What Do You Do with Garden Weeds at Your Lawn?

Succulent on 08/05/2022 - 20:46
Last edited 08/05/2022 - 20:47

Recently moved to a house with a backyard garden and it seems that there are a lot of different type of garden weeds growing on my backyard.

I am new to gardening world. For now I cant always tell apart between weeds and grass as I didnt have garden in my previous residences. Google lenses help but I am still learning as there are lots of different types of weeds and grass as well.

How do you take care of the weeds at your lawn/backyard?

Do you have any recommendation for the brand to kill the weeds but is safe for the grass? Preferably something that I can pick up from bunnings.

Is there any reason for not using weed killer (e.g. hand pulling or using vinegar, baking soda, etc)?

I have some area with mulch. There is a nice 1 meter tree/plant in the middle of it. However, weeds started to grow surrounding the tree, on the mulch bed. If i use a weed and grass killer, will it kill the tree as well?

Bonus question: Should I use chemicals to kill weeds on the nature strip or mowing them would be sufficient?

Thanks for the inputs!

Poll Options

  • 3
    Leave them there, couldn't care less
  • 3
    My gardener will take care of them
  • 18
    Mow them together with grass
  • 26
    Manually pull them out
  • 4
    Kill them with natural remedies (e.g. baking soda, vinegar etc)
  • 44
    Kill them with chemicals
Home & Garden

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 08/05/2022 - 21:07
    -2

    If I had kids I might care about the grass, if I expected them to be out there barefoot a lot. Otherwise I just pay Jim to cut it whenever it needs doing and I doubt he is spending time thinking about what is actually growing in the grass and what can be done about it for the price I'm paying him. Let alone the nature strip.

    • Some Human on 09/05/2022 - 13:08

      Pay Jim? That's not the Ozbargain way!

      • AustriaBargain on 09/05/2022 - 14:24

        I could buy a mower but then it's just a recurring chore that I and no one else I live with wants to do.

  • dtc on 08/05/2022 - 21:07
    +3

    Weeds will have a broader leaf than grass (apart from clover, but you should be able to identify clover. Which some people think is a weed …. they are the lawn OCD people though). Basically look at what you know is grass, and if its not that then its a weed. Some weeds are fine, as in they look ok and dont spread too fast and arent prickly or anything, so you can leave them in if you want. But if you are after a 'good' lawn, then you probably just want grass

    If you get a spray bottle with a jet spray (narrow stream) and get close and its not windy, you should be able to spray the weed and not the grass. But the best option is just to dig them out, use a hand weeder and perhaps a garden trowel. Or a mattock if there are a lot of them. If you can do it the day after a good rainfall the soil will be nice and soft.

    The only time spray on a lawn might be worthwhile is that if you have a lot of broadleaf weeds, then you could give 'weed and feed' a go. Its never worked for me, maybe i have the wrong weeds. But I guess you can try it; you need to keep the spray on the lawn and not let it drift over the other plants. Get one of those pump action spray units, Bunnings have them https://www.bunnings.com.au/aqua-systems-5l-garden-pressure-… and hold the spray jet close to the ground

    If the weeds are on a path or driveway, where there should be no plants, just spray them with your chosen spray, dont bother digging. Chemical spray works; the other stuff is a bit variable. I've used salted boiling water on weeds on the driveway and about 15% died and the rest couldnt care less. You will need repeated applications over a few weeks. Chemical will kill all of them with one spray. All weed killers will kill everything that is a similar size to a weed - if you spray vinegar on your lawn then your lawn will die as well. Chemical spray will kill pretty much everything.

    Chances are that spraying around the tree will be ok, because the weed killer gets in primarily through the leaves rather than through roots/the dirt (you dont spray enough for it to contaminate the soil to that extent). But if you can dig them out, then that is safer all round.

    If you dig the weeds out out in the very near future and it leaves a gap, rough up the dirt where the gap is and put down some grass seed. Keep it moist (brief watering every day) and it should grow a bit over autumn and be good for spring. If you wait until winter the grass wont grow (unless you are up north) but you can get spring growth.

    • Succulent on 08/05/2022 - 21:12

      Lots of gems of knowledge here that are new to me and terms that I have never heard before. Going to google them, thanks!

  • dcash on 08/05/2022 - 21:19

    Pouring boiling water on weeds is an easy and chemical free solution to killing weeds on concrete and paved areas (don't use hot water on grass, as you'll kill the grass as well).

    For weeds in grass, always identify the type of grass you have before choosing a selective herbicide. This is especially important for buffalo, as it "looks like" a weed to most weed killers.

