herbicides.
\n\n\n\nWhen to Apply: For perennial weeds and many types of annual weeds, the best time to apply post-emergent products is in the fall or late spring. Treat stubborn perennial weeds with deep root systems in the early spring. Apply when the soil temperature is greater than 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the air temperature is less than 85 degrees.
\n\n\n\nContact vs Systemic: Like pre-emergent chemicals, post-emergents come as selective and non-selective. However, unlike pre-emergents, post-emergents destroy plant parts, such as stems and roots. They do this in different ways.
\n\n\n\nContact-based post-emergent herbicides kill only the plant parts they come into contact with. They destroy parts above the ground, like the leaves. Completely killing weeds with contact herbicides may take many treatments, and you’ll have to manually remove the roots to prevent the weeds from coming back.
\n\n\n\nSystemic post-emergents kill the entire plant regardless of contact with specific parts. The weed absorbs the chemicals, which travel through the vegetation and attack its vascular system. The leaves, stems, and root systems are destroyed.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Seed](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seed-spreader.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jon Rehg / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nWeed and feed products are pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicides that also include lawn fertilizer. If applied at the right time, weed and feed can improve your grass and promote a thriving, green lawn at the same time as removing weeds. A healthy lawn decreases the risk of weed growth in the future.
\n\n\n\nWeed and feed is somewhat controversial because it combines herbicides and fertilizer, two types of chemicals that have different requirements for application. For example, grass needs to be fertilized at specific times to be healthy. If the timing to apply the weed control portion is not the same as the timing for the fertilizer, you can damage the grass. Do not apply weed and feed more than two times a year. Always read the label to know when to apply.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor pre-emergent, post-emergent, and weed and feed chemicals, read the labels to determine if the herbicide controls the weeds you are looking to manage, can be used on your grass type, and at what stage your grass is safe from being damaged by the chemicals.
\n\n\n\nFor weed and feeds, make sure the time of year the herbicide should be used is the same as the time your grass requires fertilization.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPulling weeds by hand or using a tool may be a little more time-consuming than other DIY methods or using synthetic chemicals. It may take more effort, too. The benefit is that manual methods will not release substances that can harm you, your loved ones, or the environment or change the soil composition.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Gardener](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/weeds.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Artur Henryk Bialosiewicz / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nThese methods are best when you have a few weeds, and they are young. Wear gloves when removing weeds manually.
\n\n\n\nHow to Pull Weeds By Hand or With a Tool: Water the area or wait until after it rains. The wet ground makes it easier to pull up roots. Dig around the weed with a pointed garden trowel or weeding tool to loosen the soil. Use your hand or tool to pull up as much of the root system as possible so the weed will not grow back.
\n\n\n\nFor some weeds, like crabgrass, only pull by hand or tool when the seed head is closed. If you pull when the head is open, the seeds will spread and replant.
\n\n\n\nFor nutsedge, pull it by hand if the plant has fewer than five leaves. If there are many of these weeds, use a dethatcher or hoe.
\n\n\n\nAs you can see, whether you are applying DIY mixtures, synthetic chemicals, or manual methods, it is important to be able to identify the types of weeds you have so that you use the best weed control solution.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis device is also called a flame weeder. It is a propane tank with a wand attached that allows you to burn weeds. The flame weeder kills leaves and stem cells but does not kill the roots. It may take multiple treatments to eliminate weeds.
\n\n\n\nObviously, since weed torches use an open flame to kill weeds, they can also harm your grass, or worse, you. Always wear protective clothing and a face covering when using a weed torch, and be very careful to keep the flame away from your grass and other plants you want to keep.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lawn-Mowing.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wallpaper Flare / License
\n\n\n\nThe best way to manage weeds is through prevention by practicing appropriate seasonal lawn care and maintenance. A dense and healthy lawn with grass at an adequate height can crowd out and prevent weed seeds from getting sufficient sun. Weeds will be less likely to sprout because they cannot get the water, nutrients, and space they need to grow.
\n\n\n\nThere are two categories of grass types: warm-season and cool-season grasses. Each type and the individual grasses within each type determine maintenance requirements, like mowing heights and the amount of fertilizer required. But here are some lawn maintenance practices that can be applied to grass in general for a weed-free lawn:
\n\n\n\nHow long does it take for a salt solution to kill weeds?
\n\n\n\nSalt usually kills weeds in about 10 days.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIs herbicidal vinegar dangerous?
\n\n\n\nVinegar containing more than 11% acetic acid can burn your skin and cause eye injuries, including blindness. Wear gloves, goggles, and protective clothing when using herbicidal vinegar.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAre there any chemicals that can be used on both cool and warm-season grass?
\n\n\n\nProdiamine is a pre-emergent herbicide that is safe to use on most warm and cool-season grass types. The post-emergent chemicals sulfentrazone and halosulfuron are safe for most types of grass.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFortunately, you have options to get rid of weeds in grass. The goal is not only to stop weeds before they sprout or kill them after sprouting but to have a healthy lawn that outcompetes weeds. For help keeping your lawn as thick and thriving as it can be, reach out to a local lawn care pro on WikiLawn and find out how much a regular lawn maintenance plan would cost for you.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: SchulteProductions / Canva Pro / License
\n","title":"How to Get Rid of Weeds in Grass","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/1789c/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.jpg","srcSet":"/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/107df/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.jpg 320w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/293e9/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.jpg 500w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/f2cbb/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.jpg 800w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/1789c/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.jpg 960w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/c26c2/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/1dd6e/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/67b76/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.webp 320w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/8df11/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.webp 500w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/98a65/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.webp 800w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/1dd6e/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.webp 960w,\n/static/2895b693b49a37546c989cf055d0de7a/3cc96/418f669d-6383-4ae4-8b73-754a6753b621.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Get Rid of Weeds in Grass | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Learn how to use organic methods, homemade recipes, manual solutions, and commercial herbicides to get rid of weeds in grass."}}},{"node":{"id":"240ef13d-10c0-55ef-a3ea-abcbbb9a9bc7","slug":"lawn-fertilizer-schedule","path":"/blog/lawn-fertilizer-schedule/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Taha Javed is a freelance writer and business student in Lahore, Pakistan. She loves swimming, reading, and playing with her dog.","name":"Taha Javed","id":"0531d17c-e9c8-5153-a6fb-6e2994f71716","path":"/author/taha-javed/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/877749883781783414fae4d0b98beb69?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"July 27th, 2023","excerpt":"Fertilizer is like the fuel that your grass requires to thrive, providing it with essential nutrients to keep it alive and healthy. But fertilizer is only effective if you apply it at the right time of year when your grass is able to absorb those nutrients. Follow this ideal lawn fertilizer schedule to maximize the […]
\n","content":"\nFertilizer is like the fuel that your grass requires to thrive, providing it with essential nutrients to keep it alive and healthy. But fertilizer is only effective if you apply it at the right time of year when your grass is able to absorb those nutrients. Follow this ideal lawn fertilizer schedule to maximize the benefits of fertilization and enhance your grass’s growth.
\n\n\n\nIn this guide, we’ll walk you through developing the best fertilization schedule for your grass type’s specific needs. Let’s get started!
\n\n\n\nLearn about:
\n\n\n\n![\"cool-season](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cool-season-and-warm-season-grass-map.jpg\")
Illustration by Juan Rodriguez
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDifferent grass species have different development patterns, so you must customize your fertilization schedule accordingly. Always apply fertilizer during your grass’s active growth period and never when it’s dormant. Dormant grass cannot absorb nutrients, so any fertilizer you apply during dormancy goes straight to the weeds lurking in your lawn.
\n\n\n\nCool-season grasses and warm-season grasses grow at different times of the year, so they require different fertilization schedules, which you will find below.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass and fescue, do best in regions with cold winters and mild summers. They typically grow in the northern third of the US and somewhat in the central portion of the country, known as the transition zone.
\n\n\n\nThese grasses benefit from a fertilization schedule that includes the following applications:
\n\n\n\nEarly Spring: Early spring, around late March and early April, is an ideal time to apply the first round of fertilizer as cool-season grasses emerge from winter dormancy. Choose a fertilizer with slow-release nitrogen for speedy green-up and healthy root development. Aim for a balanced nitrogen-to-potassium ratio to assist overall growth and stress tolerance.
