# What's the best way to keep my lawn weed-free? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088 "2013-08-13T00:06:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/1 "2013-08-13T00:06:31Z")
Mowing regularly isn’t enough it seems. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/2 "2013-08-13T00:13:00Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/3 "2013-08-13T00:17:30Z")
While the OP will garner many factual answers, there will be many opions proffered. Moved from GQ to IMHO. **samclem** moderator ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/4 "2013-08-13T00:19:22Z")
Pave it. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/5 "2013-08-13T00:22:55Z")
Then paint it green, no doubt! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/6 "2013-08-13T00:32:07Z")
I think since herbicides and pesticides were essentially banned it’s almost impossible to keep up now. Keep it cut and no one will notice it’s all weeds. That’s my theory anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Nightfall1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@Nightfall1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightfall1)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/7 "2013-08-13T00:43:18Z")
In the springtime I always get a WEED AND FEED container at the hardware store that I connect to my hose and give the yard a good wetdown. After that everyday I come home from work I give the yard a ten minute walk with my trusty three foot long weed ripper-outer. Just a few minutes a day and I can keep ahead of the weeds taking over the yard. I enjoy yard work so it’s not a problem for me. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/8 "2013-08-13T00:44:13Z")
When I actually maintained my mother’s lawn, I used Scott’s Weed ‘n’ Feed, plus had it aerated twice a year and that guy used Weed ‘n’ Feed after each poking, as well. Someone up above said Herbicides aren’t allowed? Xeriscaping, then. —G! The grass is always greener Where they paint it professionally. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/9 "2013-08-13T00:57:59Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > Someone up above said Herbicides aren’t allowed? Not in Ontario. I think Alberta (where Northern Piper is located) has succumbed too. Some very mild forms of Round-Up are available, but forget about weed and feed products. Honestly, I don’t know all the regulations (who does?) but the parks and soccer fields around here are weed wastelands, and it’s carried over to boulevards, lawns, etc. It’s a crying shame what the environmental crowd (with no scientific backing) has done to our parks and lawns. ETA: We have no proof. We have no scientific studies, but chemicals are bad so we need to ban them wherever possible. Think of the children! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/10 "2013-08-13T01:09:45Z")
Saskatchewan! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/11 "2013-08-13T01:11:53Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Saskatchewan! Sorry man! I should know better! So what’s the scoop on herbicide and pesticide bans there? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/12 "2013-08-13T01:14:54Z")
Weed and feed products will kill your trees so maybe it’s just as well they’re gone, if they are. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/13 "2013-08-13T01:22:01Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Weed and feed products will kill your trees so maybe it’s just as well they’re gone, if they are. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/14 "2013-08-13T01:27:15Z")
Have you considered a moat? You could stock it with trout and cut down on your grocery bills - plus, you know, defense. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/15 "2013-08-13T01:34:30Z")
Are you keeping it long? Lush thick grass is a good way to choke out weeds. My lawn treatment company left me a flyer about it. Oh, and get a lawn treatment company 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/16 "2013-08-13T01:46:10Z")
**Leaffan** , I was told this by a landscape dept.head in a California city who was explaining my half dead tree, as well as by an arborist. Sorry no written cites. But my tree recovered after I stopped using weed and feed. ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/17 "2013-08-13T02:59:12Z")
If you live in a relatively warm climate, try planting zoysia grass. It does a good job of choking most weeds out and has a nice carpet-like texture. The main disadvantage, in my opinion, is that it turns brown in winter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/18 "2013-08-13T03:01:18Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > If you live in a relatively warm climate,… Saskatchewan? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/19 "2013-08-13T03:02:02Z")
show them who’s boss. eat them. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088/20 "2013-08-13T03:25:39Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Saskatchewan? He did say “relatively”. Maybe he lives in Whitehorse. Paving sounds ever better to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-keep-my-lawn-weed-free/666088.md?page=2)