In today's upended world, it is hard to believe that fall is around the corner.  That means it's time to begin major lawn renovation for the year. Now is the time to focus on killing weeds--before the seeding season begins August 15th.

Once grass seed goes down, we can't attack weeds until the new seed has germinated and been mowed twice.  That is the major reason why this should be taken care of prior to seeding. After your freshly-germinated grass seed has been mowed twice, you may safely spray weeds again.

Weeds are divided into two major categories: broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds.

  
Broadleaf weeds are most of the common weeds you see around the yard: clover, wild violets, dandelions, oxalis, and wild strawberry among many others. A broadleaf weed is literally anything that is not a grass. The best way to kill this family of weeds is with Speed Zone. Speed Zone is a liquid that comes in a concentrate.  It is designed to kill anything that isn't grass.  Similar herbicides are available in ready-to-use varieties and will work best when you add Wilt-Pruf.       
The grassy weed family is dominated by crabgrass. Invariably, crabgrass will show up along the edges of the driveway and sidewalks and that problem area between the sidewalk and the street. Other common grassy weeds include nutsedge,
       
               
                           Nutsedge in the lawn                                                           Crabgrass at the sidewalk 
           
                    
                            Japanese stilt grass                                                             A mat of Nimblewill grass

Japanese stilt grass, wiregrass and nimblewill. If you have an unfamiliar grassy weed growing in your lawn, and you aren't sure what it is, bring in a decent-sized sample to our turf department for identification and information on treatment. 
                             
Image All-In-One Lawn Weed Killer not only kills crabgrass and nutsedge, but also kills the majority of broadleaf weeds. Bayer's Bermudagrass Control for Lawns
does not do a great job of killing Bermudagrass (wiregrass) but does a wonderful job killing crabgrass and Japanese stilt grass. 
~ Seeding Season begins August 15 ~
Once the weeds are gone, you can begin the seeding process. The best time to seed in the DC Metropolitan area is August 15 through September 30. (Seeding can still be done through the end of September depending on the weather.)

When you do seed or over-seed your lawn, please remember to water.  Seed germination is best accomplished by watering late in the day or early evening.  At this point in the year, lawn fungus is no longer a problem.

Please visit the Betty's Turf Department to purchase our premium grass seeds for all your fall seeding. Sunny lawns, shady lawns and lawns with dense shade will all benefit from over-seeding with a Betty's grass seed mix. 

** Betty's now has core aerators available for rent.  
Please check availability and reserve one now. **
 703-830-8687