Healthy Lawns—Weeds and weed management

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The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

Weeds and weed management

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The best defense against weeds is a healthy, vigorously growing lawn. Select a proper turfgrass species, follow recommended lawn establishment and maintenance procedures, and identify weed species when problems arise and before selecting management practices.

Prevent weed invasions

Eliminate most weeds before you plant and choose a competitive turf species.
In most cases, proper lawn maintenance along with occasional hand-weeding will keep weeds at tolerable levels without need for herbicides.

Manage serious weed problems

Identify the weeds so you can choose an appropriate combination of management practices.
Often the weed species in your lawn provide a good clue to an underlying lawn maintenance problem.
Very weedy lawns may require renovation.
If herbicides are needed, use them as part of an integrated management program.

For more information, see the Weed Management in Lawns Pest Note.

Dandelion in turf

Identification key to weeds in turfgrass

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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