Get Next Year's Weed Under Control This Fall

It is necessary to mention one thing before we get into the "weeds". It is VERY DRY and it is critically important that we keep watering our landscape plants, especially newly planted trees and shrubs. Regularly watering during dry periods, like we are experiencing now, will help avoid winter damage. Remember, a good soaking once a week until the ground freezes. Older trees need water too.

RoundUp kill in December

One of the most daunting garden chores in the garden, landscape plantings and turf is keeping weeds under control. Some of the weeds we deal with are perennial in nature and survive our winters. Then there are weeds that are annuals but some of these, like Chick Weed, will survive our winters. Right NOW is one of the best times of the year to get a jump on controlling weeds for next year. Yes, I know you want to quit the gardening tasks for the season and just kick back and watch some good football or relax. It's ok if you want to do that but you will have the same annoying job of trying to get ahead of the weeds next season. Remember, they got ahead of you and the rest is history. It is hard to keep up when it is just too hot to work outside.

So let's think about how easy it can be to get a jump on the weeds for next year. First, take a look around and see where the dandelions and other broadleaved weeds have already sprouted and are growing. Some of them will be in the lawn and others will be in your landscape beds. We don't want these guys to flower and go to seed, which a few can do this time of the year. Most of us don't think much about weeds growing now but they continue to be very efficient at moving food to their root system for storage. They will be ready to really pop and grow early in the spring when everything needs attention. If we apply a broadleaf weed control to our lawns by spot spraying just the weeds vs. applying a spray or a weed and feed application when there are only a few dandelions we will save $ and also protect the environment. We want to be responsible when using chemicals so spot spraying may be the way to go if there are only a few weeds.

When it comes to weed growth in the fall the uptake of weed killers is very efficient and the kill is thorough. When the weeds are in flower beds it is best to use a product like Round-Up (see December photo) that is deactivated when it comes in contact with the soil. Due to the cool weather at this time of the year these contact week killers work more slowly and may not appear to be working. Be patient and just make your applications according to the label and watch how effective applying weed killers at this time of the year can be.

Next apply a preemergence herbicide now as soon as you have all the weeds removed from your plantings. Preen is one product that works well when you follow the label instructions.


30 years of Growing
Meadow View Growers
New Carlisle, OH
www.meadowview.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Landscaping/Gardening Information:

Related Articles

Come With Me To The Casbah!
A ripe persimmon is a thing of beauty - sweet, succulent and an amazing shade of orange-red. Orange and red continue to be popular colors in decorating this year but 2004's shades are softer and more vibrant, like ripe persimmons and pomegranates.
Multi Purpose Tree - Sugar Palm
Palm family is unique in the aspect that most of its members have muli purpose benefits to the mankind, unrivalled by few other trees. There are several palm species such as Borassus, Areca, Sago, Fish Tail etc.
Gardening for Birds Part 2
We've had some well needed rain this past week, though it makes it a bit difficult to get chores done outside.We're past the last frost date for my area so now I can get some planting done.
10 Free Gardening Products
One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding alternative ways of coming up with the same, if not better, end result..
The Basics Of Pruning
The technique of pruning varies with the type of rose and the landscape purpose for which it was planted, whether it's growing in the ground or in a container. Pruning can range from removing unwanted buds to severely excising canes.
Suet Facts and Tips
If you are like many people, backyard birding is a hobby for you whether you actively encourage visits from birds or not. One way to attract birds is to put out suet -- beef fat -- and watch the crowds stop by and devour the treat.
Think Vintage for Your Garden
Container gardeners take note. Tired of clay pots? Think vintage, because when you do, there'll be lots to choose from.
Lifes a Beach--A Shore Theme in your Outdoor Space
Twentieth century American architect Phillip Johnson once said, "I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach?" Mr.
Commercial and Residential Flagpoles
The world's tallest unsupported flagpole is located in Amman, Jordan. Erected in 2003, the carbon steel pole juts 416 feet into the sky and weighs a staggering 190,000 pounds.
Fertilizing Your Water Lilies...
Unfortunately, sunlight is not enough.Your water lilies will grow, thrive, and bloom much better if youget in the habit of fertilizing them regularly.
A Teak Chair - Create a Livable Outdoor Space with One
When creating a comfortable, usable outdoor space, nothing could me more inviting and warm than furnishing that space with natural products such as wood. Often, though, there are problems associated with wood furnishings.
Grey Water- Not Drinking Water- For Your Garden
The average home can reduce their water consumption by around 30% by re-using grey water on their garden.The figures are compelling.
Granite Flexible Preformed Rock Ponds
More than just a Preformed PondTraditionally, preformed ponds are large shells, which are extremely burdensome and difficult to transport. For example, a typical preformed pond kit would come in a box that is 60 x 48 x 24 , which is too large for many car trunk sizes.
Vermicomposting - Worm Composters For Eco-Friendly Waste Disposal and Recycling
Worms are not only the gardener's best friend, they are also the recycler's new found best friend as well. Nature's little waste disposal experts have found a new place in eco-conscious household's across the globe as more and more people are catching on to the idea of using worms' special talents to dispose of their organic household waste.
Park Benches
One of the best ways to create a warm and inviting outdoor space is to incorporate the use of park benches into your outdoor decor. Whether they are simple or grand, park benches send a subtle message to your neighbors and guests that you want your outdoor space to be appreciated and enjoyed by all.
Gardening on a Budget
When we moved into our south Anchorage log home I had glorious plans for the 1/3 acre lot. Some previous owner had chopped down every tree counting on the neighboring woodlands for green and shade.
How to Create a Zen Garden
When you hear the term "Zen Garden" the picture conjured up is of a dry landscape with rocks surrounded by carefully raked gravel which invites you to withdraw from the noise of the world outside and to enter into silent meditation. Some say that zen priests adopted the dry landscape style in the eleventh century as an aid to create a deeper understanding of the zen concepts, but others hold that the Japanese Zen Garden is a myth.
Amish Furniture on the Front Porch
While shopping on line the other day at www.stoveramishfurniture.
Create a Hummingbird Garden Habitat
It's not difficult to create a garden that will attract hummingbirds, but if you'd like to build a habitat in which they will happily nest and live throughout the northern summer, you need to provide them with more than a sugar-water feeder and a plant or two. An active hummingbird garden doesn't need to be large, but it will have all of the following key ingredients to attract and keep the attention of "nature's fairies".
Moss on Lawns
Just about right now, we start to see moss on lawns and the plaintive cry goes up, "How do we stop it?"The first thing to understand is that moss is not going to survive in a healthy lawn. The existence of moss is a symptom that the lawn is not in good shape.