Available as a ready-to-use product or in concentrate form, this pet-friendly weed killer from Neudorff contains both Pelargonic acid and Maleic Hydrazide. Compacted ground prevents grass growing well and can lead to bare patches in the summer and mud baths in the winter.

Not every gardener knows their lawn weeds, but help is at hand in the form of simple lawn care and British wildflower books. You can’t use it on lawns, though, and there’s a risk of damage to plants if used in a dense flowerbed. This granular feed packs a punch, killing weeds, controlling moss and revitalising lawns in seven days with just one application.However, it is still important to read the directions for use and consider the warning label on any products you use, since the potential effects can vary based on the active ingredients of each formula. It also states “toxicity tests on non-target organisms, such as birds, fish, and honeybees, revealed little or no toxicity”. Almost all of the organic gurus I’ve seen suggest that vinegar and salt together is the best solution, but too much salt can ruin your flowerbeds and kill off plants.

It's also recommended to not mow the treated areas for at least a week, but you can plant new flowers or shrubs after 24 hours. It’s also advised to keep children and pets away until at least 96 hours after application and watering. Using pre- and post-emergent treatments is the best way to get a handle on year-round weed control, as you prevent weeds from starting and take care of those that present, so their seeds won’t persist.

To ensure accuracy, we also asked horticulturist Elizabeth Smith to review and fact-check this guide before publication, Elizabeth also chimed in with advice regarding some of the products as she’s previously tested them. Dependent on the severity of moss one 5 litre container will cover 210 square metres for normal infestations and 170 square metres for heavy moss infestations. This enables a quick and prolonged green up of the lawn, with benefits that can been seen all season long when used as per the label recommendations. Secondly weigh out a known amount of product recommended to treat that area and put it into the spreader hopper.

Method 3: Plants usually easily killed using one or two applications of weedkillers containing 2,4-D plus mecoprop-P or 2,4-D plus dicamba or fluroxypyr. I’ve seen organic gardeners use vinegar to suppress weeds, but in reality, it will only scorch the weeds and rarely kills the roots.It can be quite confusing to know what settings to use on your type of lawn spreader, never mind using it with various different products. This US government factsheet states that Pelargonic acid is found naturally in foods and is used commercially as a food additive and consuming or inhaling small amounts poses no risk to human health. I know from experience that if you maintain a lawn properly and keep it healthy, weeds and mosses struggle to take hold as the thick grass suppresses them. Because it includes high amounts of both potassium and nitrogen, the Miracle-Gro Evergreen lawn feed shouldn’t be applied to bone dry grass as it can result in scorching. Hot water will kill lawn grass and many plants though so careful handling and application are required.

Westland SafeLawn builds up the condition of your grass, promoting soil health making it a more stronger, resilient and healthier to outcompete weeds and moss. Since this product kills weeds at the roots, you should see results the same day; noticeable weed demise within 30 minutes has been reported. Q. The product has quite an odour, is it safe for my children and pets to use the lawn after application? If you need to kill weeds in your lawn, look for a selective formula that doesn’t kill grass along with the weeds.In summer, raise the cutting height of your mower to leave the lawn longer – around 5-10cm – as this will make it less prone to going brown in dry weather. Lawns can be affectedby a wide range of pests, diseases and other issues, and most can be successfully tackled in spring or summer if necessary. Pet owners should use caution when applying such products to places where their pets are likely to walk or lounge, since they could ingest the chemical directly or by licking their paws and fur.