Thatch on your lawn can make it look unhealthy and unsightly, even when you spend plenty of time caring for it. This is the name for the brown layer that lies between healthy soil and green grass in your yard. Compressed roots and stems, along with other dead and decaying organic material, form thatch that makes it difficult for your lawn’s roots to grow normally. When this happens, your lawn is in danger of being taken over by pests and the diseases they bring with them.

Nothing is certain in lawn and garden care ” except for weeds, which often take the form of dandelions. These wild, pesky plants grow where you don’t want them to grow, and they can keep you busy pulling them all summer long.

The key to long-term weed removal is stopping the plant at its root. But in order for that to happen, you must first identify a weed and make sure that it is not actually a beneficial plant. Some plants look like weeds, while some weeds look like legitimate plants. Also, to provide protection against toxic plants, consider wearing gloves when weeding.

Once you’ve ID’d the weeds, keep in mind that the softer the ground, the easier it is to remove them. If possible, plan your weeding work for after a rainfall.

The Weeding Process

1. Use your hands to grip the stem as far down as possible and pull the weed from the ground. A small weed-removal tool will do the trick, too ” especially when dealing with dandelions ” and will help you attack and remove the root faster and more easily.
    
2. To remove larger weeds, you may need to loosen the dirt around the weed to access its roots. After the weed is gone, use your hands or the digging tool to smooth over the newly weed-free surface and prevent further weed growth. In gardens, a small hoe can help rework the disturbed dirt.
    
3. Collect all removed weeds in a bucket or bag and dispose of them. Tossing weeds to another part of your lawn increases the odds of their seeds taking new root. You don’t want the elimination of one problem to be the beginning of the next problem.
    
4. In grassy areas where weeds keep returning, consider using a spot spray. Just remember to keep children and pets away from the affected areas until the spray has settled.

Controlling Weed Growth
Keep in mind that proper lawn care and preventive maintenance are the best ways to reduce the prevalence of weeds. Fertilizing your lawn will keep it healthy and dense, allowing less room for weeds to fester. And because some products combine fertilizer with weed control, you can complete two important lawn care tasks at the same time.

Photo credit:  Cameron Whitman | iStock Photo