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<br />ver.!iu.s weeds were found. The Icst can be repcated at
<br />regular intcrval~ to monitor the cffecljvcnc~.s of weed
<br />control efforts. Wh:.Hcvcr the sclct;tcd tolerance Jcvel,
<br />it ",houhJ be reali~tic. For cxamrlc, zero weed toleram;c
<br />is prohahly unntlainahle in the long run.
<br />
<br />What Rood lIre weeds?
<br />
<br />Weeds can tell a lot about soil condilions. For
<br />example. sedges indicate poorly drained soil. Wild
<br />rnustnrds arc n sign of compacted soil or soil with a hard
<br />crust. Field peppergrass <:lppears in alkaline .soils. Dai-
<br />sies show poor fertility, while lamb's quarter could
<br />indicate the opposite. lfclover is common in your lawn
<br />(and you didn't plant it) it indicates th,.Jt nitrogen levels
<br />may be low. Since the clover fixes nitrogen, it can do
<br />well in areas where the grass may go
<br />hungry. Dandelions are especially
<br />common in lawns with acid surface
<br />soil.
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<br />A lawn with
<br />zera weeds is
<br />not attainable.
<br />
<br />Composting weeds that have been
<br />removed by hand cnn take ndvantnge
<br />of desirable weed qualities. Most
<br />weeds help feed the compost pile, but plants like
<br />dandelions provide a special service. Called dynamic
<br />accumulators, they reach deep into the soil for essential
<br />elements. Traditional Iawncare often recommends a
<br />feeding of iron to green up the lawn (not surprising
<br />since excess phosphorus can lead to iron deficiency).
<br />Instead, common weeds such asdJndelion, chick-
<br />weed, plantain, purslane, and lamb's quarter can be
<br />used for iron accumulation.
<br />
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<br />Many weeds also attract beneficial insects if al-
<br />lowed to flower. These insects need pollen or nectar in
<br />addition to the protein they get from consuming pests.
<br />For example, ladybugs feed on dandelion pollen and
<br />clover. In early spring, when not much is blooming,
<br />dandelions can be a very important food source for
<br />overwintering ladybugs. Predatory wasps take advan.
<br />tage of chickweed, while mustard attracts a variety of
<br />beneficial insects. Thus, weeds in the lawn can actually
<br />help plants in surrounding vegetable and tlower beds.
<br />
<br />Of course, insects aren't the only ones thaI find
<br />weeds appetizing. Some of the most common weeos
<br />are uncommonly nutritious for people. Before im-
<br />ported greens were available ye~lr.rotlnd, these rl:lllls
<br />served an important diel:lry function.
<br />
<br />Least-toxic lVeed control
<br />
<br />There are four techniques to le,lst toxic weed con-
<br />trol: cultivation, sobrizalion, mowin~, and herbicidal
<br />soap. Cultivation means physically weeding, and thCll
<br />secding. \Vhih::: il SCI..:IllS like a lot of work, lhere arc
<br />many devices :'lvailahlc In make weeding c;lsin. In :ll1Y
<br />C;ISe, no Illatler how weL'ds afC rCllloved, lile rcsllllill~
<br />harc srols ShUll!d ;dways he kvdcd ;llHI n.:-secdr..:d [0
<br />
<br />pn:vellt weed..., from n;ot;r..:urring. Sobrii'.<lliof1 1I1vol vr..:..,
<br />covering a weedy patch with hlack plastic for a few
<br />Jays to shade lJul [he wcclh while lc;Jving the gr,lss
<br />inIac!. If an .lre;! is completely inrc.~lcJ, clear plastiC
<br />clln he used to ''!.;o()k'' the weeds (:'lllJ thl..:ir seeds In the
<br />ground) for sever,l! wl:.cb. Gr;lss l:t.ln tb....n he rL'.