    • Succulent on 08/05/2022 - 22:25

      Is that possible one lawn can have multiple type of grass? I am not sure if my lawn is bufallo grass or some other grass? By the look of it it seems that i have multiple type of grass/weed on my lawn haha..

      • Donaldhump on 09/05/2022 - 07:44

        yes i have multiple types of grass, just happens

      • dcash on 09/05/2022 - 09:10
        +1

        Definitely. It's an ongoing struggle to keep kikuyu out of buffalo. If you're unsure, perhaps use a buffalo safe weed killer like Bin-die (available at Bunnings). Just be very careful on dosage, as it's very easy to over do it and burn the lawn. Forget the "weed and feed" type products; they're next to useless.

  • soan papdi on 08/05/2022 - 21:34

    You could try a broadleaf weedicide like this one. It won't affect the grass and should take care of common weeds.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/yates-250ml-buffalopro-selective…

  • jonagrah on 08/05/2022 - 21:50

    I used Weed 'n' Feed every quarter and that's about it.

    My lawn is maybe 100m2, so I get two applications out of a bottle.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/yates-4l-weed-n-feed-hose-on-law…

  • Euphemistic on 08/05/2022 - 22:01

    Mowing weeds may spread their seeds. You are better to remove them. A year of seeding means seven years of weeding is what I’ve heard.

    Really depends on the weed and density as to how to get rid of them. I know this summer has been shocking for weed growth. Perfect conditions with plenty of rain and sunshine.

    Ensure you keep the lawn healthy to stop weeds growing. Regular mowing before seeding. Waterig feeding etc.
    Selectively hand weed (pull them out).
    Selectively spray. Commercial herbicide, home brew vinegar (google it) or boiling water.
    Weed and feed. Get the right type for your lawn, do it regularly.

  • Muzeeb on 08/05/2022 - 22:10
    +1

    7 iron practice

    • Succulent on 08/05/2022 - 23:31

      What is this?

      • Muzeeb on 09/05/2022 - 08:25

        Using your golf 7 iron practice swings to knock out the weeds. Works a treat.

  • dust on 08/05/2022 - 22:10
    +1

    Lawns are terrible for the environment. Require so much water to maintain, is terrible for biodiversity, terrible for bees (for instance clovers which people classify as a "weed" and try to remove are actually fantastic for bees).

    Grow some natives or other plants more suited to our climate.

    • bobkin on 09/05/2022 - 07:36

      I’m not sure why your comment received a negative vote. I like lawns, but what you have said is true

    • Euphemistic on 09/05/2022 - 10:36
      +1

      I’ve put bugger all water on my lawn over the years. Depends if you live in an area that gets decent rain (I do). Once established the right type of grass shouldn’t require regular watering - especially if you don’t mind it looking a bit less than perfect from time to time.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/05/2022 - 22:41

    Round up and salt the earth after haha

  • [Deactivated] on 09/05/2022 - 05:21

    Smoke it.

    [Deactivated] on 09/05/2022 - 05:21 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • apsilon on 09/05/2022 - 06:40

    Need multiple choice. I hand pull most weeds but in some cases spray with a vinegar solution but I've also just done a blanket spray with a commercial weed killer as a few were getting out of hand and are difficult to dig by hand. Really depends on how anal you want to be. I'd like a nicer lawn but I don't think it's practical in our environment. It's been wet of late but as soon as we return to drought all those nice lawns die off and look like mine anyway so seems like a waste of effort.

    • Succulent on 09/05/2022 - 08:04

      Really depends on how anal you want to be. I'd like a nicer lawn but I don't think it's practical in our environment. It's been wet of late but as soon as we return to drought all those nice lawns die off and look like mine anyway so seems like a waste of effort.

      This was what I was wondering as well. After I mowed them all (grass and weed) it looks green, tidy and quite ok to my sight. Especially as I wont notice much differences between grass and weed anyway when it is all mowed and short. It makes me wonder if I really need to pull/kill all of these weeds for safety/other reasons rather than for aesthetic reason.

      • apsilon on 09/05/2022 - 08:16

        A lot of so called weeds are actually beneficial to the soil. I tend to concentrate mostly on the ones I don't like personally like paspalum and things that choke out the grass and other plants if not dealt with.

  • lgacb08 on 09/05/2022 - 07:30
    +1

    Depending on your lawn type, for most of the grass using broadleaf killer like kamba m will do. If it's buffalo then you need more specific type. But you'll need multiple applications to kilk them of at least.
    As for maintenance you'll need to do regular mowing to keep the lawn healthy, even mowing every 2-3 weeks and fertiliser once or twice a year for a year or two will eliminate most of the weeds if your grass is Kikuyu. Only the neglected lawn where they're allowed to grow knee high will have issue with weed.
    If you're in cool climate watch out for soursob. if you have them it'll take a few years to eradicate unlessyou want to nuke the whole yard and start all over again.