\n\n\n\nSummer: Cool-season grasses can experience obstacles such as heat stress and restricted water supply during the hot summer months. To combat drought stress, adjust your watering plan and avoid fertilizing during periods of excessive heat. Consider using a light application of a slow-release or organic-based fertilizer with low nitrogen content in late summer, as the growth period might kick start. If your grass goes dormant and turns brown in summer, do not apply fertilizer until it greens up again.
\n\n\n\nEarly Fall: As temperatures decrease in the early fall, cool-season grasses enter the period of their most vigorous growth. It is an ideal time for a proper round of fertilization. Use a higher potassium content fertilizer to boost root growth and improve winter hardiness and disease resistance. A balanced nitrogen-to-potassium ratio is still necessary to promote healthy growth during the growing season and prepare the grass for winter.
\n\n\n\nLate Fall: Apply a winterizing fertilizer developed specifically for cool-season grasses in late fall, at least six weeks before the first expected frost in your area, around late October or early November. These fertilizers contain a higher potassium content, which helps to strengthen the grass’s cell walls and increase its resistance to harsh winter conditions. Winterizing fertilizers also aid in the early spring green-up of grass when it emerges from dormancy.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWarm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and St. Augustinegrass prefer warmer temperatures and grow most actively in spring and summer. They begin to slow their growth in fall when the temperatures drop, and they enter winter dormancy earlier than cool-season grasses.
\n\n\n\nBecause they prefer hot summers, warm-season grasses grow mostly in the South. They can also grow in the transition zone, but they typically struggle in any place with severe winters.
\n\n\n\nThe best times to apply lawn fertilizer for warm-season grasses are the following:
\n\n\n\nEarly Spring: Early spring is an excellent time for the first round of fertilization since warm-season grasses emerge from dormancy and begin their active growth phase. To stimulate vigorous growth, use a fertilizer high in nitrogen content. Look for a slow-release or controlled-release fertilizer that consistently supplies nutrients over time, assuring the grass’s continuous nourishment.
\n\n\n\nLate Spring/Early Summer: Warm-season grasses grow steadily throughout the summer and may require ample fertilizing to remain lush. However, it is important to be cautious when fertilizing during this time. High temperatures and drought can stress the grass, leaving it more vulnerable to fertilizer burn. To reduce the chance of damage throughout the hot summer, use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer around the end of May or the beginning of June when the heat isn’t too extreme yet.
\n\n\n\nEarly Fall: As summer gives way to fall, warm-season grasses slow their growth. A round of fertilizer application is best done in the early fall, at least 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost in your area. Use a fertilizer with a slightly greater potassium content to increase root growth and improve the grass’s winter hardiness. This application will aid in the recovery of the grass from any summer pressures and prepare it for the cooler months ahead.
\n\n\n\nDo not fertilize warm-season grass in late fall, as it is either preparing to enter winter dormancy or has already gone dormant.
\n\n\n\nLearn more about the best lawn fertilizer practices for cool-season and warm-season grass types in our guide: When and How to Fertilize Your Lawn.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe amount of fertilizer your grass needs can affect how many times you fertilize throughout the year. Each grass type has its own nutrient requirements, so it’s important to identify your grass type before trying to make a fertilization schedule.
\n\n\n\nFind the proper amount of nitrogen fertilizer recommended for your grass type in the table below.
\n\n\n\n| Grass Type | Application Rate Per Year |
| Bermudagrass | 2-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft |
| Zoysiagrass | 2-3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2-4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft |
| Centipedegrass | 1-2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft |
| Tall fescue | 2-3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft |
| Fine fescue | 1-2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft |
| Ryegrass | 2-3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft |
You should never apply more than 1 pound of nitrogen to your lawn at one time. So, if your grass type requires 2 pounds of nitrogen every year, you should spread the fertilizer across at least two applications and possibly more applications of less than 1 pound. If your grass type requires 4 pounds of nitrogen annually, you will need to spread it out across four applications of 1 pound each. Don’t fertilize your lawn more than four times a year.
\n\n\n\nBase the timing of these applications on the cool-season and warm-season lawn fertilization schedules above.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/solar-panels-working-19.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Galeanu Mihai / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSoil testing is a valuable tool for optimizing your fertilizer schedule. When it comes to lawn fertilization, more than a one-size-fits-all strategy is needed. Soil testing enables you to identify nutrient deficits or excesses in your soil. It identifies the nutrients your lawn requires for its best growth, allowing you to fine-tune fertilizer selection and application.
\n\n\n\nTo perform a soil test, buy a DIY soil testing kit or send a soil sample to your local Cooperative Extension office for a more in-depth test.
\n\n\n\nThe soil test results provide essential information regarding your soil’s nutrient level. You’ll get a detailed report outlining the levels of primary nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, as well as secondary and micronutrients. The report also contains the pH level of your soil (ideally between 6.0 and 6.5), which is critical for nutrient availability at the grassroots.
\n\n\n\nBased on your soil test results, you can choose the right fertilizer for your grass, which will make your fertilization schedule even more effective.
\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Close-up-of-Female-Gardeners-Hand-with-Iron-Bucket-of-Granular-Fertilizer.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Valerii Honcharuk / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSelecting the right fertilizer for your lawn can significantly impact its overall health and look. There are a few crucial aspects to consider while choosing the right fertilizer, including:
\n\n\n\nTo learn more about these factors and how they affect your lawn, see our guide to choosing lawn fertilizer.
\n\n\n\nThe type of fertilizer you select can impact your fertilization schedule. For instance, immediate-release fertilizers only remain in the soil for 4-6 weeks, so they will need to be applied more often for sustained results, while granular fertilizers remain in the soil for 6-8 weeks and will require fewer applications throughout the year.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt is generally recommended that you water your lawn lightly after fertilizing. Watering aids in dissolving fertilizer granules, allowing nutrients to infiltrate the soil and reach the grassroots. However, be careful not to overwater, which might wash out nutrients or lead to runoff. Plan to fertilize when the weather forecast is clear of heavy rainfall for a few days.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFertilizing during the dormant season, when the grass is not actively growing, is generally discouraged. Fertilizing during this time may result in nutrient runoff and waste. It can also encourage weeds to take over your yard while your grass is not growing. Not to mention, it’s a waste of your time, energy, and money.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrganic fertilizers have longer-lasting effects on your soil by far. For one, they take longer to break down into the soil, which means nutrients are released gradually over time instead of all at once. The organic content in these fertilizers also improves the soil’s texture and overall health, whereas synthetic fertilizers can actually damage the soil and kill important microorganisms.
\n\n\n\nThe tradeoff is that organic fertilizers take longer to show visible results in your grass, while synthetic fertilizers can offer a quick green-up and boost of growth. So, you have to decide if you’re more concerned about the long-term or the short-term benefits.
\n\n\n\nSee our guide to organic lawn fertilizers to learn more.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCaring for your lawn means providing the appropriate nutrients at the right time. A well-planned fertilization schedule ensures your grass receives the nutrients it requires all year, supporting healthy growth and vivid greenery.
\n\n\n\nAre you tired of doing all this on your own? Don’t worry; we are here to help. Connect with a local lawn care pro through WikiLawn to help you establish a healthy, bright lawn that will make your neighbors envious.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: welcomia / Canva Pro / License
\n","title":"The Ideal Lawn Fertilizer Schedule","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5463917525773196,"src":"/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/1789c/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/107df/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.jpg 320w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/293e9/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.jpg 500w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/f2cbb/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.jpg 800w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/1789c/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.jpg 960w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/c26c2/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/1dd6e/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/67b76/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.webp 320w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/8df11/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.webp 500w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/98a65/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.webp 800w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/1dd6e/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.webp 960w,\n/static/f57bf0a461823f2fd0483caa825dc1ff/3cc96/Gardener-with-Push-Spreader-Fertilizing-Residential-Grass-Lawn.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"The Ideal Lawn Fertilizer Schedule | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"What is the right time to fertilize your lawn? Learn all you need to know from our lawn fertilizer schedule, including when and how much to fertilize."}}},{"node":{"id":"9c0691da-f56c-546a-94e5-cef58facaeaf","slug":"how-to-choose-pet-safe-weed-killers","path":"/blog/how-to-choose-pet-safe-weed-killers/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Raven Wisdom is a screenwriter from West Texas and a proud mom of two in an autism family. Self-described as \"half-feral but mostly harmless\", Raven loves houseplants, a good laugh, and furry friends.","name":"Raven Wisdom","id":"4fb83156-96f1-58f1-8074-4a6c5c50eaaa","path":"/author/raven-wisdom/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a2813f63a6af9d07a7a5bb212b5645db?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"5bb57152-2e9b-5822-a133-bc84c122adab","name":"Landscaping","count":42,"path":"/category/blog/landscaping/"}],"date":"August 4th, 2022","excerpt":"Cats and dogs are curious by nature and will sniff or lick the chemicals you spray on your lawn. That’s why you need to know how to choose pet-safe weed killers. Rather than worry about an emergency trip to the vet, we’ll tell you how to select the safest weed killers for your lawn. Contents: […]
\n","content":"\nCats and dogs are curious by nature and will sniff or lick the chemicals you spray on your lawn. That’s why you need to know how to choose pet-safe weed killers.
