KIlling Weeds

casboating · Apr 12, 2009

Happy Easter,
I have a piece of land 100'x300' with a ton of nasty weeds. What's the best way to kill these weeds for good and prepare the soil and area for laying sod. I've tried applying Atrazine, but the weeds reappear each year. I want to make sure i kill all of the weeds and prepare the ground before putting all of that expensive sod down. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Mark_G · Apr 12, 2009

Put up a temporary fence and put goats on it!

North Dakota · Apr 12, 2009

casboating said:
Happy Easter,
I have a piece of land 100'x300' with a ton of nasty weeds. What's the best way to kill these weeds for good and prepare the soil and area for laying sod. I've tried applying Atrazine, but the weeds reappear each year. I want to make sure i kill all of the weeds and prepare the ground before putting all of that expensive sod down. Thanks in advance for your advice.

If sodding I would Spray with the round-up and weed-b-gone mixed together in same tank and let them sit for a week or two then till and level for sodding and place the sod. Once the sod is placed most weed seeds should be too deep to germinate. Let the sod get established well (meaning you had to mow it at least twice) and do your normal lawn weed control. If neighbors and dust is not a problem you can follow the steps below but sod in the fall instead of seed.

If seeding and blowing dust is not a large concern you can get a good start with a mixture of Round-up and Weed-B-Gone in same tank that will kill almost all weeds. There is no way to completely stop weeds from reappearing in one fell swoop there are too many dormant seeds in the soil. Every time you disturb the soil you bring new seeds up to the zone of soil that they like for germination and bingo New weeds. After spraying keep on tilling the area as new weeds appear. When you till do not make the soil fine I'd use a cultivator not a tiller. Wait as long as possible before tilling as you must till them under before the first weeds go to seed. Some weeds will germinate early, some mid-summer and others early fall. So I would till the entire area for the whole summer. I would then till for the last time late summer (you could use a tiller here) before you want to seed and get the soil leveled so that when seeding time comes you have as little dirt as possible to disturb. Moniter and spray out any new weeds and then seed sometime in early fall (September). Keep the area watered and hopefully the grass seed will sprout and get established. Next spring you'll get weeds but wait until you have mowed the grass a couple of times then you are safe to start the normal lawn weed control.

kenmac · Apr 12, 2009

Best If you have a lawn & garden center with a horticulturlist that you could ask You wouldn't want to spend alot of $ on sod & it die from the chemicals you use

ultrarunner · Apr 12, 2009

kenmac said:
Best If you have a lawn & garden center with a horticulturlist that you could ask You wouldn't want to spend alot of $ on sod & it die from the chemicals you use

I think there is a problem because most products that absolutely prevent weeds from coming back will be detrimental to sod.

Products like Roundup do not have the residual effect since they go after the living plant. I've used Ortho Triox and it prevented anything from growing where applied.

I've also had good success taking over neglected landscaping by using a Weed and Feed product, over seeding, using topping soil and proper watering. It takes time, but the results are amazing if you have the time.

RWolf · Apr 12, 2009

If your going to sod with bermuda then you can apply weed-be-gone as concentrated as you want. The one thing I really like about this product is that I've applied it directly to bermuda in full stength and it didn't harm the grass at all. Weed-be-gone only attacks broad leaf plants so bermuda won't be touched.

kenmac · Apr 12, 2009

I don't know where you are located. I'am down south where we generally have mild winters & early springs..Spring usually means that all the weed seeds are just waiting to sprout... Weeds are a constant problem here. I have my yard sprayed professionally year around & they still have a difficult time keeping the weeds out

whistlepig · Apr 12, 2009

Roundup will pretty much kill everything. My wife is animal conscience about spraying chemicals. I'm OK with that. If I spray Roundup on the fence lines then the horses and dogs have to be taken away from that fence line for a week or until after the first rain. Whichever comes first. As far as broad leaf removal 2-4D seems to be the best. I have used 2-4D in the past. Good stuff. She says not to spray 2-4D now. She says it is a known carcinogen. I'm not sure what Weed-B-Gone has in it. I'm an old man and have been exposed to chemicals that are forever banned now. Least I can do is not put my critters through the same exposure.

North Dakota · Apr 12, 2009

Weed-B-Gone is a formulation of 2-4D. Round-up kills or damages anything green but does not kill creeping jenny effectively (many names for this weed) and a few other weeds. Weed - B -Gone does a good job on creeping jenny. Round-up and weed-b-gone both have to be absorbed through the leaves and becomes inactive in the soil and will not leave behind a residual that will damage sod or grass seed.