Herbicide and Weed Control in Madison, Wisconsin. Why you Need an Expert
When you’re searching for the best lawn care service near me, you may ask yourself, what is the best weed killer for my lawn? How do I get started with weed control, and should I hire a weed control service?
DIWhy?
There are so many different options for weed spray and weed treatment for lawns it’s best to consult with an expert who can guide you through the process quickly and make life simple. So let’s look at what it takes to do it yourself and how I can help you navigate all the ins and outs. If you want me to call and discuss lawn weed control services, I’m more than happy to help.
We’ve all had a lot more time at home this year to stare out the window fondly of the before times, and often times I find myself looking at the lawn wondering, where did THAT spot come from? Is that ANOTHER dandelion? What do my neighbors think? And on, and on...
Why Would I Hire a Local Expert?
It doesn’t have to be a mystery or difficult to control the pesky weeds that pop up in your lawn, and no, it’s not your fault. Weeds are designed to be tough, bothersome, and hard to remove. They grow three times as fast as other plants and set thousands of seeds each year. Some of those seeds can last decades, even hundreds of years in the soil, waiting for just the right moment to ruin your beautiful lawn.
Weed companies near me are quick to sell a heavy cocktail of chemicals that are impossible to pronounce and don’t have you or your family at mind when they arrive. Giant national chains send out workers who may be licensed but don’t get to know you and ask what kind of lawn weed control you want and how you use your lawn. Often, it’s a one-size approach handed down from corporate, and they don’t care if you and your family have picnics in the backyard and set up tents for campouts as you and your family search for ways to enjoy being at home a little bit more.
It’s all About Timing- and Prescribing a Treatment Plan
Weed removal is a tough job, and as a person who’s had two back surgeries, the last thing I want to do as an agronomist is end up spending time bent over in the garden pulling weeds. There are so many things that can be done to make life easier, but it just takes a bit of planning.
Let’s talk about weed treatment. We can do two kinds of treatments for our lawns, pre-emergent and post-emergent. But what’s the difference? Isn’t weed killer all the same? Actually, no. Each one is a precise lawn care weed control formulation that either stops the weeds from growing in the first place or halts them in their tracks before they get out of control. In addition, each herbicide has a time of year, temperature requirement, and weed growth cycle that has us jump into action.
How do I know what herbicide to use?
I control weeds based on if they’re a grassy weed or a broadleaf and then dive deeper to find out precisely what weed it is and what the science says I should do and when. So many factors go into it when spraying and controlling weeds, such as: What time of day am I applying? Is there rain expected? What’s the wind speed? How many ounces per gallon? Do we need to split the treatment into a few smaller rounds to ensure we get all the weeds? Do we put out granules or dust or liquid spray? Am I applying fertilizer with the herbicide, is it recommended?
My professional background
My time working on a PGA Golf Course has taught me a lot about what’s needed for the perfect putting green, but unfortunately, it’s not as easy as a one-shot approach to diagnosing weed control needs. Every patch of grass is different, and there’s a prescription we must write for each of them.
Do I need Chemicals or can we use Organic?
Some people ask if chemicals are the only way to control weeds, to which I answer, NO! I absolutely LOVE organic weed control and could spend hours talking about strategies for tackling even the toughest weeds. There are so many options, from organic fertilizers to mechanical systems.
The Robots are COMING
Scientists are developing exciting new technologies and have designed laser robots that can scan and zap weeds run by an automatic A.I. system synced to a satellite and talks to a server halfway around the world. Terrific technologies and tools are being developed to keep organic weed control a viable option for homeowners. I even mow my own personal lawn with an all-electric mower, edger, trimmer, and blower.
More on the FUTURE of Robotic Agronomy to come in a later post!
Let’s talk Organic
Organic weed control is often a bit more expensive than traditional options, but it’s a great way to give back and make your lawn beautiful and sustainable.
Lawn Care Costs- It’s not that Simple
Lawn service costs vary based on the type of control and how much is needed to get things back to beautiful. Non-selective herbicides do not target certain weeds and are used to clear old vegetation and start with new seeds or sod. I like to use them along fence lines and in really weedy areas. A fresh start with good soil and seed are great ways to tackle challenging problems.
Selective herbicides kill specific weeds. It’s a great approach to target a particular weed that’s causing your lawn to be unsightly and can be used for dandelion, creeping charlie, clover, and other weeds that take control of a lawn.
Speaking of clover, broadleaf weed control for clovers and other big-leafed weeds varies depending on selectivity but isn’t much more expensive than other weeds we need to address. Perennials and grassy weeds are often similar in price to annual weeds and cost $120 per ¼ acre for each treatment, with organic treatments running $165 for a similar-sized yard.
Weeds are not the Cause of a Bad Lawn; They are a Symptom.
Grass feed and weed killer combined at the appropriate time is key to promoting healthy grass to crowd out the weeds we want to control. Grasses grow in either bunches and spread by seed, rhizome, or stolon.
If we know what type of grass we have, we can better manage how they grow by giving them the best grass fertilizer and weed killer in a measured balance to have a beautiful lawn.
Lawn care costs are a part of life, but it doesn’t have to be a difficult task to have the best-looking and performing lawn on the block. Perhaps there’s compaction in part of the lawn that’s stunting the grass from being able to grow, or pets have gifted the yard with damaging organic chemicals. Nevertheless, a beautiful lawn is achievable, and I’m the one to help you figure out what you need to do to either build it back to beautiful yourself or have me come and help you along the way.