chad kimball asked:


Broadleaf Plantain, also know by the scientific name Plantago majo, is a short, leafy plant that loves to grow in thin and weakened sections of your lawn.

There is one problem with this pest, It forms large spreading colonies, suffocating the grass around it.

I’ve seen lawns absolutely covered with this stuff.

Here is some basic information about this weed:

It grows everywhere in the United States, southern Canada, most of Europe, and northern and central Asia. Grows well in full sun or partial shade. Its rosette of leaves is 5-10 inches across, with each leaf being 2-8 inches long, and 1-4 inches wide. The leaves hug the ground, and crowd out healthy grass. The main advantage that this plant has is that it grows better than others where the soil is compacted. So if your lawn has a small gap it can easly grow there even if the soil is firm, choking out the grass around it.

Early summer through September you will see the seed stalks rising. It spreads from seeds and also re-sprouts roots below the ground. If Broadleaf Plantain is appearing, it can be an indication that you are mowing your grass too low.

If you want to try removing this plant yourself, the only way is to dig them out. You will need to do this repeatedly over several months in order to effectively control the plants. Removing the plants before they produce seed also helps to speed up the process.

If you try pulling the plants out by grasping the leaves, they tend to break off, allowing the roots to continue spreading beneath the ground, forming new plants. Mowing does not work because of how low the leaves lie. Additionally, seeds and plant parts can contaminate your lawn mower and other equipment, so mowing will just spread the plants to new areas.

Herbacides can be effective to control plantain seedlings, and can also reduce the vigor of established plantain plants. Please ask your lawn care company for help in applying the correct herbacides for this weed.



Natalie

chad kimball asked:


Is Your Lawn Care Company Helping You With QuackGrass?

If you have any thin areas of your lawn, this light green grass may try to take over your lawn.

So, its grass right? What is the problem then?

The problem is that it is rough, coarse, and grows more than 5 feet in a single season. That means it not only looks ugly, but it is very uncomfortable for anyone walking without shoes, attempting to have a picnic, or just rough-housing on the lawn.

I would encourage you to ask your lawn care company what they are doing about the possibility of “Quackgrass” taking over the thinner areas of your lawn.

Here is some useful information about quackgrass:

It is characterized by very coarse, green/blue-green blades. Often it shoots up flower spikes that look a bit like wheat. In the spring and fall it grows quickly, and may not even be noticed at first. However, it becomes very unsightly when it turns brown in the summer, leaving large patches of dead looking turf in your lawn.

It grows well everywhere in the United States except the extreme South, and is known by various names: twitch, dog grass, quitch grass, quick grass, couch grass. Its scientific name is Elymus repens. Quackgrass is well known as an invasive weed because it is so difficult to remove.

Here is a quick overview of how to remove it:

-Dig deep into the ground, removing as much of the grass as possible (including all roots).

-Lay down cardboard on any area where the grass was removed.

-Lay down woodchips on top of the cardboard (make sure the layer of woodchips is 2 or 3 inches thick).

If you are still having difficulty with quackgrass coming back, contact your local lawn care company. Here at Natural Way Lawn Care in Michigan we have special methods for ridding your lawn of quack grass once and for all.



Katherine