\n\n\n\nRather than worry about an emergency trip to the vet, we’ll tell you how to select the safest weed killers for your lawn.
\n\n\n\nContents:
\n\n\n\nMany weed and grass killers contain toxic chemicals, which can cause serious harm to your pet. Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine found that using lawn chemicals, like glyphosate, increases a dog’s chance of developing cancer by up to 70%.
\n\n\n\nWhen looking for a pet-safe weed killer, pay close attention to the labels and check the active ingredients, certifications, types of weeds the product treats, and whether it’s a weed killer or weed preventer. Even if a product is labeled as “organic” or “pet-safe,” you still need to check what’s in it.
\n\n\n\nSome ingredients commonly found in animal-friendly herbicides include:
\n\n\n\nIf a product says it’s certified, do a little research and verify the organization or governing body that issued the certification. Some reputable organizations include Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), which are private, non-profit groups.
\n\n\n\nYou should avoid using any chemical weed killers containing:
\n\n\n\nSeveral companies like Get Sunday, Preen, Green Gobbler, and Dr. Kirchner specialize in effective pet-safe weed killers that won’t harm your grass or flowers.
\n\n\n\nYou can make several homemade weed killers and avoid exposing your dog or cat to harsh chemicals. Make sure your homemade weed killer doesn’t contain anything that could harm your pet. Safe options include:
\n\n\n\n1. What are the symptoms of weed killer poisoning in pets?
\n\n\n\nThe signs to watch for include:
\n\n\n\nIf your pet displays these symptoms and you suspect they were exposed to toxic chemicals, contact your vet immediately.
\n\n\n\n2. How long should I wait to let my dogs on the lawn after applying a weed killer?
\n\n\n\nWait at least 24 hours to make sure the product has completely dried before letting your kids, cats, and dogs play on it. Watering your lawn the next day will help the products dissipate.
\n\n\n\n3. What do I do after spraying weed killer to keep my pet safe?
\n\n\n\nWait a couple of days and pull up the pesky weeds. Make sure you get the root. If the roots are intact, the weeds can grow back. Wait at least two days after applying weed killer to mow.
\n\n\n\n4. Are there any downsides to pet-friendly weed killers?
\n\n\n\nYes. They don’t work as quickly, can be less effective on certain weeds, and vinegar-based solutions can increase the salt levels in your soil.
\n\n\n\n5. How do pet-safe weed killers work?
\n\n\n\nMost ingredients like vinegar, salt, and soap, dry out the plant, and corn gluten meal prevents seeds from sprouting.
Got a yard full of weeds but little time to get rid of them? We can help you find an eco-garden pro or lawn care professional who can handle the problem while you and your furry friend relax.
Main photo credit: Pxhere
\n","title":"How to Choose Pet-Safe Weed Killers","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5018773466833542,"src":"/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/1789c/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/107df/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.jpg 320w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/293e9/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.jpg 500w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/f2cbb/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.jpg 800w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/1789c/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.jpg 960w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/c26c2/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/1dd6e/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/67b76/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.webp 320w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/8df11/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.webp 500w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/98a65/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.webp 800w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/1dd6e/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.webp 960w,\n/static/c42c657baa31a5ab6e3a5f8f035e5c31/3cc96/rsz_white-puppy-dog-cute-alone-isolated-1003821-pxherecom.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Choose Pet-Safe Weed Killers | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"You can avoid an expensive trip to the vet if you know how to choose pet-safe weed killers for your lawn."}}},{"node":{"id":"16d1d19a-5b82-534f-bfd2-e250c8ddf32d","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-bahiagrass","path":"/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-bahiagrass/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Most comfortable with soil under her fingernails, Amanda has an enthusiasm for gardening, agriculture, and all things plant-related. With a master's degree in agriculture and more than a decade of experience gardening and tending to her lawn, she combines her plant knowledge and knack for writing to share what she knows and loves.","name":"Amanda Shiffler","id":"458fa7a4-b709-56ae-8d79-9dc400e34ff1","path":"/author/amanda-shiffler/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0048ef20c97263b5f26951aa210d62c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"June 22nd, 2023","excerpt":"I firmly believe any plant can be considered a weed if it’s growing somewhere it isn’t wanted. This includes even turfgrass like Bahiagrass. Some homeowners adore the low-maintenance needs of Bahiagrass when grown for a lawn, and others absolutely despise it when rogue rhizomes creep out of neighboring pastures into their yards. If you’re firmly […]
\n","content":"\nI firmly believe any plant can be considered a weed if it’s growing somewhere it isn’t wanted. This includes even turfgrass like Bahiagrass. Some homeowners adore the low-maintenance needs of Bahiagrass when grown for a lawn, and others absolutely despise it when rogue rhizomes creep out of neighboring pastures into their yards.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re firmly in the Bahiagrass-grass-is-trash camp, let’s dive into different ways to get rid of Bahiagrass in your landscape!
\n\n\n\nWhether it’s in your lawn or taking up residence in your vegetable garden or flower beds, we’ve got options for you. I will also offer non-chemical approaches to get rid of Bahiagrass if you’re looking for sustainable solutions.
\n\n\nWhen you see Bahiagrass in your lawn or flower beds, the first instinct is to grab ahold of it and yank it out by hand. Manually pulling it out may work, but remember that it reproduces via rhizomes, so you have to remove the entire underground part of the plant, too. If you only hand-pull the top off, the rhizomes continue reproducing, sending out new grass shoots.
\n\n\n\nSo, with this in mind, you should attack Bahiagrass with a multi-pronged approach, employing cultural practices and chemical or natural herbicides.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: eleonimages / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nI understand if you’ve ever stood in the lawn chemical aisle at your local hardware or big box store feeling overwhelmed and dizzy by all the choices. There are shelves of different products claiming to control various weeds. And it is essential to pick the right one for the task.
\n\n\n\nBefore we get into specific products, let’s talk about two types of weed killers and what sets them apart from one another: pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides.
\n\n\n\nI try to use pre-emergent herbicides whenever possible, as it’s easier to stop weeds from germinating (and yes, I’m going to classify Bahia as a weed in this situation) than it is to get rid of them once they sprout. You have limited pre-emergent options if you have Bahia growing on your lawn.
\n\n\n\nPlease note that it’s imperative to read the product label thoroughly. Only use herbicide you know is safe for your grass type.
\n\n\n\nCompared to pre-emergent products, you have many more options for post-emergent herbicides. However, care must still be taken to ensure you don’t harm your lawn. And be forewarned that you may need to apply these products more than once to control Bahia because of its deep rhizomes.
\n\n\n\nThe following selective herbicides are labeled for use on specific turf types, so they won’t harm the intended grass but should tackle the Bahia infestation. Plus, they’ll likely also get rid of crabgrass and other broadleaf weeds.
\n\n\n\nBahiagrass is a little easier to control in flower beds or garden plots. While there is controversy surrounding glyphosate (commonly sold as RoundUp), it is an effective weed killer and works well when you are looking for something for spot treatment. Glyphosate is non-selective, killing anything it touches; be careful not to spray it when it’s windy or when the Bahia is close to other desired plants.
\n\n\n\n![\"lush](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bahiagrass-lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nBeyond chemical treatment methods, you can implement some essential lawn care practices for the control of Bahiagrass.
\n\n\n\nEncouraging a healthy, lush lawn is the best way to prevent unwanted grasses and weeds. A thick, dense carpet of grass will naturally choke out unwanted Bahia trying to take hold.
\n\n\n\nFertilize your lawn on a regular schedule based on the type of grass you’re growing. For most grasses, this will be at least twice per year. Bahiagrass has low nutrient needs, so regular lawn fertilization will hinder its growth and keep it from returning.
