We all hate them so let's go over some of the basics!
Prevention
Some weeds like Clover are easy to get rid of in lawns, while others like Winter Grass and Paspalum are very difficult to kill. For this reason prevention with a pre-emergent like SPARTAN is the best way to go. On an established lawn Spartan will stop the seeds of many common weeds germinating if applied around late February/early March and late August/early September.
Do not apply Spartan:
- if you plan on doing any seeding work in the following 6 or so months.
- on new turf, unless it has been down for around 3 months (winter months not included).
- to bare areas in your lawn.
Treatment
To eradicate weeds the simple process is, identify weed > find product and understand label > apply/remove.
Identification: The best place to start with weed ID is googling something like 'common lawn weeds' and matching up the results to what you see in your lawn. You could also try taking a photo with google lens, or another weed identifier app.
Finding the right product: Once you've identified the weed, let's say it's clover, google 'clover herbicide' to find your available options.
Product labels are always available online and you should read through it to ensure the product is suitable for your lawn type, and that you're comfortable with how to apply it.
Pro tip: Bow and Arrow is often the go to herbicide for Aussie lawns tackling the most common weeds like Clover, Bindii, Plantain, Cat's ear, Capeweed and Oxalis.
Some other herbicides that may help are Lonhro for Ryegrass and broadleaf weeds, Tempra for Nut grass, Tribute for grassy weeds and kikuyu control and Monument for broadleaf, grassy weeds and kikuyu.
Application: For this you need to read and follow the label for mixing and applying any herbicide, you will find that you need to wear long pants, long sleeves, and gloves at a MINIMUM. Always read the directions before use and check labels for any warnings regarding keeping kids and/or pets off the lawn!
Removal: There is a time and place for a herbicide, but for minor weed issues manual removal is always the best option. With pre-emergent applied as part of a well planned lawn care program, manual removal from time to time is about all you will need to do!
For manual removal you can flick it out with something like a screwdriver or a tool like this garden weeder from Hoselink!
Hopefully this helps you tackle any weeds in your lawn! Below are some other helpful videos to check out!!