Should I mow weeds or pull them?

Weed prevention necessitates knowing when to either mow or pull. Mowing temporarily delays seed spread within the lawn while leaving the roots intact. I advised a client who was mowing crabgrass weekly; that was good for delaying seed, but the crabgrass grew back thicker. Pulling weeds after rain is more effective in removing the entire root systems when they are spaced apart.

Mowing height affects the suppression of weeds. Clients maintaining tall fescue at 4.0 inches experienced a 60% reduction in broadleaf weeds. For Bermuda grass, we suggested mowing to 1.5 inches. In addition, following the removal of invasive weeds such as nutsedge, we always made sure to clean and sterilize our mower decks to prevent cross-contamination.

Timing is everything when it comes to pulling plants. You can pull plantain weeds from the yard 24 hours after a time of rain when the roots will release easier. One gardener eliminated 90 percent of regrowth by using this timing method. For dry soil, you may want to consider watering it the night before, since stressed roots, which are less likely to snap during extraction, exist in damp soil.

The disposal of weeds should be done thoughtfully and considerately. For example, when removing bindweed roots, burning may be necessary rather than composting it. One community garden utilized a similar approach to manage morning glory - we soaked the pulled vines in vinegar for 48 hours before disposal. Be sure to observe what the removed weeds tell you about the state of your soil. For example, chickweed signals too much nitrogen.

Read the full article: How to Prevent Weeds: 12 Expert-Backed Strategies