\n\n\n\nBahia spreads primarily through underground rhizomes but also puts out distinctive, Y-shaped seed heads. These seed heads disperse and further spread the unwanted grass when left alone. Mowing your lawn consistently—at the appropriate lawn mower height for your turf type—helps prevent any Bahia in your grass from going to seed and spreading.
\n\n\n\nWhen dealing with Bahia that has gone to seed, you should bag and dispose of your grass clippings versus letting them fall back on the grass.
\n\n\n\nKeeping your lawn so it isn’t too dry is a fantastic way to discourage Bahia from growing. Bahia is revered for its drought tolerance and will quickly move into established turf if the soil is too dry and the existing grass is stressed.
\n\n\n\nWater your grass deeply, yet infrequently, several times a week. Aim to give it about one inch of water (total) over the course of a week, but this amount varies slightly based on the grass you’re growing and the soil conditions.
\n\n\n\nBahiagrass is opportunistic and will take over empty space, including the bare spots in your St. Augustine or Bermudagrass lawn. To help prevent it from sneaking its way in, anytime you see bare spots in your grass, sow grass seed quickly and cover the soil with a layer of mulch. Growing new grass as soon as possible will help keep Bahia at bay.
\n\n\n\n![\"sparse](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sparse-Bahiagrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Harry Rose / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nFor those who want to veer away from traditional chemical control methods, you have a couple of options that may work. A quick caveat though: these methods typically have a lower success rate and take much longer to see results.
\n\n\n\nSome people swear by using vinegar (scientifically known as acetic acid) as a weed killer. Mix one cup of white distilled vinegar, one cup of water, and a few drops of dish soap from under your kitchen sink. Shake the ingredients together and spray or pour it directly on the Bahiagrass.
\n\n\n\nThe vinegar pulls water out of the plant, drying out the leaves and ultimately (hopefully) killing whatever you pour it on. This is why it’s essential only to spray it on weeds, making sure it doesn’t get on anything you want to keep.
\n\n\n\nI’ve tried this method myself and have gotten mixed results. I’ve found it works best if you apply it on hot, sunny days and then repeat it every five days or so.
\n\n\n\nIf you have large Bahiagrass patches in your lawn or garden you want to get rid of, an effective way to tackle them naturally is to deprive the entire section of sunlight. Cover the Bahia with black plastic sheeting or large garbage bags, securing the corners so the covering stays in place. After a couple of weeks, everything under the plastic should be smothered out and dead.
\n\n\n\nPersonally, I think this method is best for your garden and flower beds. If you use it on your lawn, you’ll also kill any other grass in the area.
\n\n\n\nLastly, if you’re looking for an alternative pre-emergent method, you can apply corn gluten meal to your lawn. Use about 20 pounds of it per 1,000 square feet of grass for the best results.
\n\n\n\nCorn gluten meal has been used as an organic, natural pre-emergent herbicide for many years. Researchers at Iowa State University unintentionally discovered its pre-emergent properties in the early 1990s. When applied to the soil, it releases dipeptides, organic compounds that dry out seeds, so they have trouble sprouting.
\n\n\n\nIf you are looking for a chemical control option, you must carefully choose a product that considers Bahia a “weed” and kills it without damaging your turf. Some commonly used post-emergent herbicides include metsulfuron-methyl, sethoxydim, and imazaquin. Always read the product label and double-check that the herbicide is safe for the type of grass you’re growing.
The biggest problem with leaving Bahiagrass mixed in your turfgrass is its potential to spread and take over. If left unchecked, it could push out your desired turf, whether St. Augustine, Bermudagrass, Centipedegrass, etc. Plus, Bahia seed heads are unsightly and pop up quickly when left unmowed.
Centipedegrass is the best choice if you’re looking for a warm-season turf that naturally keeps Bahiagrass out. It forms a dense, thick carpet of lawn that will usually keep Bahiagrass from creeping in or choke out any existing plants.
Hopefully, these ideas will help get rid of any unwanted Bahiagrass in your lawn. Once you’ve removed it, we’ve got plenty of resources online to help you with grass and lawn care to keep it from returning. And if you ever need help with lawn weed control, lawn care experts are only a click away!
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Harry Rose / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n","title":"How to Get Rid of Bahiagrass","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/1789c/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/107df/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/293e9/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/f2cbb/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.jpg 800w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/1789c/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.jpg 960w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/c26c2/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/1dd6e/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/67b76/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.webp 320w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/8df11/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.webp 500w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/98a65/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.webp 800w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/1dd6e/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.webp 960w,\n/static/672c3bc3a550b534a4a7011678f04f3c/3cc96/1280px-Paspalum_notatum_habit3_7391321372-1.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Get Rid of Bahiagrass | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Here are some of the best ways to get rid of weedy Bahiagrass in your landscape without damaging your lawn."}}},{"node":{"id":"8b1ccec7-8674-5ebe-a821-930ad25bdf16","slug":"hydroseeding","path":"/blog/hydroseeding/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"A writer by trade, Janine Caayao graduated from the University of the Philippines. She draws, plays video games, and snuggles with her cats during her free time.","name":"Janine Caayao","id":"eab2e0a9-2863-5dad-b98f-fe06c596c508","path":"/author/janine-caayao/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4577dd58c063fcc8a254c30d035fc354?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"August 7th, 2023","excerpt":"Starting a new lawn from scratch may seem daunting. Seeding takes effort and takes a while to show results; laying sod, on the other hand, is instant but expensive. Well, let us introduce you to a third option: hydroseeding, also called hydraulic mulch seeding. In this article: Hydroseeding Explained Hydroseeding is pretty straightforward: It’s just […]
\n","content":"\nStarting a new lawn from scratch may seem daunting. Seeding takes effort and takes a while to show results; laying sod, on the other hand, is instant but expensive. Well, let us introduce you to a third option: hydroseeding, also called hydraulic mulch seeding.
\n\n\n\nIn this article:
\n\n\n\nHydroseeding is pretty straightforward: It’s just the process of seeding an area using a slurry. This slurry is composed primarily of water, seeds, mulch, and fertilizer, but some hydroseed mixtures also include lawn-friendly dye and a tackifier. Here’s what each slurry component brings to the table.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWater is the main component and what makes the hydroseed mixture fluid enough to be a sprayable slurry (it’s also where the “hydro” comes from). When mixed with mulch, the slurry becomes denser, heavier, and sticky, helping the slurry stick to the soil. The abundant water also makes the seeds germinate and grow faster compared to those that were hand-seeded.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOne of the advantages of hydroseeding is that you can pick and choose what types of grass seeds you want to include in your hydroseed slurry. With sod, you can only typically use one type of turf.
\n\n\n\nWhile many hydroseeding slurries use grass seeds, you can also use the seeds of different types of plants. Some hydroseed projects use wildflower seeds, for example.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"image](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mulch-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: christina rutz / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nWhen mixed with water, mulch helps seeds stick to the soil. It also has other functions, mainly protecting seeds from the elements like wind, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations. Mulch also nourishes the growing grass seedlings as it starts decomposing.
\n\n\n\nHydroseed slurries can use a variety of mulches with different levels of effectiveness. Here are some of them:
\n\n\n\nThe last crucial component of a hydroseed slurry is the fertilizer. It contains nutrients that will feed your new grass as it grows to become a healthy lawn. The fertilizer typically doesn’t last throughout the growing period, so it’s a good idea to fertilize your new lawn again later on.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor the best results, the hydroseed slurry should be sprayed evenly across bare soil. A lawn-friendly dye helps show where the slurry has already been sprayed to ensure even coverage. This component is optional, though.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIs the area you’re hydroseeding prone to soil erosion and runoff? Your hydroseed mixture might need a tackifier, which is a binding agent that helps the slurry stick to the soil. Typically, flat lawns don’t need a tackifier, as there’s little erosion risk.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeded-lawn-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: BanksPhotos / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nSo what makes hydroseeding a great seeding method? Here are some benefits of hydroseeding and hydroseeded lawns:
\n\n\n\nHowever, hydroseeding is not perfect. Here are some disadvantages of hydroseeding:
\n\n\n\nThe most enticing aspect of sod is how it gives you a beautiful lawn very fast; after a short waiting period, you’ll be able to walk on your new lawn. Laying sod has a few disadvantages, though. It can look artificial, and it’s typically less hardy than a hydroseeded or traditionally-seeded lawn. It’s also more expensive to boot.