  • Donaldhump on 09/05/2022 - 07:46

    I buy 20L of dicamba M, and spray 2 acres of the course of a weekend every 6 months or so, by hand. wish i had a tank for my ride on mower.

    for driveways and paths i use weed and feed, but might get a weed burner as looks fun.

    i find weeds only grow in sports where grass doesnt dominate, so just a matter of keeping under control till your grass is solid, but some slip through the cracks.

  • Hithere on 09/05/2022 - 08:02

    A healthy well fed lawn will keep many weeds under control. With a bad patch of weeds I use Roundup mixed as instructions in a garden sprayer.

    I then use a Yates Zero Weeding Herbicide Applicator Brush from Bunnings to kill individual weeds as they pop their heads up.

  • Succulent on 09/05/2022 - 08:07

    Thanks for the inputs so far! I have a lot to google now!

    • foxmulder on 09/05/2022 - 10:11

      You can YouTube pretty much any aspect of gardening too.

      Anyway I personally hand pick the weeds to bin - skip the compost as worry they have seeds. I won't use any chemical as it may damage the soil. I'm thinking to also put tarp or something similar for covering.

  • GordonD on 09/05/2022 - 09:06

    I live in Adelaide, and live next door to a council reserve that people walk through then across the area between my garden and the kerb that I treat as my front lawn.

    The fact that I live in Adelaide means you have to deal with wintergrass. It grows in winter, dies off in spring leaving its seeds in the ground, and sprouts from them in spring. So if you do nothing about it you have a lawn of sorts in the cold months, and brown dirt in the hot months. And it drives out real lawn. The only thing I've found that gets rid of it and lets you establish a real year round lawn is the selective poison for it that's available at places like Bunnings.

    The fact that I have people walking weed seeds from the reserve onto my "lawn" means I can't rely on healthy grass keeping the weeds out. So I Weed 'n' Feed it. It seems to work. The council has a truck that comes round every couple of months to spray the reserve with broadleaf herbicide. It doesn't work.

    But between the two I can see why very few of my neighbours bother with their front lawn and footpath. They just mow the weeds and wintergrass down in their front yard and leave it to the council to do the same with the footpath.

  • kaleidoscope on 09/05/2022 - 10:44

    I have artificial grass lawn so I use yates weed killer which is directly spray on leaves and be done with it. If yours is in between natural grass try to find a weed and feed solution that works

  • deme on 09/05/2022 - 11:17

    Zero my lawn

  • ForkSnorter on 09/05/2022 - 15:00

    What's wrong with weeds? I plant them on my balcony. Bit of greenery is better than none.

    • megadeth on 14/05/2022 - 22:33

      And spread the ‘greenery’ by contaminating the entire neighbourhood with the seeds… lols…

  • juzza87 on 09/05/2022 - 15:05

    White bottle of concentrated Roundup from Bunnings in a sprayer with some water, if it's good enough for me to be scared to handle (cancer causing) then it's good enough for the weeds. Non-selective so I use with care near the grass

    • Succulent on 09/05/2022 - 23:47

      Wait, what? Weed killer chemical is cancer causing? Is it safe for kids playing on the grass with those chemicals? Not directly after the application of course, but like few days later?

      • juzza87 on 10/05/2022 - 06:51

        Some studies say it causes it, some say it doesn't and it's hard to separate fact from fiction so always better to err on the side of caution. Glyphosate is the main ingredient in Roundup but it's non-selective so it's the sort that will kill any plant, so you'd likely be very careful in using it and probably not near grass. I'm not sure how long it would last before being safe

        • Succulent on 10/05/2022 - 07:49

          Good to know thanks for the info

          • Euphemistic on 15/05/2022 - 09:47

            @Succulent: It takes a lot of glyphosate product to be dangerous to your health. Like farmers who use it every week and splash it all over themselves. Using 20ml in your yard a few tiles a year shouldn’t have any serious effects.

            However, if you are a bit concerned use a vinegar based product or make your own with vinegar, salt and dish soap. Get the recipe from google. Doesn’t seem to work as quick, but it works.

      • bobkin on 21/06/2022 - 19:50

        This article provides a good summary, if you are interested: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/update-on-glyphosate/

        • Succulent on 21/06/2022 - 20:46

          Thanks.

          I ended up using a mix of vinegar, salt and soap. It works really well for pavement.

          For lawn and garden bed, I bought a stand up weed puller. Best investment ever as my kid is always excited pulling weeds using them, saving me my time!

    • megadeth on 14/05/2022 - 22:35

      Bayer has been sued in the USA and Glyphosate is banned in the US…

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