Grass, among other plants in anyone’s landscaping, is an ornamental design to help the exterior of your home look good and enhance the curb appeal. Where grass has its benefits, the overall purpose of grass is to help your home look good. Weeds in the grass are often distracting and mar the appearance of grass, much like a stain on your carpet. Thankfully, getting weeds out is a lot easier most of the time. Where some weeds can slowly creep in and almost blend into the grass making them more discreet as they do their damage, other weeds are distinctly destructive. Invasive weeds are for the most part, noticeable. They have different coloring, texture, and growth habits. The bad thing is that weeds slowly overtake your lawn or other vegetation and can potentially do it in a single season, leaving unattractive and sparse blemishes in your grass. Additionally, some weeds can also be harmful to pets and livestock. Today, we at Rentokil would like to take the opportunity to elaborate on weeds in your lawn.

What are the Characteristics of Weeds?

Weeds are defined generally as a plant that has no redeeming value in regard to nutrition, medicinal, or food. Often leaving seeds to perpetuate their kind, weeds have accelerated growth patterns. Weeds frequently have thorns or other physical features making them difficult to remove and are often poisonous if eaten and taste horrible.

Weeds Compete with Grass & Plants for Nutrients

Competing with not only your grass, but they will also compete with flower, fruit, vegetable, and ornamental plants for the sunlight and nutrients, which leaves your vegetation starving. This will leave them prone to insect and disease infestation because they have become weakened by the loss of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Most weeds have a growth rate that is outstanding, allowing them to absorb more of one nutrient than another, which leaves the weed imbalanced. Because of the theft, other plants are overwhelmed which creates abnormal coloring, flowering, or fruit growth.

Weeds Choke out Grass & Overrun Lawns

Because they are so successful in competing for space if not kept in check, invasive weeds can be devastating as the evidence is well documented. Invasive weeds that take over areas outside of its natural habitat are especially more devastating. These weeds are successful in killing neighboring plants, beneficial insects, and promoting diseases.

Examples of Parasitic Weeds

Not all plants are classified as a weed in the true sense but can spread havoc among neighboring plants by attaching themselves and stealing its nutrients. The root variety being more common, these parasitic plants can be stem or root parasites. Mistletoe, for example, is a parasitic plant that attaches itself to a host plant in order to get the water and nutrients it needs. Mistletoe, like other parasitic weeds, will eventually weaken its host plant as it starves the plant, which will leave it susceptible to disease or pest infestations.

Lawn Weed Control

To keep your grass and landscaping safe from weeds, call Rentokil for our weed control services. We can ensure your grass is healthy and weed-free by taking the steps necessary for weed control.