Lawn Weed Control Services in Fairhaven, MA

Lawn Weed Control Built Around Prevention

 

Weeds take over lawns when grass is weak or prevention gets skipped. Around Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, and Dartmouth, we see the same weeds every year. Crabgrass in summer. Dandelions in spring and fall. Clover spreading through thin areas. These weeds show up because lawns aren't thick enough to keep them out or because nobody applied pre-emergent when it mattered.

 

We've been handling lawn weed control on the South Coast of Massachusetts for 35 years. We apply pre-emergent in spring before weeds germinate and post-emergent treatments when weeds break through. Thick, well-fed grass crowds out most weeds naturally, but even healthy lawns need weed control to stay clean.

 

Most homeowners wait until their lawn is half weeds before doing anything. By then, you're playing catch-up instead of preventing problems. Professional weed control stops weeds before they start and treats the ones that get through.

 

Pre-Emergent Weed Control

 

Pre-emergent weed control stops weed seeds from germinating. This prevents crabgrass, which is the worst summer weed around here. Once crabgrass starts growing, it spreads fast and chokes out grass. Pre-emergent applied in spring blocks germination before crabgrass becomes a problem.

 

Timing pre-emergent matters more than anything else. Around South Coast Massachusetts, the right time is when forsythias bloom. Soil temperature triggers crabgrass germination, and forsythia blooming means the soil is warming into that range. Calendar dates don't work because spring weather changes year to year.

 

We apply pre-emergent in late February or March as part of early spring fertilization. Getting it down early catches crabgrass before germination starts.

 

Pre-emergent doesn't kill existing weeds. It creates a barrier in soil that stops seeds from sprouting. Perennial weeds that come back from roots need different treatment.

 

Post-Emergent Weed Control

 

Post-emergent weed control kills weeds that are already growing. Even with pre-emergent, some weeds get through. Dandelions, clover, crabgrass that germinated late, and various broadleaf weeds all need post-emergent treatment.

 

We treat weeds as many times as needed through the growing season. Some lawns need one or two applications. Others with heavy weed pressure need more treatments to get control. The number of treatments depends on how bad the weed problem is and how thick the grass grows.

 

Spring post-emergent targets dandelions and broadleaf weeds that show up as grass greens up. These weeds are the easiest to kill when they're young and actively growing. Waiting until they're mature and going to seed makes control harder.

 

Fall post-emergent treats dandelions and broadleaf weeds, making their second push of the year. 

 

Fall application is just as important as spring because if you allow weeds to seed in fall, they will come back worse next year.

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Common Lawn Weeds in Massachusetts

 

Crabgrass is the most common and most hated weed around here. It's a summer annual that germinates when soil warms up in late spring. Crabgrass grows in clumps that spread wide and low, choking out grass. One plant can take over a big area by end of summer.

 

Crabgrass thrives in thin lawns, especially areas cut too short or stressed from drought. Properties around Mattapoisett Center see heavy crabgrass pressure every summer. Prevention in spring is the only way to avoid fighting it all season.

 

Dandelions show up spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. These deep-rooted perennials come back every year unless you kill the whole root system. 

 

Clover spreads through lawns as low-growing patches that crowd out grass. White clover is most common. It indicates nitrogen-poor soil since clover fixes its own nitrogen and outcompetes grass when fertilization is lacking. Proper fertilization helps grass outcompete clover naturally.

 

Chickweed appears in spring and fall as low mat-forming weed. It spreads fast in cool weather and can take over thin areas quickly. Post-emergent treatment handles chickweed effectively when caught early.

 

Plantain has broad ribbed leaves and grows in compacted soil. Both broadleaf and narrow-leaf varieties show up in Massachusetts lawns. Plantain indicates compaction problems that need addressing along with weed control.

 

Crabgrass Control

 

Pre-emergent in spring stops most crabgrass from starting. Post-emergent in summer kills crabgrass that germinates despite prevention.

 

Lawns we see that are mostly crabgrass got that way from years of neglect.

 

Mowing height affects crabgrass pressure. Lawns cut too short let sunlight reach soil. 

 

Selective herbicides kill crabgrass without harming your lawn. Timing application when crabgrass is actively growing but not yet mature gives best results.

 

Multiple applications are often needed for heavy crabgrass infestations. One treatment rarely kills all crabgrass, especially on lawns that have been neglected. Follow-up treatments catch what the first application missed.

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Broadleaf Weed Control

 

Broadleaf weed control targets dandelions, clover, chickweed, plantain, and other non-grass weeds.

 

Broadleaf weeds are most vulnerable when actively growing. Spring and fall applications provide the best control.

 

We use selective broadleaf herbicides that kill weeds without damaging grass.

 

Young weeds die faster than mature ones. Treating dandelions when they're small rosettes works better than waiting until they're flowering. 

 

Weather affects broadleaf herbicide effectiveness. Products work best when temperatures are moderate, and weeds are actively growing. Extreme heat or cold reduces how well herbicides work and can damage grass if applied during stress periods.

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Timing and Application Schedule

 

Late winter or early spring pre-emergent goes down before soil warms enough for crabgrass germination. This is typically late February through March around here. Forsythia blooming is a reliable indicator that the soil temperature is right.

 

Spring post-emergent treatments dandelions and broadleaf weeds as they emerge. April and May applications catch these weeds when they're young and easy to kill. This is also when we're doing late spring fertilization with iron.

 

Summer treatments focus on any weeds that keep showing up. June through August applications address active weed growth during the peak growing season.

 

Fall post-emergent handles dandelions and any other broadleaf weeds trying to establish before winter. Fall weed control prevents these from coming back strong in spring.

 

Treatment frequency depends on weed pressure. Some lawns need just spring pre-emergent and one post-emergent application. Others with heavy weed problems need multiple treatments through season to gain control.

 

Selective vs Non-Selective Herbicides

 

Selective herbicides kill weeds without harming grass. Different selective products target different weed types.

 

Non-selective herbicides kill everything they contact. Roundup is most common non-selective product. These are only for spot treatment of specific problem areas or for killing entire lawns before renovation. 

 

We use appropriate selective herbicides that control target weeds without harming your grass. Professional application gets right products on at right times with correct rates that kill weeds effectively.

 

Why weeds pop up

 

Weeds take over when grass is too thin to crowd out weeds. Skipping pre-emergent, cutting too short, poor fertilization, compacted soil, and drought stress all weaken grass and create openings where weeds establish. Prevention is easier than fighting established weeds.

 

When Lawns Need Starting Over

 

Some lawns are so overrun with weeds that spot treatment doesn't make sense anymore. When more than half your lawn is weeds and very little healthy grass remains, starting fresh often works better than trying to save what's there.

 

Fighting the same problems every season costs more time and money than renovating once correctly.  This is when we use non-selective herbicide to kill the whole lawn. 

 

We only recommend starting over after explaining all options, including recovery over time. Some lawns can be brought back with intensive weed control and overseeding. Others are beyond the point where recovery makes financial sense.

 

Getting Started with Lawn Weed Control

 

Properties throughout Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, and Dartmouth need lawn weed control that prevents problems and treats weeds that break through. 

 

Call 508-763-8000 or email request@newenglandtreeandlandscape.com for a free estimate.

 

35 years in business. Local crew based at 232 Huttleston Avenue in Fairhaven. Family-owned. We're the caring professionals serving the South Coast of MA.