[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Jamie Nettles]

Linda,

I believe the key to getting rid of weeds in a lawn is strong,
vigorously growing, healthy grass.  If you fertilize, water, and mow
properly, the grass itself will choke the weeds out.  After all, the
Bermuda views the dandelions as an interloper just as much as you do!
But it needs strength to win out against the weeds.  Lawn grass is bred
to grow well when watered, fertilized, and mowed regularly.  Note,
however, this is a vicious cycle of sorts - the more you fertilize the
more you have to mow and the more you mow the more you have to
fertilize.  And of course that fertilizer won't do any good if you don't
water often.  But the payoff is a beautiful lawn.

I feel obligated to mention that of course a lot of people in the desert
(myself included) have chosen to forgo a lawn and instead go with
something like crushed granite and low-water-use plants.  My experience
with lawns is in more water-rich climates where the summers weren't
quite so hot and dry.  Maybe you have kids or a hankering for green.
One compromise is to reduce the area of the lawn.  You still get the
green but use less water and it takes less  work.

Jamie Nettles
Dilettante Gardner

jrfixit39 at cox.net wrote:
> Linda
> 85213
> jrfixit39 at cox.net
> 
> We have a continuing problem with dandelions in our bermuda grass.  We have tried weed killers that say they will kill these weeds but more keep sprouting.  Each year the problem gets worse and worse.  Do you have any suggestions for killing these weeds without hurting the trees,etc.?  
> 
> Thanks,
> Linda
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
> 
> 
>