How to Control Grassy Lawn Weeds

Overview

Grassy weeds can be a major problem in the lawn. Identification of grassy weeds, as opposed to the grass you wish to have in your lawn, can be difficult. Looking for grass blades that are a different shape or color than the rest of your lawn helps narrow down what are weeds and what is turf. Once identified, application of pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides, as well as proper cultivation practices, will control and eliminate grassy weeds from your garden.

Step 1

Mow your grass so that the blades are between 2 and 3 inches long. This helps increase grass coverage, as well as the effectiveness of any herbicide sprays.

Step 2

Rake the lawn with a dethatching rake to break up the thin layer of dead grass that lays on the yard before applying herbicides. This increases the herbicide's ability to penetrate the soil.

Step 3

Apply your pre-emergence herbicide using your sprayer directly into the soil. Spray on a day where the wind is low and there is little chance of rain. Pre-emergence herbicides prevent the roots of the weed from growing properly and are usually selective, affecting only weeds in the lawn.

Step 4

Spray any full-grown weeds in the lawn using a post-emergence herbicide in your herbicide sprayer. Apply this herbicide directly to the plant, making sure not to allow herbicide drift because many post-emergence herbicides are nonselective and may affect the grass of your lawn.