When temperatures drop and your grass goes dormant, winter weeds see their chance to move in. They sprout quietly in fall, grow through winter, and show up as patchy eyesores just as your lawn tries to bounce back in spring.
The good news is you can take control. You can tackle winter weeds naturally by pulling them out, pouring boiling water, applying vinegar, or smothering them with a plastic sheet. If weeds have spread across a large area, herbicides can help you get rid of them.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the best ways to tackle winter weeds. But if you don’t have the time or would rather not get your hands dirty, hiring a professional is always an option.
Natural methods
If you prefer a more eco-friendly approach or if weeds haven’t spread over a large area, you can remove them using natural methods. They are effective but require more time and patience than using herbicides.
Pull weeds by hand
Hand-pulling weeds can be time-consuming, but it works exceptionally well for isolated patches and doesn’t harm surrounding vegetation.
When you pull weeds, make sure to remove the entire plant along with the roots. If you just snap the stem but leave the roots behind, the weed will regrow. You can easily pull newly sprouted weeds entirely by hand, but for more established plants, use a garden trowel to dig into the ground and remove the weed along with its root.
After removing the weeds, bag and dispose of them instead of composting, as many produce seeds even when uprooted and can spread across your lawn.
I recommend removing weeds after a rain or a light watering, as it makes it easier to pull out the entire root system. Don’t overwater, as that can turn the soil into a mushy mess.
Smother weeds with a plastic sheet
Covering weeds with a black plastic sheet or cardboard blocks sunlight and oxygen, eventually killing them. This method can take a few weeks to work, but it’s very effective on large weedy areas. Use a thick plastic sheet or multiple layers of cardboard to speed up the process.
The downside is that it kills almost everything underneath, so use it only in areas without desirable plants or healthy grass. Secure the corners with rocks or stakes so it doesn’t blow away. Once the weeds die, remove the sheet and clear away the dead plant matter.
Pour boiling water on weeds
Boiling water can quickly kill weeds on your driveway, patio, or along edges where grass doesn’t grow. It destroys plant cells and kills young weeds down to the roots, but for established weeds, it only kills the top part.
The problem with this method is that boiling water will kill any plant it touches, including healthy grass and plants. So use it carefully or only for sizable patches of weeds. Once the weeds turn brown and dry, pull them out by hand to keep the area neat.
Apply vinegar to dry out weeds
Vinegar contains acetic acid, a common ingredient in organic herbicides. You can use household vinegar, but it usually contains only about 5% acetic acid, which is enough to kill only young plants. Choose horticulture vinegar with at least 20% acetic acid for established weeds.
Be careful when applying vinegar, as it can dehydrate and kill any plant it touches. Make sure to use it only on the weeds you want to kill.
To make a vinegar solution for killing weeds, mix 1 gallon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap, and 1 cup of salt. The dishwashing soap helps the vinegar stick to the weeds. Mix the ingredients well and pour the solution into a spray bottle.
Spray as close to the weeds as possible to avoid damaging nearby plants. You’ll start to see results within 30 minutes, but vinegar doesn’t kill weeds by the roots. So, once the weeds turn brown and dry, pull them out by hand to prevent regrowth.
Apply vinegar on a sunny day so sunlight can help the mixture dry out the plants. Avoid rainy or windy days to keep the solution from diluting or drifting.
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Herbicides
Sometimes natural methods aren’t enough, especially if weeds have spread across a large area. Herbicides can help you kill them without harming your grass. Make sure to wear gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and a mask when applying herbicides.
Use pre-emergent herbicides in the fall
Pre-emergent herbicides stop weeds from germinating before they have a chance to grow.
The best time to apply pre-emergent herbicides is from late summer to early fall, when soil temperatures are consistently below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t delay it any longer, as winter weeds will start to germinate once the weather cools. Apply on a calm, dry day.
Choose pre-emergent herbicides containing prodiamine, dithiopyr, or trifluralin. They kill weeds without harming desirable plants.
Pre-emergents come in either liquid or granular form. Liquid pre-emergents are easier to apply and activate faster, while granular types require no mixing but take longer to break down. You can use a broadcast spreader to apply granular herbicides and a garden sprayer for liquid ones.
After applying the herbicide, water the area with 0.5 to 1 inch of water. For liquid pre-emergents, you need to wait 24 hours before watering.
Don’t walk on your lawn for at least 48 hours afterward, as that can break the protective layer.
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Use post-emergent herbicides for existing weeds
If winter weeds have already sprouted and there are too many to remove naturally, post-emergent herbicides can kill them without harming your lawn.
Before applying herbicide, walk around your lawn to determine whether you’re dealing with broadleaf or grassy weeds. Broadleaf weeds generally have wide leaves with a netted vein pattern, while grassy weeds have narrow leaves with parallel veins.
If you’re dealing with broadleaf weeds, choose a selective herbicide with ingredients like 2,4-D, dicamba, or triclopyr. For grassy weeds, use a grassy weed killer containing ethofumesate or foramsulfuron. You can use non-selective herbicides like glyphosate in areas without desirable vegetation.
Apply the herbicide in the morning on a calm, dry day. Make sure it’s not windy, as that can blow the chemicals onto other plants. Post-emergent herbicides usually come in liquid form, and you can use a garden sprayer to apply them.
Check your lawn after a week. The weeds should wilt and turn brown, but if they are still alive, you may need to apply the herbicide again. Pull out the dead weeds to keep your lawn clean.
Read related:
- How to Identify and Control Broadleaf Weeds
- How to Identify and Control Grassy Weeds
- Broadleaf vs. Grassy Weeds
- How to Apply Post-Emergent Herbicides
FAQs
It depends on the type of herbicide. You can apply granular herbicides when the grass is slightly damp, but for liquid herbicides, it’s best if the plants are dry so the solution sticks to the leaves. I recommend checking the product label for specific instructions.
Pre-emergent herbicides only stop weeds from germinating; they don’t kill those that have already sprouted. If you see winter weeds after the treatment, it’s likely that you applied it a bit too late.
Yes, it’s safe to apply selective herbicides to dormant grass since it isn’t actively growing.
Keep your lawn weed-free year-round
Even the healthiest lawns can fall victim to winter weeds. Maintaining your lawn properly throughout the year and using pre-emergent herbicides can prevent most weeds. But if pesky weeds still show up and you’d rather not get your hands dirty, contact Lawn Love for professional weed removal.
Lawn Love pros can also fertilize your lawn to keep grass strong, mow it at the perfect height, and aerate the soil to help roots grow deeper. Hire a pro through Lawn Love today to get the job done right at a price you’ll love.
Main Image: Person pulling winter weeds from garden bed. Image Credit: sushytska / Adobe Stock
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