Your Lawn and Garden: Getting the Weeds Out

July 18, 2007

Safely eliminating weeds can be a tricky aspect of lawn care. Using products specifically designed for your needs can help you control weeds with minimal impact to other plants and the environment. Lawn care and appearance depends on effective weed control.

Choosing the Right Product for Your Lawn and Garden

Weed control compounds, also called herbicides, are generally categorized as non-selective and selective herbicides:

Non-Selective Herbicides

Eliminate all plants: Non-selective herbicides indiscriminately destroy or damage any plants that come in contact with them. These products can be used in areas such as cracks in driveways, patios and sidewalks, or can be used for clearing large areas of vegetation. They should be used carefully, and aren't safe for use on your lawn or gardens.

Fast-Acting: Non-selective herbicides start to destroy plants upon contact.

Help Prevent Erosion: If you need to clear a hillside or other large area, using a non-selective herbicide can help prevent erosion and water runoff. These herbicides destroy the green parts of plants, but leave root networks intact. Root structures can help hold soil in place.

Selective Herbicides

These products are designed for lawn and garden use, as they target specific plant species without damaging others. Selective herbicides can be used to eliminate dandelions from your lawn.

Weed control products kill weeds in two ways. They destroy weeds upon exterior contact with leaves and stems, or are absorbed into the plant and damage it from within. It's important to read all label information and follow all instructions carefully. Lawn care and gardening professionals can assist in selecting products for your weed control needs.