The Grass Doctor

Help needed with lawn care?

I have just mowed my 350yds square lawn and noticed quite a few weed patches with tiny purple heads on them, plus I have now got clumps of toadstools coming through, what is the best product to use. Do I use a general weed and feed, and which is the best recommended, or do I use a weed killer on the offending plants and then a lawn feed? The trouble is that I have a 9 month old Labrador puppy who spends a lot of his time on it, so what is available that is dog-friendly?

Public Comments

1. The most animal friendly treatment is hand removal, though this may be out of the question in your large lawn, depending on the amount of weeds. I would use a broad leaved weed killer, and erect a barrier to prevent your puppy from entering it - you could do this on a small area at a time, moving around your lawn, for example. Feed and weeds tend to be a bit patchy, and I've seen numerous lawns where the grass has gotten burned from them, more than any other treatment, so I'd avoid them, Raking will remove moss and many of the larger or twining weeds, though I wouldn't do this at the current point in the season. A diluted lawn fertilizer should be fine for your puppy though, and you can apply regularly during the year. The best time to fertilize is the fall/autumn, with a specialist Autumn feed, which increases root growth and strength, ready for next year Such a lawn is better able to withstand drought and grows more strongly, and can be applied from around September, which is not so far off. Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob
2. vinegar in a spray bottle will help with most weeds, and you are getting toadstools coming through because your grass is too wet. if you water, lay off for a few days, just pull the toadstools out by hand and wash your hands after. i have used vinegar in a spray bottle and it has done some good in my yard. i have dogs also so have to be careful what to use. hope this helps.
3. P)ut some pelletized lime down on the whole lawn. Put down 200 lbs per 1000 sq ft. that will take care of the toadstools.Use a product to kill the weeds that attaches to your garden hose. Weedkiller with no fertilizer. De thatch your lawn in the fall and over-seed. All are dog friendly after they dry. Good luck.