You might have a bunch of questions about lawn weeds. Like, is it OK to set your whole lawn on fire to get rid of those stupid weeds? Or, what did you do to deserve a lawn full of ugly crabgrass? You’re basically a nice person.
Let’s set those aside for a minute for more practical questions, especially if you’re weighing organic DIY weed control vs. hiring pros. Do organic weed killers work? And is professional lawn care actually safe?
Organic products generally don’t work as well on weeds as the professional products skilled pros use, especially on the toughest weeds. And professional lawn care is safe, if the lawn care professionals you hire are trained, knowledgeable and carefully follow the product directions for safe lawn care practices.
Who you hire definitely matters.
Dillon Beardall, manager of fertilizer operations for Lawn Buddies, shares some insight on weed control in lawn care.
Keep reading to learn more about DIY vs professional weed control.
You care about the environment as much as the next guy. You might wonder if organic weed control products will kill your weeds.
“It doesn't work as well and requires more frequent treatments, so it isn't cost-effective for many,” Beardall says. When it comes to getting rid of ugly weeds, most of us aren’t patient— and don’t want to spend more than we have to.
Why don’t organic products work as well?
A quick science lesson:
Meanwhile, lawn care and weed control professionals have access to tough, effective weed control products. And they can custom mix products or mix them in higher concentrations than the pre-mixed products homeowners can buy at the store.
Even better: they know the precise amounts to use safely. They get results — and by following safe lawn care practices.
No, professional weed control shouldn’t damage your lawn if you hire skilled and knowledgeable lawn care pros who know what they’re doing out there and use safe lawn care practices.
Experienced professionals use selective weed-control products designed to kill weeds in your lawn — not your grass.
Reputable lawn care companies in Idaho Falls provide extensive training for their lawn care technicians so they know how to identify weeds and other lawn issues, apply the right products and carefully follow directions and protocols to kill weeds without damaging your grass.
Skilled lawn care crews use precise techniques to apply products safely and effectively, minimizing the risk of overspray or over-application of weed control.
But all of the above is important.
Lawn care teams can damage your lawn if they use the wrong products, use too much or apply them at the wrong time, such as on new, tender grass. Some weed control products are non-selective, meaning they kill surrounding grass and plants, not just weeds.
When it comes to lawn care and weed control, it’s really important to know what you’re doing.
Maybe you really want to tackle your weed problem on your own. The home improvement store shelves are packed with products, right?
No offense, but when it comes to effective and safe weed control practices, you might not be doing it right, Beardall says.
He sees lots of homeowners head out with a pre-mixed jug of weed-and-grass killer to spray weeds, then wonder why they end up with big brown circles of dead grass. Or they’ll grab the sprayer from the garage and forget exactly what was in it. Oops — turns out it contained glyphosate, a non-selective herbicide that kills everything. (More on this in a bit.)
Other challenges with DIY vs. professional weed control?
Lots of homeowners use too much of the weed control product, Beardall says. Suddenly, “the whole lawn goes brown.”
But do you know why it’s brown? You're not a lawn care expert. Nobody expects you to be. Maybe you’ll mistake the dead grass for insect damage and start using a pesticide unnecessarily.
So now you have a dead lawn. You’ll need to reseed. But did you know some weed control products require that you wait several weeks before you can seed? Ugh.
Also, do you know the difference between selective and non-selective weed killers in lawn care weed control?
Selective herbicides are designed to selectively control only certain weeds. Non-selective herbicides will kill everything they touch, including the lawn and surrounding plants. They can’t “select” what to control.
Do you really want to spend time thinking about this stuff?
Correct measuring is super important, too, Beardall says, and many homeowners don’t even use a measuring device when dumping products into their sprayer.
“They use the glug method,” he says.
Hmm, three glugs per gallon of water seems about right.
“In reality, a lot of products will only require one or two ounces per gallon of water,” he says.
So not only are you risking your lawn health and the environment by applying too much weed control, you’re wasting money, too. And a lot of time mixing and spraying when you might not even get results.
Wouldn’t you rather leave this to the pros?
It is, if products are applied safely and correctly.
Beardall is happy to share the details when customers ask, explaining the product ingredients and, in the case of pesticides, sharing safety precautions they should take, like staying off the lawn until products have dried, which usually takes a couple of hours.
“But I try to help them understand that they are pesticides and they need to be respected,” he says.
Is professional lawn care safe? Knowledge is key, Beardall says.
“I do think there are too many people and companies that don't have an understanding of pesticides and what they're applying,” he says, “and I don't think that necessarily does anyone any favors.”
Choosing a reputable Idaho Falls lawn care company with trained technicians and a strong commitment to following safety guidelines helps ensure your lawn care is as safe as possible.
A lot is going on here, from deciding which weed control products to use to knowing where to use selective vs non-selective to making sure you’re using the right amount — safely.
And imagine never again stubbing your toe on that pile of lawn care products in the garage. Bonus.
Why deal with the hassles of weed control when you can hand over the whole annoying chore to the pros?
When you choose Lawn Buddies in Idaho Falls, you get one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your lawn needs to grow healthy and green, including weed control that’s applied throughout the year safely, efficiently and in the right amounts designed to get results.
Most weeds are banished over the course of the six-step program.
But some extra-tough weeds like thistle, field bindweed and black medic often require a different herbicide, which is an additional visit on top of the normal lawn treatment.
Controlling weeds is a process, not a one-shot deal.
The best method of lawn care weed control is establishing healthy turf, including proper fertilizing, watering, and mowing.
Weeds hate a thick, healthy lawn. Dense grass crowds out weeds and blocks the sunlight their seeds need to sprout.
Weeds love to push through struggling lawns to take over weak spots. So your best line of defense is to keep your grass thick, lush and healthy with an annual lawn care maintenance program that supports strong roots.
Then weed seeds will have a tougher time sprouting.
Stop worrying about weeds and partner with trusted professional weed control experts. This is what we do every day.
Choose a professional lawn care service in the Idaho Falls, ID area that bundles your yard’s most-needed treatments into one convenient, no-fuss plan that tells you the cost up front.
Lawn Buddies features one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your Idaho lawn needs to grow healthy and green.
Fertilizer, weed treatments, and grub control, all wrapped up in six visits, each perfectly timed throughout the season, so your grass is green and strong and resists weeds.
Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started. Call us at (208) 656-9131 or fill out the form on this page. Then, you can kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard.