How does weeds grow

Fairway Green Inc. What is a weed? Why do weeds grow? Types of weeds There are three different types of weeds in every lawn and landscape bed. Annual Weeds. These types of weeds spread by setting seed, germinating and growing for one season then dying off on their own at the end of their life cycle.

These would include hairy bittercress, oxalis, groundsel and chickweed. Biennial Weeds. Biennial weeds have a two-year life cycle. In the first year a seed germinates and produces a leafy plant. The following year, the plant flowers to produce seeds that then restart the new life cycle of the plant seed. These would include clover, wild carrot and prickly lettuce. Perennial Weeds. These include dandelion, thistle and ground ivy. How to kill weeds in the lawn There are many ways to control or reduce weeds in a lawn.

Keep your lawn dense. Weeds grow when there is space for them and a thick lawn reduces available space for the weeds to grow in. Any bare or thin areas at the end of the season should be seeded in the early fall September of each year to thicken up the turf density. Fertilize regularly. Proper fertilization helps feed the lawn and keep it growing and healthy throughout the year.

Mow regularly and keep the grass blades high. This helps shade the soil underneath the grass canopy, which in turn helps reduce weed growth. Mow when the lawn needs to be mowed. If you think about it, these places can be the hottest spots in your yard. The sun heats up the driveway or sidewalk, which in turn dries out the soil and the turf begins to thin out. Once you give a weed a little bit of a chance, it will take advantage of the opportunity and it will germinate.

One of the best defenses against weeds is to mow your lawn high. If you live in the areas where cool-season grasses grow, you should be mowing your lawns between 3 to 4 inches.

The reason behind this practice is that the longer grass blades will shade the ground underneath, preventing the sun from reaching the seed to heat it up and allowing it to germinate. For those of you in the south, with the exception of St. The advantage that these grasses have is their dense growth habit that prevents the sun from reaching down to the seeds.

Fertilizer needs vary according to grass species, but nitrogen is the nutrient most needed by all grass types. Organic compost fertilizers are applied once or twice yearly because they release nutrients slowly into the soil. Irrigate when the top 2 inches have dried out -- or two to three times per week.

Deep, infrequent watering discourages weed growth. Joan Norton, M. By Joan Norton. Related Articles. Annual Grassy Weeds Annual grassy weeds such as bluegrass, crabgrass and goose grass grow, produce seed and die within one season. Perennial Grasses and Broadleaf Weeds Bermuda grass and dallis-grass are perennial grass weeds which establish themselves in lawns that are mowed too closely, are overwatered, have compacted soil or are subject to excess heat and sun.

Eradication Eradication of weeds is not a realistic or necessary goal. Preventative Practices Proper mowing, irrigation and fertilization practices prevent many weed problems.