Weeds are winning...

8 years ago

Each year this west section of the backyard gets more weeds and the grass isn't coming back. I have neglected this area the last two years as, frankly, I have not had time to deal with it. I still don't, but feel like I've got to make the time regardless. Can anyone ID the weeds and recommend a process to help the grass find it's way back? As you can see from the pics, the weeds are owning the soil. I fear that something extreme may be in order, I just have NO IDEA what the process might be. Can anyone with experience help with this?

Thanks for reading/looking!

Featured Answer

danielj_2009

8 years ago

Yeah you've got a full blown disaster there. I think the most effective solution is to nuke the lawn and start over. It doesn't look like you have a real big area to deal with so it should be doable. The general process is to kill everything off with glyphosate (aka RoundUp). Then you water the area for a week or two and kill of whatever comes up with glyphosate again, and maybe do it for a third time. Then you mow at the lowest setting to scalp the lawn and bag the dead clippings. Don't till under the soil. You can top dress what's left and throw down seed and water carefully to germinate. That's the overall process. You can search this forum for a lot more details.

I don't know whether you are in a cool or warm zone so the type of grass is a question. However, whatever you do will be wasted effort unless you put in a little time on your lawn to keep the weeds from returning. It doesn't take a huge effort but you have to know what the important things are. That starts with selecting the right kind of grass for your particular plot.

Also, this looks like it might be a somewhat shady section, which might be why you have more trouble here than in the front yard.

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Comments (7)

pdrmant
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm in North Texas with St. Augustine so if nuking is the answer, would I seed or sod? Yes, it gets sun from about 10 - 2 on the average.

It floods there a bit, too and some of the soil seems to be washing away because of it. I think a french drain may be in order.

As for taking care of it... I need to figure out a schedule and follow it. Thanks for responding.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
The stuff in front with the little purple flowers here and there is henbit, Lamium amplexicaule. This is an annual weed and will respond to any broadleaf lawn weed herbicide.....not sure you really need to go the nuclear route :-)

I can't see clearly what is in the background so not sure if that is a different issue or more of the same. If a different weed, it could require a different or possibly stronger approach.
pdrmant
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, GG. I applied a broadleaf killer today to see how it responds. The lighter looking stuff against the house (and in the flower bed) is not blooming purple, so I'm also not sure what that is. According to Neil Sperry, I'll see some results in 7 to 10 days from the weed killer.

Whether it needs sodding or not remains to be seen, I guess.

As for being a more diligent lawn owner, I've gone through my calendar from now till the rest of the year and listed the basic lawn care schedule for the rest of the year with reminders and motivational phrases. Like, don't be a dummy!
danielj_2009
8 years ago
Well I'm not a southern lawn guy but I think St. Augustine spreads out pretty quickly. If so, then maybe the weed killer is all you need. It just doesn't look like you have much lawn there but it is hard to tell from photos. On a northern lawn where spreading doesn't happen so quickly, nuking it would be easier than trying to resuscitate a very thin lawn.

Be very careful when using weed killers on St. Augustine. Some will also kill St. Augustine so read the label to make sure it is OK.
HighColdDesert
8 years ago
I found this article on organic lawn-care to be very educational. It really worked for us to cut 3" high, not remove clippings, and not fertilise once the soil was good.
richsoil.com/lawn-care
dchall_san_antonio
8 years ago
Watch it to see if you have any St Augustine left after the weeds die. It should be coming in soon (mine is in Bandera). Those particular weeds, all broadleaf, will smother St Augustine and thin it out considerably. If you have any St Aug left, it should return impressively by early June. If not then put a few pieces down and let them spread.

The preferred herbicide for St Augustine is atrazine. It is one of those chemicals that you don't want to be spraying a lot of, so once a year is about all you can do. Read the directions carefully. There are several sprays on the shelves - usually in purple colored bottles. Atrazine kills just about everything except St Augustine.