\n\n\n\nIf you can get past the wait time, hydroseeding seems like the better option, and not just because of the lower price tag. Although it takes a while to grow, seeded lawns (including hydroseeded lawns) are hardier and more disease-resistant than sod because they have stronger root systems. Hydroseed also offers more customization and looks more natural than sod.
\n\n\n\nHowever, hydroseeded lawns are more delicate while they’re growing. They need a lot of water and can’t be walked on for about 5 weeks. Since you’re growing grass from seed, you also can’t hydroseed outside of your turf’s growing season, while you can install sod at any time of year.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTraditional seeding is the cheapest seeding method and is as customizable as hydroseeding; however, it has a whole slew of disadvantages that may deter you from hand-seeding your lawn. Hand-seeding takes longer, and traditionally seeded lawns take longer to germinate. It may even grow patchy, requiring more work for your lawn to look uniform.
\n\n\n\nHydroseeding is more expensive and uses more water, but it’s more convenient. Hydroseeded lawns also sprout faster and tend to grow more uniformly than traditionally seeded lawns.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hydroseeding-of-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: BanksPhotos / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nThe best time to hydroseed is the same as if you were hand-seeding; always hydroseed during the turf’s growing season. Warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and Bahiagrass should be hydroseeded in late spring or early summer, while cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fescues should be hydroseeded in late summer or early fall.
\n\n\n\nLet’s compare hydroseeding in the spring, fall, and summer:
\n\n\n\nNow that you know the best time to hydroseed, it’s time to learn how the hydroseed process works. If you ever want to hydroseed your lawn DIY, here is a short step-by-step guide:
\n\n\n\nFor a more in-depth look at hydroseeding your own lawn, you can read our complete guide to DIY hydroseeding.
\n\n\n\nMaintaining your new hydroseed lawn is important in ensuring success. Here’s how to maintain your hydroseeded lawn:
\n\n\n\nThe cost of professional hydroseeding depends on many factors, such as the condition of your lawn and how big it is. However, homeowners can typically expect hydroseeding to cost an average of 8 to 20 cents per square foot. A 3,000 sq. ft. lawn would cost anywhere from $240 to $600 to be hydroseeded.
\n\n\n\nProfessionals will typically charge a discounted rate if you’re hydroseeding by the acre. Rates can also vary drastically depending on where you live in the US.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen watering your hydroseeded lawn, make sure not to run your sprinklers for more than 15 minutes. Otherwise, you might overwater your lawn.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWalking on your new hydroseeded lawn before it’s established can form bare spots.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWait for at least 3 to 4 months before using weed control products on your hydroseed lawn. Make sure to get rid of weeds before starting your hydroseed project. In case you find any weeds, you can try hand-pulling them.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt’s generally not recommended to do so, but you can. It’s just not a good idea because the hydroseed slurry can kill your existing grass. Try overseeding instead if you want to fill out bare patches in your lawn.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHydroseeding is a good option to consider if you want to grow a new lawn relatively quickly without breaking the bank. It’s more cost-effective than laying sod, more efficient than traditional seeding, and isn’t too difficult to DIY. But why risk hydroseeding your lawn yourself when you can hire a professional lawn care service instead?
Wikilawn can help you find a lawn care pro near you to help you with hydroseeding and your other lawn care needs, including regular maintenance.
\n\n\n\nMain Image Credit: Sue Thompson / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
\n","title":"What is Hydroseeding?","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5544041450777202,"src":"/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/1789c/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/107df/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg 320w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/293e9/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg 500w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/f2cbb/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg 800w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/1789c/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg 960w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/c26c2/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/1dd6e/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/67b76/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.webp 320w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/8df11/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.webp 500w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/98a65/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.webp 800w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/1dd6e/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.webp 960w,\n/static/c13b0ccc5af8da1d6ec515c1f2800702/3cc96/84f6c9af-3c98-423b-98eb-fb3b0783d485.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"What is Hydroseeding? | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"What’s a more cost-effective way to grow a new lawn without the hassle of hand-seeding? That would be hydroseeding. Find out more in this article."}}},{"node":{"id":"0b042427-3c41-556f-9dc9-902ee6349ea0","slug":"the-14-major-metro-areas-with-the-most-new-homes","path":"/blog/the-14-major-metro-areas-with-the-most-new-homes/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Wikilawn","id":"706a455e-0b9c-56ea-aeed-4f411c6c1973","path":"/author/wikilawn/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fd0301960c52ded452e0b5fc145cb264?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"}],"date":"April 6th, 2019","excerpt":"By John Egan They’re truly raising the roofs in the Austin, TX, metro area. A WikiLawn analysis of new data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that among the country’s 50 biggest metros, the Austin area boasts the largest share of homes (nearly 3.3 percent) built in 2014 or later. No other major metro surpassed […]
\n","content":"\nBy John Egan
They’re truly raising the roofs in the Austin, TX, metro area.
A WikiLawn analysis of new data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that among the country’s 50 biggest metros, the Austin area boasts the largest share of homes (nearly 3.3 percent) built in 2014 or later.
No other major metro surpassed the 3 percent mark for new housing units, such as houses, apartments and condos. Nationwide, 0.9 percent of all housing units were considered new as of 2017, the Census Bureau data indicates.
Rounding out the top five were:
2. Raleigh, NC (a little over 2.4 percent).
\n\n\n\n3. Houston, TX (a little over 2.2 percent).
\n\n\n\n4. San Antonio, TX (nearly 2.2 percent).
\n\n\n\n5. Nashville, TN, (nearly 2.1 percent).
The full list appears below.
The newly released Census Bureau data, gathered through the American Community Survey, gives estimates of a host of housing, economic and demographic milestones in the U.S. through 2017. Among them is the number of housing units constructed from 2014 to 2017 in every U.S. metro.
Of the 14 major metro areas with the most new homes, our analysis finds that four of them are in Texas — Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Two metros in Florida appear in our tally (Jacksonville and Orlando), as do two in North Carolina (Charlotte and Raleigh).
Not surprisingly, all of the metros on our new-housing list have experienced significant surges in population in recent years. After all, a bump in population ordinarily prompts a need for more places to live.
Among the 10 U.S. metros with the fastest-growing population (on a percentage basis) from 2016 to 2017, only Austin also shows up in our new-home ranking. In just one year, the Austin area’s population climbed 2.7 percent, Census Bureau data shows.
Examined another way, though, five of the 14 metros on our list also are among the country’s fastest-growing.
From 2016 to 2017 alone, Dallas-Fort Worth led all U.S. metro areas for the raw number of residents added (146,238), according to the Census Bureau. Houston was No. 2, adding 94,417 residents; Seattle, WA, was No. 6, with 64,386 new residents; Orlando was No. 8, with 56,498; and Austin was No. 9, with 55,269.
While areas like the ones in our ranking are putting up new housing units at a fairly speedy clip, that’s not enough to meet overall demand. According to new research from mortgage lender Freddie Mac, the annual rate of housing construction across the U.S. currently is about 370,000 units shy of the level required to satisfy housing needs — especially the rising demand for affordable homes and apartments — over the long term.
Aggravating the housing supply-and-demand imbalance is an escalating shortage of laborers and subcontractors for construction of single-family homes.
While Austin sits at No. 1 in our ranking for the heftiest share of new homes, the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint estimated that at least 135,000 more housing units would need to be built just in the city — not the entire metro area — from 2015 through 2025 to accommodate even more residents. The Austin City Council adopted the blueprint in 2017.
“The biggest problem with housing is that there’s just not enough of it to go around,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in 2017. “I’m here to tell you that the law of supply and demand, and its relationship to prices, applies even in Austin. We simply don’t have enough housing supply now to keep up with demand. And by not creating enough housing in Austin, we’re pushing people out of town to cheaper housing in surrounding communities, adding to their commute, our congestion and everyone’s expenses.”
Making matters worse: The population boom in Austin and the surrounding suburbs isn’t cooling off anytime soon. If current projections are accurate, the Austin metro area will have welcomed more than 190,000 residents from 2017 to 2020.
“Due to rapid population growth throughout Central Texas, Austin continues to have one of the highest demands for housing in the nation,” Brandy Guthrie, 2017 president of the Austin Board of Realtors, said in December 2017.
Led by Austin, here’s our list of the 14 Metro Areas With the Most New Homes (as a percentage of all housing units).
