How to deweed my lawn??

Question

Hello! I have just moved into my first home with a lawn. It is very large, and very full of weeds, mostly Kosha, foxtail and dandelions. What should I use (I'm sure I will have to wait until next spring) to kill the weeds and keep what grass I do have. I know there is weed and feed, but, I have heard that doesn't work really great. I am in Montana, and we have very hot and dry summers. Any help would be appreciated!!! I am a beginner with lawn and garden, so, please dumb down the explanations!

Answer 1

The first guy's suggestion of pre-emergent stuff is OK, but I'd be tempted to nuke the existing weeds now.  So, head down to the garden store, and buy a broadleaf weed killer.  Get the concentrate, and buy a pump pressurized sprayer for $20 to $30.  Bayer/Ortho make good stuff.  It will not kill the grass, but will kill most broadleaf weeds.  A few weeds like violets may need two hits.  Follow directions carefully and don't guess on the measurements.

Answer 2

I too just bought a new home last Fall and had to start from scratch with building a lawn.  Now a year later I can tell you what worked.  Last Fall we aerated and seeded (in the Midwest, St. Louis, early Sept is best) lots of water, cooler days warmer nights are great for growing grass.  Then came Spring and we put down Ortho Weed B Gone Max.  It did a great job killing all the weeds. We didn't fertilize to much because we had young grass and we dodn't want to burn it up with the heat, and sun. Now it is approaching Fall and we have weeds, but not as bad as last year, so we will put down the Weed B Gone again and wait 3 weeks before you seed.  This should get you going for next year pretty easy.  Water, water water!!! Good luck!  

Answer 3

Follow Lawn boy's advice; plus, I hate to say this, fertilize your lawn twice a year 'till established better and more importantly set the mower blades 4 inches high. Taller and thicker grass will help choke out the weeds. Every county I know of have a Farm extension agency that will do a soil test for free. They will recommend how much Lime and or Fertilizer best for your lawn.

Answer 4

Prevention is a much more effective system than killing after they appear.

L:earn about what weeds you currently have and lay a premergant granular every year and in a few years you will have a putting green.

Cant miss a year or all is for not.

Some weed seeds lay dormant for up to 3 years !