How Do You Get Rid Of Weeds On Grass?

Question

I see more weeds in my lawn now. It's the own with a kind of 5 leaf clover like shape with a tall stem that grows in the middle.

How Do You get rid of them? ANd how do you handle the chemicals safely (if any)?

Answer 1

There are sprays and pesticides that only kill weeds not grass. I think Ortho makes a good one.

Answer 2

You need to ID that clover like week.  If it is oxalis......punt.  It is very difficult to eliminate.  Most herbicide (weed killer) will have a dedicated product just for oxalis and chickweed.......it almost works.  

There are different types of weed killers.  Those that kill everything are like Roundup.  They take the grass as well as the weed.  So they are applied very carefully...usually when the weed is isolated away from the lawn...like sidewalk cracks.

There is also the kills all and destroys the soil type weed killer.  NOT FOR HOME USE tho sold in big box stores.  They may say "long term" control.  AVOID those.

Then the homeowner type for lawns is one that kills nongrass plants.  This is the most common weed killer.  Safe? Sorta.  If misapplied in the flower bed, it kills the flowers. If over applied or misapplied around trees or shrubs, you've got a big problem.  But it is the most common type and use safely most of the time.  Unfortunately it doesn't always kill the harder weeds like oxalis.  Then they come up with special products.  

As for your personal safety, you need to know how to correctly mix and apply the product (if liquid) and how to clean the equipment.  It's good you are concerned about safety, but if you read and follow directions exactly, you'll be fine.  Be sure to wear appropriate clothing......shoes, gloves, etc.  You'd be amazed how many people apply pesticides (including weed killer) wearing sandals, shorts and no gloves!

Answer 3

Ortho Weed B Gone will kill the weeds but not the grass.  Ortho Grass B Gone will kill grass in your flower bed but not the flowers.  Don't ask me how it does it but it works.!!  Another way that isn't so labor intensive is to use Weed and Feed in the spring and the fall.  Every year the lawn will look better and the weeds will be fewer each season.

Answer 4

There are selective weed killers that kill broad-leaved weeds but not grass. (Weed-n-Feed, Weed-b-Gone and others) However, they are not very effective against white clover which is a common weed in lawns and might be what you have.

The best way to keep down weeds in the lawn is to make sure the grass grows strongly. Raise your mower blade to 3 inches so the grass grows quite tall before it is cut.

Personally, I like having a variety of plants growing in my lawn, and clover encourages the bees, which need all the help they can get these days.