As a homeowner, you're likely familiar with those pesky weeds that pop up in your yard and garden every year. Keeping weeds from taking over is not a simple task, but it can be accomplished by following a seasonal routine that ensures a healthier lawn.

If you're considering buying or selling Maple Grove homes for sale or Minnetonka homes for sale, you want a lush, green landscape that increases your property value. To achieve your goals, you need to focus on important lawn care tips to prevent weeds.

• Dig Up Weeds
  Small patches of weeds can be dug up or pulled up, but you have to get the roots. For best results, invest in a forked-tip weeder that works great for uprooting weeds like dandelions, and a three-pronged fork, available in a hand tool and a long-handled version, that loosens the soil. Digging up weeds may bring weed seeds to the surface, but only the seeds in the top few inches of soil will get enough sunlight to sprout. If you dig up weeds, ensure you get the roots and fill in the hole with soil or mulch.
  
  
• Mulch the Landscape
  Mulch provides benefits for your lawn and garden areas. Mulch keeps the soil cool and moist and deprives weeds of necessary light for growth. It's available in a variety of organic and inorganic materials and colors, making it easy to choose something that complements your home and landscape.

  • Organic Mulch – Organic mulch decomposes over time, providing healthy nutrients to the soil. As it decomposes, it aerates the soil and improves soil structure, fertility, and drainage. Organic mulch includes grass clippings and leaves, pine needles, straw, tree bark, wood chips, compost materials, and newspaper and cardboard.

  • Inorganic Mulch – Inorganic mulch does not decompose, so it must be replenished. While inorganic mulch reduces lawn maintenance, it doesn't benefit soil and plants. Inorganic mulch includes landscaping fabrics, plastic sheeting, marble chips, pebbles, pea gravel, and river rocks.

• Fertilize the Lawn and Garden
  The best time to fertilize your lawn and garden is in spring (around mid-April) and in late fall when the temperature reaches about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Your lawn will use its spring feeding to fight stresses like frequent mowing, extreme heat, less rainfall, and drought during summer. The goal of the late fall feeding is to nourish the lawn and garden when grass and plants go dormant.
  
  The best time to apply fertilizer is mid-morning after the dew dries or early evening when temperatures are cooler. Nitrogen gives your lawn lush green color and reduces weeds. Fertilizers are labeled with NPK ratios which show the percentages of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K). As a general rule, one pound of soluble nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of grass is recommended for best results. 

• Apply Weed Controls
  There's a variety of chemical and natural weed control products on the market, so it's important to know some pros and cons. The most popular products include:

  • Pre-Emergent Herbicides – Prevent seed germination but don't work well once weeds are growing. They're best used as a preventative spot treatment during dormant seasons.
    
    
  • Post-Emergent Herbicides – Interrupt plant photosynthesis, protein production, and root growth. They work on contact to kill growing weeds.

Chemical-based herbicides can affect surrounding plants and pollute groundwater when used improperly or in large quantities. For safer products, choose an organic herbicide that's sulfate-free and paraben-free and made from all-natural, eco-friendly ingredients.

If you're thinking about buying or selling your home, call today for information and prices on properties in the area.