Jack Ressor
McCracken County Master Gardener
Weeds are
unwanted plants growing out of place. They are usually native and compete well with
our lawns and landscape plants.
Healthy lawns
and landscape plants should be a gardener’s first line of defense against weeds.
Proper watering, mowing, and fertilizing are essential to minimizing the weeds
in lawns. In garden and vegetable beds, mulch can help keep the weeds down.
Mulches can consist of organic manner such as pine bark, cypress, landscape
fabrics, saw dust, plastic or even newspaper. Hand pulling is always an option,
but can be difficult on hot summer days. Always kill and remove weeds before
they flower to prevent seeding the next generation. When these remedies do not
work, a gardener can use various herbicides.
There are
two major types of herbicide: Pre-emergent and post-emergent.
 |
| Crabgrass |
Pre-emergent herbicides are usually used in the late winter
or early spring before the weed seeds germinate. They are best in controlling
annual weeds such as crabgrass. These products can be applied as a liquid or in
granular form. After germination, they offer little help in controlling weeds.
Examples of pre-emergent herbicides are Preen and Scotts Crabgrass Preventer.
Post-emergent products are directed at
controlling weeds that have germinated and are easily visible. They are usually
more effective when weeds are small, so treat as early as possible. An
herbicide may be specific to a certain weed or be active against many weeds.
Post-emergent products can be divided into contact or systemic herbicides.
Contact herbicides work by contact directly with the plant. Examples are Ortho
Grass Be Gone, and Bayer Advanced All-In-One Lawn Weed & Crabgrass Killer. Systemic
herbicides are absorbed by the weed causing death. Systemic products may be
selective or non-selective. Selective products target certain weeds while not
harming desirable plants in the same area. These herbicides include Scotts Lawn
Pro Turf Builder with Weed Control. Non-selective materials are used to kill
all the vegetation in an area and include Roundup and Ortho Total Kill. Do not
let any contact herbicides touch any plants you want to keep. Nonselective
herbicides include household items such as salt, vinegar, citric acid and
baking soda.
Herbicides
are poisons and all contact should be avoided. Use the following guidelines
when using them:
1 . Always read the labels on the
herbicide containers and follow the directions before using.
2 . Wear long pants and shirts, goggles
and rubber gloves when using herbicides.
3 . Wash your any skin contact with soap
and water and when finished.
4 . If an herbicide gets into the eyes,
flush the eye slowly with water for 10 to 15 minutes. Check the label for first
aid information and get medical attention as soon as possible.
5 . Do not breathe the fumes.
6 . Store herbicides in their original
containers out of reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet) and away
from any food.
7 . Avoid disposal problems. Only buy
what you need. Never flush unused material down the toilet, sink or storm
drain. Take unused and unwanted herbicides to household hazardous waste
collections. Triple wash any empty containers before disposal into the garbage.
Never reuse the containers.
