Weed Control
The first step in controlling your weed problem is to be able to identify the plants which you consider to be weeds. Like flowering plants there are annual weeds (crabgrass, chickweed, lamb's quarter) and perennial weeds (dandelion, milkweed, quackgrass).
A single weed can produce as many as 250,000 seeds. Some seeds are viable for only a year, while others can lie dormant for many years. Even if you are good at pulling weeds, more seeds will arrive - by air, water run-off, and in bird droppings. Seeds can be brought into your garden on your, clothing and the use of a neighbor's lawnmower. Grass seed itself, unless certified weed free, may contain undesirable seeds.
The key to effective and quick weed control is to get rid of the weeds while they are still small. As you gain control over the weeds, other plants will gain a new rigor and their healthy new growth will choke out future weeds before they get a chance to grow.
For most of the weeds in your lawn, probably the best control of all is a healthy, well fed and watered lawn. Regular mowing will prevent weeds from flowering and producing seed. Perennial weeds such as dandelions seem to be a big problem on most lawns. Your weed extractor will only succeed in getting some of the plant's top root., the tip of the root is usually snapped off and remains in the ground to begin growing into a new weed in two to three weeks. Although your efforts may seem futile, because of the ability to regenerate, each time you remove that weed you weaken and retard growth. With the weed in a "root cutting" state, your grass will begin to regrow in that space. Keeping your lawn mowed high will further weaken weed growth by blocking light from its foliage which reduces its ability to attain food. Remember, a dandelion seeds has to make contact with the soil to germinate. Your last resort for getting rid of such weeds would be the use of a herbicide, taking into consideration the location of shallow rooted trees and plants.
When it comes to eliminating various weeds in flower and shrub beds one of the best low effort ways to block their access to light and air is by mulching bare soil areas. A 3"- 4" layer of mulch (cedar bark, grass clippings, etc.) will smother out many weeds and weeds that manage to poke through are easier to pull. Black plastic mulch can practically eliminate weeding in a flower or vegetable bed. Cut slits in the material to allow plants and water to penetrate. Remove this plastic at the end of the growing season to let the soil breathe.