Get matched with top weed maintenance pros in Deephaven, MN

There are many options to eradicate weeds right down to the roots. Vinegar works, but it takes a week or so to do its thing, and the same goes for many commercially available herbicides. Boiled water is a quick way to kill off roots, or you can pull up weeds at the root.

Due to its slow growth, Bahia grass does not generally take over weeds. In fact, the opposite can be true. Young Bahia grass is susceptible to being taken over by weeds. 

Likewise, in the cool season, Bahia grass goes into a dormant state that can allow weeds that thrive in early spring to get the upper hand. If you want to prevent weeds from taking over your yard, remove them by hand or apply a Bahia grass-friendly pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn before weeds have a chance to appear.

You should add 1 to 4 inches of mulch, depending on your garden type and needs. Keep in mind that no amount of mulch can completely prevent weeds, but a heavier coverage (closer to 4 inches) can suppress weeds enough that you are only seeing them sprout every few weeks. Finer mulch prevents weeds more effectively than large mulch, so if you’re using mulched leaves or shredded bark, 1 to 2 inches will likely suffice, while 3 to 4 inches is best for larger mulch, like bark chips or straw.

Landscaping fabric can only help to prevent weed growth in the short term. It's not an ideal long-term solution because dirt will eventually make its way on top of it, causing weeds to sprout. These fabrics can also leave microplastics in the environment for many, many years, so pulling weeds using one of the methods in this guide as soon as you see them is a better long-term prevention strategy.