![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Austin-TX.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
Total housing units: 786,584
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 25,850
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 3.29%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Raleigh-NC.jpg\")
Total housing units: 511,414
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 12,435
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 2.43%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Houston-TX.jpg\")
Total housing units: 2,499,292
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 55,934
\n\n\n\n% of housing built in 2014 or later: 2.24%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/San-Antonio-TX.jpg\")
Total housing units: 874,247
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 19,141
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 2.19%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Nashville-TN-1.jpg\")
Total housing units: 747,845
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 15,515
\n\n\n\n% of housing built in 2014 or later: 2.07%
![\"\"](\"https://i2.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Dallas-TX.jpg?fit=1024%2C563&ssl=1\")
Total housing units: 2,696,167
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 51,922
\n\n\n\n% of housing built in 2014 or later: 1.93%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Orlando-FL.jpg\")
Total housing units: 995,591
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 17,989
\n\n\n\n% of housing built in 2014 or later: 1.81%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Oklahoma-City-OK.jpg\")
Total housing units: 563,445
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 9,878
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 1.75%
![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Jacksonville-FL.jpg?fit=1024%2C681&ssl=1\")
Total housing units: 625,888
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 10,709
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 1.71%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Denver-CO.jpg\")
Total housing units: 1,136,616
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 18,588
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 1.64%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Charlotte-North-Carolina.jpg\")
Total housing units: 993,111
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 16,061
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 1.62%
![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Salt-Lake-City-UT.jpg\")
Total housing units: 405,112
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 6,057
\n\n\n\n% of housing built in 2014 or later: 1.50%
![\"\"](\"https://i1.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Seattle-WA.jpg?fit=1024%2C498&ssl=1\")
Total housing units: 1,544,134
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 22,148
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 1.43%
![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/www.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Portland-OR.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1\")
Total housing units: 966,346
\n\n\n\nHousing units built in 2014 or later: 12,245
\n\n\n\n% of housing units built in 2014 or later: 1.27%
\n\n\n\nAuthor Bio: John Egan is a freelance writer who covers everything from personal finance to lawn care. His masterful work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Forbes, and The Guardian.
You cannot create an attractive and healthy lawn just by eliminating weeds. It is also essential to feed your grass the necessary nutrients. Weed and feed products allow you to check both these lawn care tasks off your list in one go. This article will explore how to use weed and feed for your lawn. […]
\n","content":"\nYou cannot create an attractive and healthy lawn just by eliminating weeds. It is also essential to feed your grass the necessary nutrients. Weed and feed products allow you to check both these lawn care tasks off your list in one go. This article will explore how to use weed and feed for your lawn.
\n\n\n\nThese products are designed not only to control weeds but also to foster healthy, thriving, green grass. In addition to how to use weed and feed, this article also discusses what weed and feed is, how it works, and how it can be a friend or foe.
\n\n\nIt is best to apply weed and feed when the temperature is between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Most areas of the country experience these temperatures in late spring and early fall.
\n\n\n\nIt is easier to manage perennial weeds and several types of annual weeds during this time of year. Spring and fall are also the best times to fertilize your lawn, depending on your grass type – late spring for warm-season grasses, fall for cool-season grasses.
\n\n\nInfographic by Juan Rodriguez
\n\n\n\nProducts with nitrogen should not be used until the soil temperature at a depth of 4 inches is consistently 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If the product has potassium instead of nitrogen, it can be applied during the end of winter or early spring.
\n\n\n\nKeep in mind that grass should be fertilized at specific times and intervals to remain healthy. Weed killers must also be applied at specific times of year to be effective. The proper timing for fertilizer and weed control doesn’t always overlap, which is one reason why weed and feed can be bad for your lawn.
\n\n\n\nDo not apply weed and feed more than twice annually, and do not use the products in extreme temperatures, hot spells, droughts, or on windy days.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUsing weed and feed takes pre-planning to make sure the product works. Here are some things you can do before applying weed and feed to ensure the best possible results:
\n\n\n\n— Select a day to apply weed and feed when it is not forecasted to rain for about a week. Water will wash away the product before it can take effect.
— For new lawns recently seeded, do not apply weed and feed until the grass has grown enough that you’ve had to mow it twice.
— About two days before you apply weed and feed, mow your grass to a normal height. This will help the weed and feed absorb evenly into your lawn.
— Watering your grass helps granules adhere to the weeds. But do not water it too much, as it will have an adverse effect. The grass should be slightly damp when you apply the product.
![\"hand-held](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/rsz_114848000106_62e914cb15_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jerry Norbury / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
\n\n\n\nMake sure you use the proper tools to apply weed and feed and wear protective clothing and accessories. You do not want to be exposed to these toxic chemicals any more than necessary.
\n\n\n\nTools needed:
\n\n\n\n— Sprayer for liquid weed and feed
— Drop-type spreader or rotary spreader for granules
Steps to apply weed and feed:
\n\n\n\n— For liquid weed and feed, mix and spray as per the product label’s directions.
— For granules, follow the product label’s instructions for adjusting the spreader settings.
— Open the spreader as per the product’s directions.
— Add the weed and feed in the amount indicated by the package instructions.
— If you are applying near plants you do not wish to kill, place plastic over them or use a drop spreader to protect the vegetation.
— Start at the edge of your lawn and go back and forth in parallel lines, spraying or spreading the weed and feed product consistently as you go. Move similarly to how you would if you were mowing, but overlap yourself slightly. This ensures every area is covered.
— Do not water or mow your lawn after applying weed and feed. Follow the product’s instructions for when to do so for granules and liquid products. If your product has no instructions, see our article on when to water the lawn after applying weed and feed.
![\"caution](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/224f4055-1667-42b4-b7d2-082a567c5f63-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: ArtBoyMB / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nWeed and feed products contain a combination of dangerous chemicals, like MCPP, 2,4-D, and dicamba. Some of these have been linked to chronic toxicity and cancer. Keep children and pets out of the treated area for as long as possible.
\n\n\n\nWait until after a heavy downpour before allowing them back in the yard. If you used a granular product, make sure you can no longer see the granules.
\n\n\n\nIf you would rather use a product that doesn’t put your loved ones at risk, see our list of pet-safe weed killers, which are safe to use around children, too.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Crabgrass](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Large-crabgrass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: NY State IPM Program at Cornell University / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nHere are some reasons your weed and feed application may not have worked:
\n\n\n\n— These products only work on broadleaf weeds and not grassy weeds like crabgrass. To treat crabgrass, you’ll need a product with a specific crabgrass preventer. Read the label to identify which weeds the product targets.
— You may have watered the grass too soon, or it may have rained too soon after the weed and feed application.
— Weeds must be mature and actively growing for weed and feed to be effective. So, you may have applied it at the wrong time in the weed’s life cycle.
— You did not follow all the prepping steps.
“Weed & feed” is what pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides are called when they include a lawn fertilizer to nourish the grass. These products can improve your grass when applied at the right time. Improved, healthy grass reduces the chances of weeds sprouting.
\n\n\n\nPre-Emergent Weed and Feed: Most weed and feed products are post-emergents. They should be applied before weeds sprout to prevent the weed seeds from germinating. Some, like Scott’s Turf Builder, offer options with crabgrass preventer.
\n\n\n\nPost-Emergent Weed and Feed: Weed and feed post-emergents consist of dicamba and other chemicals that attack broadleaf weeds like dollarweed, dandelions, and plantain. They kill weeds that are actively growing, and they work most effectively when the weeds are young and vulnerable.
\n\n\n\nWhen a post-emergent weed and feed is applied, the weed’s foliage absorbs the toxins. Dicamba is a chemical that penetrates the plant’s roots, making the post-emergent more toxic to the weed. Homeowners should be aware that other plants also absorb the chemical and can be damaged. Be careful not to apply post-emergent weed and feeds on plants you want to keep around.
\n\n\n\nPre-Emergent and Post-Emergent Weed and Feed: Some products contain chemicals that are pre-emergent and post-emergent, which means they can kill currently growing weeds and prevent weeds from growing in the future. The chemical atrazine is an example.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"bags](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/e7e9bd22-a137-4af7-8800-a8c9ed2b9213.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Srinuan Hirunwat / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nSelecting the right weed and feed is similar to choosing the appropriate weed killer or fertilizer separately. Be familiar with the weeds you need to eliminate and the type of grass you have. Make sure you know the best time to apply fertilizer to your lawn.
\n\n\n\nRead weed and feed labels to ensure the herbicide kills the type of weeds you have, determine if your grass has to be at a certain stage to use the product, and make sure the time of year to apply the herbicide coincides with the time your grass should be fertilized.
