It is a common belief that weeds will weaken your lawns if you fail to put in under control. However, the truth is weeds will only grow if your lawn is weak. Thus lawn need to be properly maintained and cared for if you do not to face the problem of lawn weeds. Here are 5 effective ways that you can control lawn weeds.

1. Mow your lawn regularly
Mowing your lawn properly and regularly is very efficient in controlling lawn weeds. You should try to mow your lawn at about three inches. It helps in controlling lawn weeds and also allows your grass to grow thicker. And when it comes to mowing, you should always use fresh blades or sharpened blades. Blunt blades would uproot the grass and that is the last thing you want for your lawn.

2. Eliminate as many weak spots in your lawn as possible
As stated earlier, all the weak spots of your lawn are the most susceptible to weeds. The areas adjacent to the pavement and other frequent used areas are the most vulnerable to lawn weeds. Most of the times lawn weeds take root in these areas and it would spread to other parts of the lawn. Thus you must be conscious of it and take corrective measures in controlling lawn weeds in these areas.

3. Reduce the Compaction of the Soil
Most of people think that just uprooting the weeds at the root level would solve the problem of weeds but it is not so. Many lawn experts believe that if the soil remains compact, it would become the breeding ground of weeds again. You would have to reduce the compaction of the soil and re-seed the area.

4. Grow excess grass
There are some types of weeds which are easy to control but there are some obstinate ones. And for them you would have to take some extra care. One of the best ways of controlling lawn weeds is by stuffing that patch with excess of grass. Grass would fight the weeds for space and that would help in controlling lawn weeds to some extent.

5. Use of herbicides or weed killers
Herbicides prove very effective in fighting weeds and can eliminate any kind of weeds. On the basis of their application, herbicides are of three kinds. The first one is pre-emergent which are applied to the lawn before weeds have actually taken hold of your lawn. It works best on crabgrass. The second type of herbicides is the post-emergent herbicides which are used for weeds that already taken hold in your lawn. It works best on perennial broad leaf weeds. And the third one is the non-selective herbicides. This type of herbicide kill plants indiscriminately including healthy plants and grass. Thus, extra care need to be taken when using it.

Controlling lawn weeds is an on going process and should not be slacken for any reason. Effective control lawn weeds will ensure that your lawn is always the envy of your neighbors.

Each year, thousands of people got injured when using lawn mowers. This is specially the case for power lawn mowers. They can be dangerous even when used properly. Here are some tips that you can use to avoid getting injured when using your lawn mowers.

1. Be familiar with your mower

Be sure the read the mower owner manual before you do anything with it. Make yourself familiar with the mower’s safety features as well as the proper way to operate it safely. Do not attempt to disconnect or disengage any safety features. Check that all the nuts and bolts are well tightened.

2. Check the lawn before you mow

Look out for small debris such as stones or broken glasses in your lawn. These little things can turn into lethal missiles when you hit them with your lawn mower.

3. No pets and children around you during mowing

Make sure there are no young children or pets around when you mow. You never know what object will go flying around and hit them. Also, young children and pets have strong curiosity and may go near the mower to check it out. Thus you have to be double sure they are not in the vicinity when you mow.

4. Take extra care when topping up the fuel

Never top up the fuel of a mower when its engine is still running. You should switch off the mower and wait at least ten minutes for the engine to cool down before refueling. Avoid refueling on the lawn itself as any fuel spillover can kill the lawn grasses. If there is a spillover, quickly clean it up with a rag. After the clean up, make sure the gasoline soaked rag is properly disposed as it is a fire hazard.

5. Never leave the mower running unattended

Always turn off the mower when you need to go for toilet break, answer a phone call or doing repair work on the mower. It should also be turn off when crossing non-grass areas to prevent damage to the mower. Another reason is that you want to avoid turning gravels into flying bullets.

6. Exercise cautions when mowing on slopes

A mover can flip over or go out of control when working on a steep slope. You should mow across the slope and not in an up-and-down fashion.

7. Wear proper clothing

In most cases, long pants and heavy shoes are most suitable for mowing as they provide good protection from flying debris. However, avoid loose clothing that may get caught in the blades.

This list is not exhaustive but they will serve as a good starting point. Remember that safety should always be a top priority when working with equipment such as a lawn mower