Soils that are acid, compact, poor and deficient in calcium and magnesium are ideal conditions for the establishment of the weed.
How to reduce the presence of weed:
- Deterrent factors:
- Check the soil’s pH and add lime to counter acidity.
- Break up the soil with a lawn aerator. This will allow water and nutrients to infiltrate better into the roots.
- Re-seed annually to keep your lawn thick and free of bare spots. The thicker coverage will compete with the seeds of undesirable plants.
- Keep the grass long (8 cm) to prevent seeds from germinating in the soil. Grass that is mowed very short is three times more likely to have weeds than grass that is kept longer. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting.
Physical methods
- Pull out roots by hand and fill the holes left behind with earth and grass seed. There are excellent weeding tools on the market (Lawn Weedout, weeding knife.)
- Prevent seeds from spreading. Mow the lawn before weeds appear and attach a bag to the lawnmower to pick up the seeds.
Other products and methods
- Table salt
- Boiling water
- Corn gluten (anti-germinating). Apply early in the spring before seeds appear in the ground. Maximum two applications.
- Burn with a propane torch.
- Use mulch or a black plastic film to cover the area.
Non-selective ecological herbicides
- EcoClear (a mixture of acetic acid from vinegar and citric acid from lemons)
- Top Gun (fatty acids of soaps)
Ecological herbicides are non-selective and kill all existing vegetation that comes into contact with the solution.