\n\n\n\nHere are some examples of weed and feed chemicals and products. Included are examples of weeds and grass types they can be used on:
\n\n\n\nAce Lawn Weed Killer
\n\n\n\n— Attacks broadleaf weeds
— Safe to use on: Bermudagrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and Zoysiagrass
MCPP, 2,4-D, and Dicamba Mixture
\n\n\n\n— Attacks broadleaf weeds
— Safe to use on: St. Augustinegrass, tall fescue, Bahiagrass
Scotts Turf Builder
\n\n\n\n— Contains 2,4-D and Dicamba
— Controls several weeds, including common weeds like clover, henbit, and chickweed
— Offers products with crabgrass preventer
— Safe to use on: Centipedegrass, Bahiagrass, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue
How long should you wait before reseeding a lawn after applying weed and feed?
\n\n\n\nWeed and feed can stop seed germination, so you must ensure it is completely absorbed before reseeding. Wait four weeks before planting grass seed. Likewise, waiting four weeks before overseeding your lawn is also best.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen is a lawn treated with herbicides safe for children and pets?
\n\n\n\nAllow a hard rain to wash away any residual from the herbicide. You can also water your grass a few days consecutively before letting children and pets on the grass.
\n\n\n\nWhen not in use, keep herbicides out of the reach of children and pets. These chemicals can be just as harmful to pets as they are to humans.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow can I reduce runoff from herbicides?
\n\n\n\nHerbicides that have spilled over onto hard surfaces like sidewalks or roads can be washed into storm drains. Use a rake or broom to push the chemicals back into your grass. This will reduce runoff that can harm the environment.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou have a few choices to treat weeds. Whether you select pre-emergent, post-emergent, or weed and feed products depends on your specific situation. For example, the types of weeds you have, the stage of weed accumulation, and your grass type are all determinants.
\n\n\n\nYou may also base your decision on how the toxicity of chemicals can affect your family and choose DIY weed killer mixtures that are safe for humans and pets. In this case, you would have to fertilize your grass separately, which is not such a bad thing. Grass clippings left on the lawn after mowing are a natural fertilizer. If you have lawn weeds, avoid leaving grass clippings, as this will spread the weeds.
\n\n\n\nIt is important to practice good lawn care habits to maintain a healthy green lawn and keep lawn weeds from returning. Fertilizing, watering, and mowing your grass appropriately will help reduce the chances of weed growth. Treating your grass for diseases is also imperative.
\n\n\n\nAnd if you don’t feel like figuring out weed and feed and other lawn care products yourself, let WikiLawn connect you with qualified lawn care professionals in your area to keep your lawn healthy and appealing for you.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Jon Rehg / Canva Pro / License
\n","title":"How to Use Weed and Feed for Your Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/1789c/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/107df/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.jpg 320w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/293e9/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.jpg 500w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/f2cbb/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.jpg 800w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/1789c/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.jpg 960w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/c26c2/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/1dd6e/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/67b76/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.webp 320w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/8df11/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.webp 500w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/98a65/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.webp 800w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/1dd6e/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.webp 960w,\n/static/5a9efe0b22496dd9055fe2734db34fee/3cc96/ca55b829-6e9e-437b-bf55-04c507a3cdf9.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Use Weed and Feed for Your Lawn | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Learn how and when to use weed and feed products, examples of weeds they control, and the best products for different grass types."}}},{"node":{"id":"7ad4a3c8-8bbd-5521-bdeb-7e479ce66c55","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-mushrooms-in-your-yard","path":"/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-mushrooms-in-your-yard/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"","name":"Mel Childs","id":"5e563fe7-34e1-5dc2-bc00-a1e777e5dfd5","path":"/author/melisha-childslawnstarter-com/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8fb37d81bb775d323e0028ec06cb650f?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"}],"date":"July 30th, 2022","excerpt":"Unlike delicious mushrooms in your marinara sauce, the fungi growing on your lawn could make your kids and pets sick. They could also trigger an allergic reaction. So how do you get rid of mushrooms in your yard? You can pull them up, use natural methods, or resort to chemicals. This guide explores ways to […]
\n","content":"\nUnlike delicious mushrooms in your marinara sauce, the fungi growing on your lawn could make your kids and pets sick. They could also trigger an allergic reaction. So how do you get rid of mushrooms in your yard?
\n\n\n\nYou can pull them up, use natural methods, or resort to chemicals. This guide explores ways to eliminate mushrooms and keep them from coming back.
\n\n\n\nContents:
\n\n\n\nYou can avoid using harmful chemicals on your lawn with these natural methods.
\n\n\n\nYou can hand pick all the mushrooms and toss them in the trash. It’s important to wear gloves to avoid an allergic reaction, and it’s crucial that you dispose of them immediately. Put them in a plastic bag, as even carrying them across the yard to your garbage can spread the mushroom spores onto other parts of the lawn.
\n\n\n\nVinegar works after you’ve removed the mushrooms by hand. We’re not talking about the vinegar in your pantry, but rather a concentrated horticultural vinegar (a good alternative to glyphosate) that you will have to dilute.
\n\n\n\nMix one part white vinegar with four parts water in a spray bottle and coat the mushrooms. Wear gloves when you spray this solution onto the area, because vinegar can burn your skin.
\n\n\n\nBaking soda won’t burn your hands, but you must dilute it so it won’t burn your grass. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with a gallon of water and pour lightly over the mushrooms and in the area where the lawn fungi may be living.
\n\n\n\n![\"Chemical](\"http://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_screenshot_12.jpg\")
When natural methods don’t do the trick, you may have to use stronger chemical treatments to keep the mushrooms out of your yard.
\n\n\n\nFungicides stamp out mushrooms at the source. They don’t kill mushrooms but rather eliminate the fungus. Most fungicides such as Lustre or Spectrum work by destroying fungal cell membranes to stop them from producing.
\n\n\n\nYou’ll still have to hand pick the mushrooms before you apply the fungicide to the area, but they will keep the mushrooms from coming back. Therefore, it’s a good idea to remove the mushrooms first. You may have to use the fungicide several times to get the desired results.
\n\n\n\nThe same nitrogen fertilizer you use on your lawn is great for preventing mushrooms. It doesn’t kill the fungus, but it speeds up organic decomposition. Therefore, mushrooms won’t have an opportunity to grow on your lawn.
\n\n\n\nSpray a solution of dish soap and water to disrupt the lifecycle of the fungus that’s growing underneath the mushrooms you removed.
\n\n\n\nRemoving the mushrooms from your yard is only half the battle. The fungus that causes the mushrooms is still present in the soil. Here are seven ways to minimize the fungus and keep new mushrooms from growing.
\n\n\n\n![\"Mushroom's](\"http://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rsz_frank-eiffert-_zsw5aeb4ee-unsplash.jpg\")
Like plants, mushrooms are the “flowers” or fruiting bodies that result from the hyphae or fungus in your lawn’s soil. If you don’t remove the mushrooms immediately, they will reproduce by spreading spores around your yard via air or pests.
\n\n\n\nSome common reasons you are starting to see more mushrooms growing in your yard?
\n\n\n\nDon’t automatically assume mushrooms in your yard are a threat. There are very few poisonous mushrooms that can grow on your property, but even the non-toxic mushrooms are unsightly and a magnet for dogs who like to dig.
\n\n\n\nThey can be. The destroying angel and the autumn skullcap are two fatal types of mushrooms that could grow on your lawn.
\n\n\n\nThe destroying angel mushroom is white with a white stalk and white gills that could turn green or grayish as the mushroom matures. The autumn skullcap has a yellow-brown tint on its cap and brownish gills.
\n\n\n\nNo, unless you’ve purchased mushroom plants from the store and are growing them in your vegetable garden. Unless you’re an expert at identifying wild mushrooms, it’s best to toss the mushrooms you find in your yard.
\n\n\n\nYes. Mushrooms are a sure sign your soil is healthy and has the nutrients for other plants, trees, and flowers. Some plants will actually benefit from the fungus in the soil.
