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Keeping Your Neighbors Weed Problem Out
from: Lawn and Garden MagicEvery home owner who wants a beautiful lawn does whatever they can to give it proper care and prevent weeds from taking over their grass -- but sometimes that effort isn't enough. Even if you're a good neighbor and take proper care of your home and your garden, not everyone in the neighborhood does the same. If your neighbor doesn't care for his lawn, then his weed problems could suddenly and quickly becomes yours.
Here's some tips to help you protect your lawn from your neighborhood weeds.
Of course, you can start by try talking to your neighbor. If he isn't caring for his lawn, an effort to discuss with the problem might be all you need to do. If you let them know their failure to care for their own lawn is affecting the appearance of their home as well as the health of your lawn and others in the area might help. There are people who are unaware of how their own lack of garden care is affecting those surrounding them. Once approached, some people may be less than neighborly about the situation, but most will try to be reasonable and try to rectify the situation.
Proper lawn care prevents weeds from taking hold. When your grass is strong and healthy due to proper mowing, fertilization, watering and irrigation, weeds are less likely to appear.
However, if weeds start to spread, you need to deal with the situation as quickly as possible. During the entire growing season, you must stay on top of any weed problem whether they come from near or further a field. Always remove weeds from your garden. Dig, chop or hoe these invaders out of there and by doing this right at the start, you'll stary a step ahead of the weeds.
To prevent further weed development, lay down some mulch over the soil because mulch prevents weeds from germinating. Mulch can consist of bark, leaves or even old newspaper -- just about anything that will cover the surface of the soil to discourage weed growth.
Also, you may be able to prevent weed growth by growing shrubs to their full size. The larger the shrubs, the more shade there will be on the surface of the soil. Shade will choke the weeds before they can become established. Another technique is to plant ground covers that will choke the weeds. If you have a a lot of ground covering plants, weeds won't space to grow.
Regardless of how hard you work to prevent weeds, they're going to occasionally crop up in places. Thus it's important to pull them out as soon as they appear so they can't go to seed in your garden and lawn. If you fail to stay on top of this, you might find yourself with an extensive and time-consuming weed problem.
Another options is to use chemicals for weed control, but a better option is to use less toxic methods. If you must resort to weed killers, make sure you wear protective clothing, eyewear and gloves to reduce the risk. You'll find pre-emergent chemicals available that are preventive herbicides. Only use these types of herbicides after clearing your lawn of weeds. Pre-emergent chemicals should never be used on weeds that have already started growing.
Weeds can spread if many different ways, including vehicles, animals and, of course, through your neighbors lawn. The best way to prevent your neighbor's weed problem from becoming your problem as well is to use the preventive measures we've recommended.
But the fastest way may just be to have that neighborly chat if your next-door neighbor's lawn is becoming a concern. Speak with your neighbor calmly and reasonably because often just bringing it to their attention will get some positive action in motion.
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