If you’re not careful, weeds can take over your entire yard. But how can you control them without introducing harmful chemicals into the environment? Maintaining a healthy lawn is important to more than the aesthetics of your property. A properly cared for lawn contributes to the entire surrounding eco-system, including plants, wildlife, good insects, and your family and pets. If you’re looking for eco-friendly weed control options, check out these tips for a healthy weed-free lawn without the use of herbicides or fungicides.

The secret to natural weed control is a healthy lawn

When your grass is healthy it out-competes the weeds for sunlight and water, naturally soaking up nutrients before the weeds can steal them. Healthy grass provides food for the birds, reduces erosion, filters rainwater and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen. When you have a healthy lawn with longer blades of grass, the surface of the grass is able to take in more sun, creating thicker blades and deeper, stronger roots, which choke out the weeds and are more likely to survive harsh weather. A healthy lawn also shades the surface of your yard to retain more moisture. A vibrant lawn is the best form of eco-friendly weed control. It’s also the most affordable.

The secret to a healthy lawn is in how you mow

Now that you know how important a healthy lawn is to natural weed control, it’s time to find out how you can maintain it for optimal performance. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends mowing your lawn often with sharp blades and a high cut setting to reduce the growth of weeds. Dull blades can tear and injure the grass, so in order to maintain the quality of your lawn, you should order replacement lawn mower blades as soon as yours become dull. They also point out that grass adjusts better when it is mowed more frequently. You should mow often enough that you don’t have to cut more than 1/3 the height of the blades. Leave grass clippings on the lawn to add nutrients to the soil and further stifle weed growth. Check your lawn mower at the start of the season to determine if you need to order replacement lawn mower blades or other parts to keep your machine running smoothly all season.

Check out these other natural weed killers for your lawn

Even the healthiest lawn has a few weeds sneak through. If you need to use weed killer for your lawn, consider these eco-friendly weed control alternatives.

• Boiled water: The simplest solution for weeds that have sprouted up in driveways or expansion joints in pathways is boiled water. You want to be careful with this, however as widespread application can damage other plants.
• White vinegar: Another targeted treatment, this natural weed killer works best on broad-leaf weeds. It’s most effective when sprayed directly on the leaves in the heat of a sunny day.
• Salt solution: If you have weeds that just won’t quit, mix salt and water for an efficient, natural weed control. Only use this method on driveways and other paved paths as the salt is not good for other plants.
• Lemon juice: This works on almost all weeds and breaks down quickly, making it even better for the environment. As with the treatments above it should be applied directly to your troubled weeds to avoid damaging your good plants.
• Corn gluten: This natural weed control inhibits root formation during germination. You can mix it into the top two inches of an unplanted bed or top dress existing beds. Avoiding fertilizing for a month after application as the corn gluten has plenty of nitrogen and you don’t want to throw off the balance of your lawn.
• • Battery operated or CARB-compliant string trimmer: Sometimes you don’t have time to spot treat every weed or you want to trim along pathways and edges. Long-lasting battery trimmers d CARB-compliant trimmers with four stroke engines have a lower impact on their environment than standard gasoline trimmers, and will help you handle those large weeds and sculpt the edges of your lawn. Make sure you have all the trimmer parts you need at the start of each season, including extra batteries and chargers.

Take care of your lawn so it will take care of the weeds

With these natural weed control techniques you can create a lawn resistant to weed growth. Ask your local home and garden store for specific advice on fighting weeds like using hand tools to get at the roots of dandelions, fertilizing in spring to prevent crabgrass and maintaining good drainage to reduce bluegrass. They can help you choose the right eco-friendly weed control for your problem plants. If you do need to use a stronger herbicide or fungicide, make sure you read the label carefully and don’t apply more than is needed.

Post sponsored by MTD Parts.