Blog - Lawn Buddies

Idaho Falls Weed Control: How to Prevent & Treat Common Weeds in Your Lawn

Written by Chase Coates | May 11, 2021

Nothing can wreck your blissful backyard vibe like weeds.

There you are, happily flipping burgers on the grill in Idaho, wearing your brand new flip flops, when you spot them:

Crabgrass. Dandelions. White clover. Idaho lawn invaders.

It’s time for some serious weed control in Idaho.

Let’s get to it. Weeds spread fast.

Common Lawn Weeds in Idaho (And How to Spot Them)

Before we dive into how to prevent weeds in Idaho, let’s meet the most common culprits.


Here are the most common lawn weeds in Idaho: let’s call them The Sinister Seven. Click the links to learn how to identify each of these weeds.

1. Crabgrass
2. White Clover
3. Canada Thistle
4. Dandelions
5. Black Medic
6. Field Bindweed
7. Common Mallow


Idaho Weed Control Tips: Quick Guide

If you're wondering how to get rid of weeds or prevent new ones from taking over your Idaho lawn, start with these key steps:

  • Apply pre-emergent in early spring to stop weed seeds before they sprout.
  • Mow high, not short—tall grass shades out weeds.
  • Water deeply and infrequently to encourage strong roots.
  • Use post-emergent weed killers only as needed (know your weed type first).
  • Keep your lawn thick and well-fed with regular fertilization.

Need help? Lawn Buddies’ six-visit program handles all of this with perfectly timed treatments for Idaho lawns.

How to Prevent Weeds in Idaho with Good Lawn Habits

Want to keep weeds from invading in the first place? In Idaho, prevention comes down to consistent, thoughtful lawn care

The best way to beat these weeds is to establish 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.

Follow these tips for Idaho Falls weed control:

  • Don’t cut your grass too short. We know, it’s tempting to mow short so you don’t have to mow as often. But if you cut your grass too short, it can suffer from shock — leaving it prone to weeds and making it less capable of dealing with drought stress. Don’t mow more than 1/3 of the grass’s height at a time.
  • When mowing, mulch the grass clippings and leave them in your yard. That will give your grass back some nitrogen and other nutrients — and who doesn’t love free, organic fertilizer?
  • Stay on top of fertilizer treatments. They keep your lawn strong, healthy, and better able to resist weeds. And don’t forget that important fall fertilizer application. It gives your lawn’s roots nutrients to grow nice and deep, with some left over for a healthy start the next spring.
  • Stick to an irrigation schedule to keep your lawn healthy, especially during warmer months. Using system add-ons like a smart controller or rain sensor can ensure you use the exact amount of water your lawn needs, no more and no less.

How to Prevent Weeds with Timing of Weed Killer

Beyond maintenance, the best way to have a weed-free lawn is to prevent them from growing in the first place.


The trick to keeping weeds from popping up throughout your lawn is well-timed treatments. By applying pre-emergent herbicides during the winter or early spring (before growth begins), you can prevent weeds from growing.

It’s important to apply the pre-emergent herbicides early enough because if you wait too late, they won’t be effective.

How to Get Rid of Weeds Once They Show Up

Once weeds appear in your lawn, it’s time for post-emergent herbicides. But getting rid of weeds in Idaho takes more than just a spray.

But there’s a trick to this — you need to know what you’re up against.

Weeds can be either grassy or broadleaf, with each kind requiring a specific treatment plan. Once you know what type of weed is in your lawn, you can take action with a weed killer that targets the type of weed you have. Be sure to follow the label instructions exactly.
Pro tip: To prevent the chemicals from drifting, make sure there is little to no wind when you apply them. That will keep the product from going places it shouldn’t, like into flower beds or water sources.

If I Did Everything Right, Why Do I Still Have Weeds in My Lawn?

It doesn’t seem fair, does it? You dutifully follow the “how to prevent weeds” rules. But despite your best efforts, or the efforts of your lawn care service, weeds happen.

Why?

  • Weeds are shifty. They love to lurk in your lawn as seeds, sometimes for years, just waiting for the right conditions to come along.
  • Some resistant perennial weeds can take multiple herbicide applications over several seasons to control — even with the best weed control tactics.
  • Seeds, seeds, seeds. If your neighbor didn’t tend to his weeds, the seeds from his are happily blowing into your yard, and settling in to sprout. Birds drop them in your yard. They nestle in your dog’s fur when you’re out for a walk. You even track them into your yard on your shoes.
  • No herbicide kills every weed. No single herbicide, weeding technique, or lawn care strategy works against all weeds. They come in too many varieties. Some succumb quickly to a treatment. Others hang on. And on. And on.

How to Prevent Weeds? Let Us Help

Beat weeds by keeping your grass thick, lush, and healthy with a lawn care service annual maintenance program for healthy, strong roots.

When you choose Lawn Buddies, 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 perfectly timed throughout the year.


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.

Is Your Lawn Ready for a New Best Friend?

Stop worrying about weeds and partner with a company that’s expert in Idaho weed control.

Choose a professional lawn care service in the Idaho Falls or Boise, ID area that bundles your yard’s most-needed treatments into one convenient, no-fuss plan that tells you the cost up front.

Welcome to 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.

We’ve got your back.

Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started.
Fill out the form on this page.
Call us at (208) 656-9131.

Then kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard.