The Common Mistake That Causes Weeds and the Free Trick to Get Rid of Dandelions
IF you want your lawn to impress your guests this summer, you’ve come to the right place.
And it turns out that many of us make the same mistake that causes weeds to grow in our grass.
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So if you want a lush green lawn without dandelions, you’ll have to pay close attention and take notes.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the more plants you have growing in your lawn, the greater the biodiversity.
However, if you want to remove weeds, experts tell you what to do before mowing your lawn. This is something that many people often forget.
According to garden professionals, you should first weed by hand. As a last resort, there are special weed killers available.
The garden gurus said: “Regular lawn maintenance and physically removing unwanted plants is always the best step.
“You can then decide how many to remove, keep some if necessary, and only goal selected plants when they become too numerous.
“Try some or all of the following options. Regular lawn maintenance, including feeding, aerating, and dethatching your lawn, will help the grass become more vigorous, making it harder for weeds to establish themselves in the first place.
Remove weeds that resemble rosettes, such as daisies and plantain, with a hand fork or weeding tool.
“There are different designs of weeders, including some that can be used standing up, so you need to find the right one to take you the best.
“Usually the goal is to remove the long taproot of plants like dandelions. If the root is left behind, the plant can often regrow.”
According to horticultural experts, it is also important for gardeners to rake and mow their lawns regularly to keep creeping weeds such as speedwell, clover, silverweed and sorrel under control.
In addition, the experts also warned gardeners about another mistake that can cause weeds to grow on the lawn.
What are weeds? And why are they important?
Simply put, a weed is a plant that grows where you don’t want it to.
Rebecca Miller, deputy editor of Fabulous and avid gardener, explains why gardeners should make friends with weeds.
“From nettles, to buttercups, to docks and dandelions – there are so many beautiful plants that are called weeds. And yet, as the weather warms up and we spend more time outdoors, we want to pick, pull and kill as many as possible, to keep our gardens looking perfect and pristine.
“Weeds are essential to our ecosystem – many are pollinators, providing food for bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and wasps. And without weeds, these animals would not survive the early spring.
“Weeds also give something back to nature – when they die and decay, their roots break off, feeding microorganisms and insects, and making paths and tunnels for worms. Abundant life below means abundant life above.
“Weeds are also an excellent indicator of soil health – which is important if you want to grow anything in your outdoor space. When microorganisms and insects break down weeds, they release essential nutrients into the soil that plants take up. They also store nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the soil, creating cleaner air and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, mitigating the climate crisis.
“So before you pull all the weeds out of your garden, why not give a few a chance to grow and flourish, and see what comes into your garden and enjoy the flowers…”
They added: “Don’t mow the lawn too short, especially in summer.
“This can weaken the grass and lead to bare patches where weeds can grow.”
More weed hacks
MORE cheap tricks to banish weeds from your garden for good.
BRUSHING: Garden enthusiasts are raving about the Rolson Weed Brush, which you can buy at B&M.
One social media user commented: “This is my new friend. £4 from B&M,” while a second agreed: “I’ve used one too and it’s amazing. It removes all the weed too.”
BAKE IT: Gardening enthusiasts are also enthusiastic about baking soda because it helps control weeds.
One man explained: ”What happens then is that the plants absorb it, because they get wet when it starts raining because they are thirsty – because it has been sunny. That is nature’s way of killing it.”
WAS THIS: According to Sam Marlow, a gardening expert, washing powder is an affordable way to say goodbye to weeds.
He advised: “If you’re on a budget, there’s a cheap way to keep weeds at bay. If you want to remove stubborn unwanted plants from paths or patios, try using washing powder. It’s a super-simple way to banish weeds once and for all.”
The shorter the leaves, the less surface area there is for photosynthesis and healthy development.
As a result, weeds are more likely to grow in spots on a narrow lawn.
Lawns mowed to 9 to 10 centimetres are more resistant to weeds and look just as good as short-mown lawns.
If non-chemical methods are not effective enough or not suitable for your outdoor living space, you may want to consider using weed killers for your lawn.
It is recommended that weed killer be used only in the spring or summer. It is important that gardeners read the instructions before beginning.
