How to stop weeds from invading your new lawn

How to stop weeds from invading your new lawn

Imagine this. You’ve decided to replace your weed-infested lawn with some lovely new turf. You work hard to prepare the soil and buy the best turf you can afford. For 2 weeks it looks beautiful. Then, just when you think you’ve cracked it you spot a dock leaf in the lawn, then another, and another and a whole lot of frustration! After all that effort and expense, you’re back to square one. Can you imagine how you’d feel? How can you be sure that you can stop weeds from invading your new lawn? Fear not! There are methods to prevent weeds from growing in your lawn.

If you’re replacing a lawn like this with some new turf, be sure to take precautions to ensure the weeds don’t re-appear.

Products that can help

You could kill the weeds with glyphosate before removing the old lawn, but if you don’t like chemical weed killers or you can’t wait for them to work, weed control fabric is an excellent idea – and it’s a long term solution.

Annual grassy weeds, like crabgrass and foxtail, are easily stopped in spring. This is when the seeds and tiny seedlings are most vulnerable, so they don’t become a problem later on. Applying a crabgrass preventer with Lawn Food can work to stop listed weeds before they start to grow.

Feed regularly is the best medicine for your lawn. When your lawn is stressed out, it has a higher chance of being taken over by weeds. Another tip to preventing weeds is to mow higher. Weed seeds, like all plants, require sunlight to sprout. The next time you mow, raise your mower height so your grass looks fuller and the weeds don’t get a chance to grow.

How do weeds get in your lawn?

There is no guaranteed solution to the problem of weeds in your lawn. But you can take preventative measures.

Sometimes weed seeds are blown in on the wind. Sometimes they’re delivered by birds. If there are gaps between the grass plants these seeds will germinate and grow into plants.

Some of the nasty weeds though, like docks, plantains, thistles and nettles can be present in the soil underneath your lawn and they’ll push through the turf like ladies at a jumble sale. (Sorry girls, but we’ve all done it!)

Block weeds with landscaping fabric

Prevent weeds from pushing through your new turf by laying weed control fabric on top of your prepared soil.

This is especially important if you’re laying turf onto soil that has previously been infested with dandelions, nettles, docks, plantains or other perennial weeds that can regenerate from a fragment of root.

Simply prepare the soil as normal then, working from laying boards, spread a single layer of landscaping fabric on top of the soil. Your new turf can be laid directly onto the landscaping fabric and watered well.

The grass roots can push down through the fabric, but no weeds can’t grow up through the membrane. Your new lawn will be able to flourish without weeds growing with it.

• For you, as a gardener that means
• Reduced need for chemical weed killers
• Lawn stays weed-free for longer
• Fabric can also be used under patios and decks

Where to buy Weed Control Landscaping Fabric

The weed control fabric available from Turfonline has been specifically designed for landscapers. It’s tough, robust and long lasting and has been endorsed by Kew Gardens.