Get matched with top weed maintenance pros in Fife, WA

All herbicides come with risks, but you can control and mitigate risks by discussing your options with your weed service company before application. Some companies use milder or sustainable herbicides more times per season to control weeds rather than one to two herbicide sprayings annually. You can also ask your professional about pet-friendly and kid-friendly services. In most cases, though, you can wait a few days after the application for the herbicides to soak into the ground, at that point they shouldn’t pose a risk to you or your family.

The best time to hire a weed service company is in the early spring. This allows them to apply a pre-emergent weed killer that stops weeds from taking root, making maintenance for the rest of the season much easier. Following the initial spring application, a monthly service through the summer and early fall is a good idea for ongoing weed control. These regular treatments, combined with manual removal or spot treatment, should be sufficient to maintain a weed-free yard. Alternatively, you can hire a professional in the fall for the following year, as some companies may offer better rates on contracts signed before the busy spring season.

Too much clover in your lawn can indicate several issues with your soil. Clover can thrive in soils with abnormally high pH, low-cut grass, and low nitrogen. Amending these issues can push clover out for good.

Hardy perennial clover loves the low nitrogen and compact conditions that often come with poor, infertile soils. But other factors also contribute to a clover explosion, including drought conditions, cool temperatures, under fertilization, and over-irrigation. You’ll need to evaluate all these elements when planning to kill off the clover.

Technically, dandelions aren’t bad for your lawn, and they don’t directly kill grass. In fact, they appear in areas that are nutrient-deprived, and their long taproots can loosen the soil and bring nutrients closer to the surface. 

However, dandelions do spread quickly, and they can take over your lawn, eventually crowding out grass. This is why a healthy lawn is the best defense against dandelions.