How to Manage Pests

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.

• Identification key to weeds in turfgrass