Landscaping Blog

​In the winter, weed control is more apparent than in summer. Why? Your lawn is dormant in winter and typically brownish. Winter weeds grow big and green in the winter and stick out like a sore thumb. These weeds then drop their seeds and spread and get worse each year. 

Controlling these weeds now will keep your lawn looking nice and uniform all winter long. This will also keep these weeds from establishing themselves before spring. 

First thing you need to do is identify the type of weed. Some are easy, like clover, some are not. If you are not sure what it is, take a picture and post on a landscaping forum. Google also has an image search that sometimes works, sometimes not. 

All hardware stores sell selective herbicides. Check the label for your type of weed. Make sure it is safe to apply over your type of grass and go for it. This will greatly reduce the number of weeds in your lawn and you can no stay indoors on the upcoming cold days.

Centipedegrass is one of the most common grass types in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and throughout southern Louisiana. It is fairly easy to take care of and most weed problems have a solution. Luckily, there are readily available controls for bermudagrass as well. This is great since bermudagrass grows more quickly than centipede and fills in open areas.

Sethoxydim is a selective herbicide that will get rid of bermudagrass in centipede grass. Some brands of Sethoxydim are Vantage, Poast,  and Segment. A variety of Sethoxydim can be found at most hardware stores. It will take between one and three applications to remove the bermudagrass problem. Generally, the first application should be a broadcast application to the entire area affected. The next applications are normally spot treatments for areas with regrowth. Once the bermudagrass is gone, you should be ready to get some sod and fill in the areas that were taken over by bermudagrass.

For best results, do not mow the area being treated for one week before and one week after the application of Sethoxydim. Be certain your existing grass type is centipedegrass since Sethoxydim will damage or kill other grass types. Sethoxydim only works at higher temperatures, so be sure to treat when the weather is warmer according to the label.

Sethoxydim also eliminates large crabgrass, smooth crabgrass, goosegrass, and seedling johnsongrass. Just make sure your grass is centipedegrass. If you are having a problem with these grassy weeds as well, you can use Sethoxydim to take care of all of with your treatment. Be sure to follow the label. If something you read and the product label conflict, trust the product label. The label is the law.

GreenSeasons has partnered with Spring-Green to provide the best lawn care and weed control possible. Spring-Green is a professional lawn fertilization and weed control company servicing the greater Baton Rouge, greater New Orleans, Slidell, Prairieville, Walker, Denham Springs, Gonzales, Baker, Zachary, Hammond and Covington areas. If you think you have a weed problem or greener grass, just click here for a weed control free quote  and we will give you a call or call them at (225) 757-5170.

If you would simply like some advice on DIY weed control, please click here for tips from Spring-Green.  

It is time for landscape cleanup as the temperatures start to rise.  Below is a ten item check list to get done before spring. With these landscaping items complete, you will be well on your way to having a great looking lawn and landscape.

GreenSeasons will have your lawn and landscape looking amazing, just give use a call. We provide landscape cleanup services in the greater Baton Rouge, greater New Orleans, Slidell, Prairieville, Walker, Denham Springs, Gonzales, Baker, Zachary, Hammond and Covington areas. If you need your landscaping cleaned up, just click here and we will give you a call. 

If you would simply like some additional advice, please contact us and we will be more than happy to help.  

It's autumn. A great time of year that brings cooler temperatures, football, changing colors and, unfortunately, hay fever. Fall allergies are a reality for about 75% of people with spring allergies and rag weed is a major culprit. Mold hidden in old piles of leaves and dust mites lurking around your office also play a role in your feeling miserable. Ragweed pollen simply makes things unbearable since its pollen can travel hundreds of miles so there is really no escaping the hay fever it brings.

Ragweed flowers are greenish yellow in small growths on its stems. Its stems are purplish green, hairy and branching. Ragweed gives a look-a-like plant, goldenrod, a bad reputation. Goldenrod has a much larger pollen that does not cause the allergies associated with ragweed. You can tell goldenrod apart from ragweed by a few simple features. Goldenrod is on a single, non-branching, stem and its flowers are bright yellow.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana has been ranked in the top 10 worst cities for allergies for a while now and this year it has moved up to  number 7. New Orleans is not far behind at number 11. Click here for a list of the top 100 worst cities for allergies in the United States. Here are some steps to alleviate the pain these allergies bring. 

GreenSeasons weed control and lawn fertilization is a great choice to reduce the weeds in your yard. If you are having trouble with weed control, just click here and we will give you a call. 

If you would simply landscaping or pest control advice, please contact us.  

White clover is native to Europe and Asia and is now found throughout most of the United States.  Clover does have some valuable uses.  It is used to feed grazing animals in pastures.  It gives a lush green look in winter with the added perk of flowers.  It will also grow in areas with low nitrogen levels so there will not be bare ground showing.  It has been used for erosion control.  Unfortunately, it is not the type of plant most people want at their home.  Here is how to kill the clover that is bothering you so much.

Clover is a perennial weed that will also spread seeds nearby.  This means that if clover is left untreated, it will not only come back every year, but also have new clover growing beside it.

