Dallas Morning News – February 25, 2021
Back to Weed Worries
No sooner had the snow and ice melted than questions about pre-emergent weed control emerged. Is it time to put out the toxic pre-emergent herbicides and contact killers like 2-4,D and Roundup? No – and it never will be. The stuff is toxic and putting out harsh chemicals when your turf that may be damaged from the record cold is a bad idea anyway, because the grass may be further weakened by the chemicals.
Also the danger to the pets is a major concern. Veterinarians report a strong link between herbicides and pet cancer. Just common sense. The little dogs and cats are running around in the nasty stuff on bare paws with their noses often down in it as well. People that proclaim herbicides to be safe once dry are either not very smart or lying.
 Rescue grass is a robust winter weed |
A better plan? Spray the green weeds with vinegar, either the 20% herbicide-labeled products or the home-made recipe of an ounce of orange oil and a few drops of soap in a gallon of 10% vinegar.
With the money that you will save from not using the series of toxic chemical herbicides, plant more flowers to enjoy. The best choices that can handle the cool and even cold weather before spring warmth include pansies, johnny jump-ups, violas, petunias, dianthus, calendulas and soon geraniums, nasturtiums and many other choices.
 Homemade herbicide can be made by adding 1 oz. orange oil and couple drops of soap to a gallon of 10% vinegar |
 Several companies provide herbicide-labeled 20% vinegar products that work well on winter weeds |
It is a good time to apply some of the organic amendments I recommend. It’s perfect timing to apply the first major fertilization of the year. Use one of the quality organic fertilizers such as Medina, Good Natured, Nature’s Creation or Maestro Gro at 20 lbs per 1000 sq ft. To apply about 20 lbs of product per 1000 sq. ft. without doing a lot a math, fill a cyclone or whirlybird broadcast-type spreader and walk briskly across the lawn with the opener gizmo wide open, then do the same at 90 degrees to the first path direction. Voila! 20 pounds per 1000 sq. ft – more or less. One of the many nice things about organic fertilizers and organic products in general is that preciseness of rates is not a big a deal.
 Broadcast-type spreaders should be used to apply organic fertilizers |
For a little more aggressiveness toward weeds, use corn gluten meal as your fertilizer. It’s powerful, having between 9 and 10% nitrogen which is high for organic fertilizer. It also functions as an effective pre-emergent for summer weeds that are about to start germinating. If CGM is your choice, no more fertilizer is needed until about early June. It goes out at the same 20 pound rate.
My best advice on weeds? Calm down. You can spray and kill them with vinegar herbicides if it’s keeping you awake at night, but if you just mow regularly and leave the clippings on the ground, the organically fed lawn grasses will dominate and the weeds will be scarce.