Maintain thick healthy turf as the best natural weed defense

What to Do

Focus on building a dense, vigorous lawn through proper mowing height, appropriate fertilization, and correct watering. A thick lawn is the single most effective weed suppression strategy.

Why It Works

Weed seeds need sunlight to germinate. A dense turf canopy shades the soil surface, blocking light from reaching weed seeds. University research consistently shows that lawns maintained at proper mowing heights with adequate fertility have dramatically fewer weeds than thin, stressed lawns — regardless of herbicide use.

Tips

• Mow at the high end of the recommended range for your grass type.
• Overseed thin areas in fall to thicken the canopy before next spring's weed germination.
• This approach takes 1-2 seasons to fully work but provides lasting, chemical-free results.