\n\n\n\nDon’t have the time or find it gross to remove the mushrooms from your yard? We can find a lawn care pro near you to remove them and keep the fungus at bay. They can also mow, weed, edge, and dethatch to keep the mushrooms from coming back.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo Credit: Pixabay | Michal Jarmoluk
\n","title":"How to Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Yard","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"src":"/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/1789c/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/107df/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.jpg 320w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/293e9/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.jpg 500w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/f2cbb/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.jpg 800w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/1789c/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.jpg 960w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/c26c2/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/1dd6e/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/67b76/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.webp 320w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/8df11/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.webp 500w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/98a65/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.webp 800w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/1dd6e/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.webp 960w,\n/static/e0421b908bd33afd56f2b8a9e75e9c6c/3cc96/rsz_mushrooms-g66ac431a3_1920.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Get Rid of Mushrooms in Your Yard | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Unsightly and sometimes dangerous, we’ll tell you how to get rid of mushrooms in your yard."}}},{"node":{"id":"0aa326f9-3c0e-5cb2-bddd-be154a086cd3","slug":"lawn-aeration-guide","path":"/lawn-care/lawn-aeration-guide/","status":"publish","template":"","format":"standard","author":{"description":"Taha Javed is a freelance writer and business student in Lahore, Pakistan. She loves swimming, reading, and playing with her dog.","name":"Taha Javed","id":"0531d17c-e9c8-5153-a6fb-6e2994f71716","path":"/author/taha-javed/","avatar_urls":{"wordpress_96":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/877749883781783414fae4d0b98beb69?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"categories":[{"id":"c16818a6-3923-5fc7-a49b-191ac48bf4d2","name":"Blog","count":81,"path":"/category/blog/"},{"id":"205f24d4-c1e5-5728-bb28-8ba70eecbc7a","name":"Lawn Care","count":432,"path":"/category/lawn-care/"}],"date":"August 7th, 2023","excerpt":"Lawn aeration is essential if the soil in your yard has become compacted over time. This simple yet powerful procedure can revitalize grass and improve its general health. We’ll cover all the information you need to aerate your lawn correctly, including when and how to aerate your lawn and why your grass might need it. […]
\n","content":"\nLawn aeration is essential if the soil in your yard has become compacted over time. This simple yet powerful procedure can revitalize grass and improve its general health. We’ll cover all the information you need to aerate your lawn correctly, including when and how to aerate your lawn and why your grass might need it.
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/6baa5fee-5658-4828-9be8-cf92497e9b5f.jpg\")
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez
\n\n\n\nYour lawn is continuously communicating with you, so pay attention to the cues it gives you. You can identify when it’s time to aerate by paying attention to the state of your lawn. Here are some key indicators that your lawn could benefit from aeration:
\n\n\n\nThe best time for lawn aeration is determined by the type of grass in your yard. In general, aerating your lawn during your grass’s growing season is optimal because the grass is active and can recover rapidly from the aeration process. Since cool-season and warm-season grasses have different growing seasons, the best time to aerate them is different.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLate spring or early summer is the ideal time to aerate warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass. It is the beginning of the grass’s growth season, so your lawn has enough time to recover from the stress of aeration before the hottest part of summer. Spring aeration also helps to alleviate soil compaction caused by winter conditions, allowing the grass to access vital nutrients and moisture more efficiently.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe best time for lawn aeration in cool-season lawns with grasses like Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue is early fall or early spring. Aerating in the fall not only aids in reducing soil compaction but also promotes root development to help grass prepare for winter dormancy.
\n\n\n\nNote: Before aerating, evaluate the present weather conditions and soil moisture content. Don’t aerate your lawn after heavy rainfall; wait for it to dry.
\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/8704115339_808a6b275c_c-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Oregon State University / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nAerating your lawn may appear to be a difficult task, but it can be a simple and rewarding process with the appropriate approach. Here’s a step-by-step strategy to aerate your lawn as efficiently as possible.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSharpen your mower’s blade and mow your grass shorter than usual. It allows for easier soil access during aeration. Watering your lawn 1 inch deep a day or two before aeration is also important to keep the soil moist but not overly saturated.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBefore aerating your grass, mark any sprinkler heads or other obstacles to avoid damaging them. Call 811 a few days before you plan to aerate so someone can come out and mark your utility lines.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThere are two primary methods for aerating a lawn: spike aeration and core aeration.
\n\n\n\nSpike aeration is the process of poking holes in the soil with spikes, either by hand or with a tool.
\n\n\n\nCore aeration removes small cores or plugs of soil from the lawn. Core aeration is often favored because it creates more space in the soil, producing better results and more benefits.
\n\n\n\n![\"illustration](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Aeration-illustration.png\")
Graphic by Juan Rodriguez
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"Person](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/aerate-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jeffoto / Canva Pro / License
\n\n\n\nThere are various varieties of aerators available, each with its unique set of benefits. Consider the following options when choosing the right aeration equipment for your lawn.
\n\n\n\nNote: To pick the best sort of aerator for your needs, consider the size of your lawn, budget, and individual needs. Renting aerators is a cost-effective choice for infrequent use, but owning one may be more practical for frequent or large-scale aeration needs.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"illustration](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/aeration-patterns.png\")
Graphic by Juan Rodriguez
\n\n\n\nBegin by walking or towing the aerator around your lawn’s perimeter, working your way inward. To ensure comprehensive coverage, slightly overlap each pass, or follow a crisscross pattern to cover your space entirely. Continue aerating the lawn until it is completely covered.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLeave the soil plugs from core aerators on the lawn to break down naturally, or collect and compost them for later use.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter the aeration is finished, try top-dressing the lawn with a thin coating of compost or sand. It improves soil structure and adds valuable organic matter. Lightly water the lawn to settle the soil and aid in the recovery process. You can also fertilize or overseed your lawn to give it a fresh boost.
\n\n\n\nLearn more about post-aeration lawn care in our guide on What to Do After Aerating Your Lawn.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAerating your lawn once every 2 to 3 years should suffice for most lawns, mainly comprising sandy soil or soil that doesn’t easily compact. If your lawn has clay soil or is subjected to excessive foot traffic or compaction, you should aerate it once every year.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSeeding your lawn after aeration can be highly beneficial. The newly formed holes provide an ideal environment for grass seeds to germinate. Spread the seeds evenly with a spreader, water frequently to keep the soil moist, and admire the lovely new growth!
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYes, it can! Aeration minimizes soil compaction and improves water drainage, which can help prevent fungal diseases and other pest infestations. To find out more about what aeration can do, see our article on the Benefits of Aerating Your Lawn.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAerating your lawn is essential for its health and vitality. But the thought of when and how to aerate it and the hours spent toiling with the aerator feels daunting. If you’d rather not invest that time and effort, consider seeking the help of a professional lawn care service provider. By hiring a skilled lawn care pro, you can be sure the aeration is effective and your lawn receives the attention it needs for healthier and more beautiful growth.
\n\n\n\nFeatured Image by Juan Rodriguez
\n","title":"When and How to Aerate Your Lawn","featured_media":{"localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"aspectRatio":2,"src":"/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/f2cbb/Untitled-design-1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/107df/Untitled-design-1.jpg 320w,\n/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/293e9/Untitled-design-1.jpg 500w,\n/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/f2cbb/Untitled-design-1.jpg 800w","srcWebp":"/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/98a65/Untitled-design-1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/67b76/Untitled-design-1.webp 320w,\n/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/8df11/Untitled-design-1.webp 500w,\n/static/b9db5211bd5ec9918127d06adb4d6fcc/98a65/Untitled-design-1.webp 800w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}},"yoast_meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":"When and How to Aerate Your Lawn | Wikilawn","yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"If compacted soil is making your lawn thin, follow this guide to learn why, when, and how to aerate your lawn and fix compaction."}}}],"postCity":{"node":{"name":"Columbus","slug":"columbus","state":{"name":"Ohio","slug":"oh"},"suburbs":[{"name":"Canal Winchester","slug":"canal-winchester"},{"name":"Delaware","slug":"delaware"},{"name":"Dublin","slug":"dublin"},{"name":"Hilliard","slug":"hilliard"},{"name":"Heath","slug":"heath"},{"name":"Lewis Center","slug":"lewis-center"},{"name":"New Albany","slug":"new-albany"},{"name":"Plain City","slug":"plain-city"},{"name":"Newark","slug":"newark"},{"name":"Pickerington","slug":"pickerington"},{"name":"Grove City","slug":"grove-city"},{"name":"Lancaster","slug":"lancaster"},{"name":"Marysville","slug":"marysville"},{"name":"Reynoldsburg","slug":"reynoldsburg"},{"name":"Powell","slug":"powell"},{"name":"Westerville","slug":"westerville"}],"parentCity":null}}}}}