Survey: Homeowners share how to get rid of weeds

Homeowners' Strategies:
Insights into Weed Elimination Methods No one wants weeds in their lawn or garden. Weeds hog nutrients, water, and sunlight. They create unhealthy turf environments. We asked 114 homeowners how they get rid of weeds. 

We ordered their responses into nine categories. We've documented the number of votes for each category and provided insight into each process of eliminating weeds.

Many rely on chemical herbicides to combat weeds

 Chemical Herbicides, 21 votes 

Many respondents said they use chemical herbicides to get rid of weeds, which come in selective and nonselective varieties. Some mentioned they use selective herbicides. These products only target certain weed species and can be used on lawns without harming other plants and grass.

Others opted for a non-selective herbicide. The glyphosate in the non-selective herbicide kills all vegetation it touches.

Several homeowners choose organic herbicides

 Organic Herbicides, 19 votes 

Organic herbicides are natural alternatives to chemical products. They're intended to be safer for pets and more environmentally friendly. As the titles imply, organic lawn care products comprise elements found in or reused from naturally occurring materials. 

In "Controlled Release Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture," Shaji et al. note, "Organic fertilizers comprise a variety of plant-derived materials that range from fresh or dried plant material to animal manures and litters to agricultural byproducts." 

C-Cide, Weed Pharm, GreenMatch, and Matratec are all examples of organic herbicides. 

How do you get rid of weeds? Flame weeding is a great option

 Flame Weeding, 14 votes 

Flame weeding uses a propane torch to heat weeds and rapidly kill them through cell damage. This method is quick and easy for weeding surfaces like sidewalks and driveways.

Flame weeding is an excellent way to target and eliminate weeds. Still, homeowners must be careful depending on how close the weeds are to plants.

Flame weeding is a multipurpose and fast means of weeding with the advantage of not dealing with herbicides. 

The initial investment for equipment would depend on the scale of the operation, but many find flame weeding a viable, organic option for weed control. 

Some respondents lay material over weeds to smother them

 Smothering Weeds, 5 votes 

Smothering weeds entails cutting them down to ground level and covering them with cardboard, newspaper, or landscape fabric. Some material seems to smother and deprive weeds of nutrients, while material like plastic heats up the soil and kills the vegetation underneath. Materials like cardboard and newspaper suppress weeds in garden beds and decompose after a season or two.

Two respondents noted that using black plastic in a process known as plastic sheeting proved effective. One wrote, "I laid down a sheet of black plastic and left it for two months. No more weeds." 

Several respondents use an old-fashioned method of eliminating weeds

 Pull Weeds Out by Hand, 8 votes 

Pulling weeds by hand is a pain, but it's effective. One respondent said their grandchildren come over to help get rid of weeds and that it's working great. 

Homeowners should make sure to pull out every last bit of the root system to reduce the chance of reemergence. It's also a good idea to periodically check to identify emerging weeds.

Maintaining a healthy lawn keeps weeds at bay

 Improve Lawn Health, 7 votes 

Good lawn care, including mowing, watering, and fertilization, keeps the turf competitive and keeps weeds out. Keeping a yard healthy requires time, consistency, and know-how. 

GreenPal helps homeowners keep their yards healthy and weeds out by connecting them to the most reliable professionals at the best prices. It's a pretty simple process: 

• First, download the app and post your lawn. GreenPal offers homeowners an all-in-one place to find, schedule, and pay for lawn care services.

• GreenPal has already taken care of the heavy lifting by vetting professionals. Some considerations in accepting a business on the platform are their equipment's quality, client reviews, and even their financial accounts.

• Once a homeowner has found the lawn care company they want to hire, they can securely schedule and pay for everything within the app.

Many respondents try to eliminate the weeds before they even get started

 Pre-Emergent Herbicides, 15 votes 

A pre-emergent herbicide is applied to the soil before weeds get going. It's an effective way to eliminate and combat weeds before they emerge.

It must be applied at the correct time for any benefit, and homeowners should not use a pre-emergent herbicide to eliminate already-grown weeds. 

More than a few homeowners rely on tools to eliminate weeds

 Use Tools, 8 votes 

Dedicated diggers for weeds and tools like garden knives for weeding that allow precise and narrow removal of invasive species are more efficient than manually grabbing weeds by their tops. The right tools make the job easier and faster.

Homeowners trust lawn care professionals to deal with their weed problem

 Hire a Professional, 17 votes 

A professional will be able to recognize which weeds are competitors and will have the licensing to use commercial-grade products to eliminate them. 

Professional services will also be able to recommend weed-control practices that are safe for the ecosystem in your area and maintain the health and balance of a lawn. 

For many homeowners, having a professional to help eliminate their weeds provided peace of mind. Lawn care companies also often provide services like fertilizing and mowing (at appropriate heights), to help keep weeds out. 

Quick Summary

We surveyed 114 homeowners to find out how they are eliminating their weeds. From herbicides to hiring a pro, tools to flame weeding, there are many ways to get the job done.