Controlling Weeds In A Recently Seeded Lawn

The last thing you want to see after you have seeded your lawn is for weeds to grow with your grass which can be disheartening after all your hard work.

Why do I have weeds growing in my new grass?

The first thing that springs to mind is dodgy grass seed, but 9 times out of 10 this is not the case. Most seed suppliers in the UK are DEFRA-registered (like us!) which means grass seed is thoroughly tested for germination rates, disease resistance and purity, which means it has to have less than a certain percentage of weed content to pass the certification.

The most likely cause, despite thorough seed bed preparation, is weed seeds that lay dormant in the soil. These weed seeds can be activated when the soil is disturbed enough (by scarifying or aerating, for example) or the conditions become perfect for them to germinate, such as heavy downpours of rain.

Weed seeds can also migrate from other areas in heavy winds or even from bird droppings.

How do I treat weeds in a new lawn?

Unfortunately, the obvious choice of a Feed & Weed treatment is off the table as your new grass is too young. When using a weed killer on new lawn areas, it's important to wait until the grass is mature enough to handle treatment. The general rule of thumb for any products containing a selective weed killer is:

• Only apply the product if your lawn has been fully established for six months or more
• If applied do not re-seed for 6-8 weeks

• If in doubt, always check the manufactures instructions

We know this can be frustrating, but you must not panic and be hasty. Weed killer products can do more harm than good in the early development stages.

The great news about these types of weeds is many of them will be shallow rooted and should come out when you do your first mow (4-8 weeks). If they don't, they can be easily removed by manually pulling them out. If the weeds keep reappearing after the first mow, unfortunately there is not a lot you can do but ride it out until your lawn has hit that magic six month mark. Regular mowing will help keep the weeds at bay and stopping them from seeding, and manually pulling them will decrease the spread.

If you really need to treat the weeds, you can try and very carefully apply a glyphosate weed killer precisely to the weed as these products will kill any vegetation including your new grass.

What if my new lawn is over six months old?

If your new lawn is over six months old, you have plenty of options! You could try our Weed, Feed & Moss Killer fertiliser – not only does it help eliminate weeds, but it also tackles moss while feeding and greening your lawn. Another option is a selective weed killer, a stronger alternative ideal for tougher weeds or heavily infested lawns. If you're balancing weed killer and seeding lawn at the same time, be sure to check the recommended waiting period before applying to ensure the best results for a healthy, thriving lawn.

Any questions?

If you are looking to sow new seed, feed your lawn or want any additional advice, please get in touch, we are more than happy to provide as much information as you need to achieve your lawn goals. You can contact us by phone on 0800 4118141 or by email at sales@a1lawn.co.uk.