Now is the time to sign up for broadleaf weed control. We have a very effective program that will eliminate common broadleaf weeds in your lawn. We spray 2 times per season....(May - June) and again (August - Sept.). We also offer special treatments to kill any stubborn weeds such as crabgrass, creeping charlie, thistle, and more. We use a liquid application, which is much more effective than your typical granular weed and feed. It's worth paying a little more to get the results you're looking for. Many homeowners question the safety of using liquid herbicides in their lawn, because of pets and children. As long as they stay off the lawn until dry, they should be fine. It usually takes about 1-3 hours to fully dry. We leave a flag in the yard after each application. We also recommend fertilizing in the spring with a crabgrass pre-emergent to help prevent crabgrass from germinating. This is best when applied before the lilacs bloom. If you're not satisfied with who you pay now to control your weeds, please visit our website to signup for our herbicide program today. You will be 100% satisfied with our program.
Common Broadleaf weeds
Crabgrass
Managing Crabgrass in Home Lawns
Crabgrass is a light green, weedy grass that can appear in summer.
Crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds are common problems in home lawns that can be treated through chemical and nonchemical methods. Proper lawn care practices to encourage a dense stand of vigorous grass are the best way to prevent weeds from invading. For example, mowing height can have a big impact. Lawns mowed higher (over 2½ inches) tend to have less problems with annual grasses such as crabgrass.
Close-mowed lawns tend to open up, allowing weeds like crabgrass to invade. Light, frequent watering also favors crabgrass. Crabgrass often invades areas seeded in late spring because of bare soil, frequent watering, and the onset of hot weather - all ideal for its growth.
Herbicides (weed killers) are also available to manage annual weeds. Preemergence herbicides prevent annual grassy weeds such as crabgrass from emerging. The timing of applying herbicides is important, as the control product should be applied before the crabgrass emerges from the soil. Crabgrass will germinate when soil temperatures are greater than 55 to 60F° for 7-10 consecutive days, and continues until soils reach 95F°. Other annual grasses germinate as soils get warmer than 60 degrees.
For MN, April to early May is the suggested time for applying a pre-emergence crabgrass herbicide. If the spring is cold, delay applications to the end of the recommended window of application.
Quackgrass
Quackgrass is a relatively common weed recognizable by it's stalky, thick stems and wide blades of grass attached, also known as devils grass, quickgrass, and knot grass. Unfortunately, it is one of the most difficult weeds to get rid of.
Creeping Charlie
Identifying Creeping Charlie Weed
Creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is often called ground ivy due to its appearance and growth habits. Creeping charlie weed is a green vine whose leaves are round with scalloped edges. Creeping charlie has a small purple flower. Creeping charlie plant is most easily identified by its growth habit. It is a vine that grows close to the ground and will form a mat-like ground cover if allowed to. The vines have nodes at each of the places where leaves grow and these nodes will form roots if they come in contact with the soil. This is part of the reason that creeping charlie weed is so frustrating, as you cannot simply pull it up. Every rooted node can turn into a new plant if left behind.
How to Kill Creeping Charlie Plant
The first thing to understand when working to get rid of creeping charlie plant is that it, like most lawn weeds, thrive best in an unhealthy lawn. Be sure to use proper mowing, watering and fertilizing practices when caring for your lawn. While creeping charlie weed is considered a broad-leaf weed, it is not affected by all broad-leaf spectrum herbicides. The only weed killers that are successful at killing creeping charlie are weed killers that contain dicamba. Even dicamba is only successful if applied several times at the right time. In order to kill creeping charlie, you must apply dicamba based herbicide to your lawn in early fall when creeping charlie plant is growing most actively, which will leave it weakened enough so that it will have a difficult time surviving the winter. You can also apply in the late spring to early summer, but late spring to early summer applications will stall rather than eradicate creeping charlie in your lawn. Also, only apply dicamba herbicide 3 days after mowing and do not mow for 3 days after applying it. This will allow the creeping charlie to grow more leaves, which will cause it to take in more herbicide and then will allow time for the herbicide to work through the plant’s system.
Thistle
Thistle control
Thistles are often troublesome weeds in Minnesota gardens and lawns. The first step to proper thistle control is their identification. Biennial thistles can be controlled by digging and cultivation; this is more difficult with perennial thistles because they spread by creeping underground stems (rhizomes). The most effective way to remove perennial thistles is through the use of herbicides. Broad-leaf herbicides containing 2,4-D and MCPP can control thistles in lawns. In gardens, it may be best to spot treat thistles with a non-selective herbicide containing glyphosate, such as Round-up.
Herbicides must be applied when weeds are actively growing and air temperatures are roughly 60° to 85° F. The best times to control weeds are in the fall (September through mid-October) or spring (late April through mid-June). Always read and follow all pesticide label directions carefully.