CULTURAL CONTROLS FOR CLOVER
A lot of clover is usually a sign of low nitrogen in your yard.  This does not mean you should go overboard and add nitrogen now.  Wait until late spring to early summer to do that.  Clover needs sunlight to grow.  If you maintain proper mowing heights for your lawn throughout the year, clover is less likely to spread in your yard.

CHEMICAL CONTROLS FOR CLOVER

There is clover in your yard, how do you get rid of it?  Once clover is established, it can be treated using selective herbicides.  Selective herbicides will only kill the weeds the product is design to kill while leaving the rest of the plants healthy.

APPLICATIONS

The best time to treat clover would be either in spring or fall.  Winter will work too, but starting in the fall would be best.  Often it will take more than one application to get the clover amount to an acceptable level in your yard.  If you broadcast the herbicide across your entire yard the first time, be sure to only spot spray the second.  When dealing with selective herbicides, the amount of herbicide you use is very important.  Too much and you have a dead yard, too little and the lawn was watered.  Be sure to follow the label.

PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE FOR CLOVER


Pendimethalin
Unlike most other pre-emergents, it does have some post-emergent control.  This means you put it out and it prevents you from having a bigger clover problem next time. If only putting it out once a year, try to make it early spring so it will remain active when the clover drops its seeds.

POST-EMERGENT HERBICIDE FOR CLOVER


Three-way herbicides containing 2,4-D, dicamba, mecoprop (MCPP)
Used on St. Augustine grass, Centipede grass, Zoysia grass and Bermudagrass.  I personally find three way herbicides to work well on not only clover, but also many other broad leaf weeds.  Some grasses have a lower recommended rate than others to reduce the chance of injury.  Be sure to follow the instructions on the herbicide label.

Atrazine
This can be used on St. Augustine grass and Centipede grass. Be careful with this product as it can kill your lawn if used to often in a year.

CAUTION
Be sure to always follow the label's instructions for use when dealing with any pesticide.  Be sure to wear the required protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses etc.  In the event of an injury, refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet for instructions on what to do.

This is a lot easier.  Use roundup or herbicides with the active ingredient Glyphosate.  If you have a recurring problem with clover in these areas, there are some great pre-emergent herbicides designed to keep bare areas weed free.

Bermuda grass is great for golf courses, sports fields, or other high foot traffic areas with a lot of sun.  It is actually a great easy to maintain grass for your home if you don't have a lot of trees.  It spreads quickly, is hardy and low maintenance.  Although most people, for one reason or another, just do not seem to like it at their home.  Dealing with Bermuda grass as a weed can be a real pain if you don't know how to manage it.  There are also different approaches based on your type of grass.  We will focus on the two main types of grasses people have in South Louisiana besides Bermuda grass: Centipede and St. Augustine.

The best method is prevention.  Once Bermuda is in your yard, it is usually and ongoing struggle for what feels like the rest of your life.

1. Keep your grass healthy and cut to the proper height.  1.5 inches to 2 inches for centipede and 2.5 inches to 4 inches for St. Augustine.  
2. Water your lawn less frequently but at longer intervals to improve root development.  
3. Do not fertilize your yard excessively.  The additional nitrogen helps weeds and Bermuda more than your preferred grass. 
4. Treat your lawn with fungicide when the conditions are right for it.  
5. Fill in low areas.  They will hold water, kill your grass and allow for weeds to take root. 
6. Use sod in bare spots.  
7. A tree line or hedge between your neighbors also provides enough shade to keep Bermuda grass from coming across the property line.

If you have Centipede grass you are in luck.  Use a selective herbicide with the active ingredient Sethoxydim to treat areas of your yard to kill Bermuda grass in your Centipede.  Unfortunately this product will kill St. Augustine grass, so do not use it if you have St. Augustine grass.

Words of advice when using Sethoxydim.:

1. It is not very effective in winter.  
2. You must wait at least 3 weeks after your centipede comes back from dormancy.  
3. You should reapply it three to four weeks after the first application to take care of any seeds that have sprouted. 
4. Sethoxydim also treats a number of other grassy weeds, such as Bahia.  
5. Always follow the manufacture's label.  

If you have St. Augustine grass, you will have a more difficult time controlling Bermuda grass   Allow your grass to be cut at four inches will help provide shade to slow down or possibly kill the Bermuda. Large patches of Bermuda grass should be sprayed with herbicides containing Glyphosate (ie Roundup) and then fill in the bare area with sod.  Applying Glyphosate and using sod is expensive and should only be done in areas that have been completely taken over with Bermuda grass   If you are dedicated to getting rid of the Bermuda while keeping your St. Augustine, you can always suspend mesh landscape fabric or netting over the area for a few days to a week.  St. Augustine is very tolerant of shade while Bermuda is not.

Some people give up struggling to keep their preferred grass and decide to let Bermuda overrun their yard.  If this is your situation  here's a few tips.  Bermuda loves nitrogen and water in full sun.  This will let it spread like the weed it is.  Keep your Bermuda cut short, about 0.5 inches to 1 inch, preferably with a reel mower. There is a herbicide called Celsius that works great for taking care of most weeds in Bermuda.