<br />cSlahlishcd in the resuliLlnt [Ienred patch. In addition 10
<br />selling mowing heigllLs to sh<llk uul growing weeds,
<br />mowing the tops of 1;111 weeds will we;}kcn the plants
<br />and cut down on seed formation. Hahicidal soaps em
<br />be used to spot treat weeds, but keep in mind they an:
<br />tox:ic to all plants Ihey lauch. Herbicidal SOJps. usually
<br />break down in 48 hours.
<br />
<br />While all four leas[-tox.ic control techhiq\J~s arc
<br />preferJble to blanket herbicide applicatiuns, wr:.l.:.d pre-
<br />vention is an even better option. The best deCensr.;
<br />against weeds is vigorous, heallhy grass. If the
<br />homeowner follows the eight steps in this article weeds
<br />will not normally be a problem.
<br />
<br />Finally, a lawn can be more than a green carpeL It
<br />can include attractive flowers and living fertiliz.er
<br />factories. It can supplement the vegetable harvest and
<br />encourage beneficial insects to take up residence. Su.:h
<br />a lawn is both more inreresting and more functional
<br />than the traditional grass monoculture lawn. Some C::L1l
<br />it a "wild lawn" or a "flowery meade", \Vllile it is
<br />indeed wilder than a trllditionLlI lawn. il is still low
<br />growing and more fonn81 in appeJ.fance thall;l meadow.
<br />Tn the wild lnwn, many so-called weeds become pan of
<br />the design.
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<br />. Step 7: Jntegratedpe~t management
<br />" . E~i~i;lishri'realis'tic.iolera'nce level for pests and
<br />'>Use le.ast toxic.c.ontrol met.hods to maintain it. For a
<br />low inpu~ lawn; use least' toxiC cc,ntrol methods such as
<br />.renloving or tr"apping pests, introducing biological
<br />.,c.9ntr~!age~ts, 9rapply~.~astt?~~c.che~cal c~:mtro[s
<br />suchas i~Fecticidal smips.'fPI2:.1mverinputlawn, grow
<br />stro~g. .healthy grass tpatcan.resist attack. For the
<br />: .. ...... ....' ,..."..<,;.....)i\:. .
<br />IoweSllIlput lawn, usephYSli'ul controls to prevent
<br />."..". ::......... . ,..,: . .'... '. ...,.. ".i~t.:.'.,... ...:,.., ..' . ,
<br />. infestation, prated natuj-a1predatois: and add benefi-
<br />, :~fnl soi1.:microbb~ '.\<:.. . ,~. \'.; - .'.';'
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<br />What is integrated pest mmragemellt?
<br />
<br />The: best de:knse ag.,\inSl pests is h~:llthy, vignrolls
<br />grass. Tnbk 2 camp.ires nnjnr grass types fl)r insc:c[-
<br />resistance:. Cultivars spcci:llly Lkvdopeu for insc.:t or
<br />disease rcsi.~t:1I1C~ ~rc ;\1so aV;libhlc. \\-'hcn more .:on-
<br />tml is nceded, Inlegriltl'd Pest ~VI;\ll;lgcmel1t ~IPrvl) 1:;1l1
<br />control pests wilh far !"I..'\\'cr pesticide", tll:ln tr:luitil.)Il;l!
<br />I:\WllC;lfC. Tlw IPNl appm.Kll L.l1llsists \)f ruur SiL.:pS Ill:l[
<br />:Il'l: I:lken berore any pl.'sliL'idc i.s used:
<br />
<br />I. AC("1lr,ltc Pt'st idt'lltitiCOIlioll and monilo.-in~.
<br />To select tIlL' fight CUI}(wl, il is IKl'css:ny LO kl\\)W
<br />IhL "gO(ltl" bugs from th<:. "h;ld" Illll.':->. ;lIld k:lfll
<br />[heir lik.q'l'lo.:...,. !-'tll"l'\:Ullpk.lfJ:lP:llll";';C hl't.tll's
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