The Ultimate Guide To Weed Management

When people think of weeds, they likely think of how unsightly they are.

However, weeds can also pose major hazards to gardens, fields, pastures, and prairies!

There are many species of weeds that are not native to Canada, and they are rapidly taking over native vegetation.

To help combat weeds of all varieties, weed management is used to stop or reduce the growth of weeds, especially harmful weeds, in order to reduce their competition with desired plants.

A preventative approach to controlling weeds is recommended, spraying before weeds grow or when they first appear.

But before you start crawling around your property to hand pull weeds, here’s a guide to weed management that will help you better understand weeds and how they can be taken care of:

Why and How Do Weeds Grow?

A weed is any plant that grows in a location where they are not wanted, such as a lawn or landscape.

Weeds are opportunistic plants and will grow wherever conditions are favourable, such as areas with a specific temperature and moisture level, as well as in cracks along roads, driveways, and sidewalks.

If there’s room, a weed will grow there!

Weeds produce an abundance of seeds per plant and will disperse them, usually through the wind. The seeds can remain dormant in the soil for years before germinating and growing.

Weeds can also pop up if you use poor-quality grass seeds and soils.

There are three different types of weeds:

• Perennial weeds grow for multiple seasons and spread through their root system or through seeds, such as dandelions, ground ivy, and thistle.

• Biennial weeds have a two-year life cycle, germinating and growing in the first year and producing seeds the next. Examples of biennial weeds include wild carrots and clover.

• Annual weeds grow by spreading seeds, germinating, and growing for one season before dying, like chickweed, oxalis, and bittercress.

Every type of weed can be controlled, but the type of weed will determine how this is done.

Why are Weeds Harmful?

Many people wish to remove weeds from their lawns and gardens because they are not visually pleasing - but are weeds harmful?

There are risks associated with having weeds on your property, such as:

Weeds Compete With Other Plants

Plants are in a constant battle for space and nutrients, and weeds will compete with other plants for these.

Because weeds are well-adapted to the areas where they grow and grow vigorous root systems, they usually win this fight.

If you are trying to grow your own plants, weeds can be highly detrimental to their health.

Weeds Attract Pests and Disease

Overgrown weeds provide a hiding spot for pests, such as slugs and snails.

Because they are adapted to grow in tough conditions, many will grow before your own plants and crops and allow pests to gain a foothold before other plants start to grow.

Plus, if the weeds are in the same family as the plants you are trying to grow, they can pass along diseases.

For example, shepherd’s purse can carry club foot disease and pass it along to plants in the cabbage family.

Weeds Can Cause Plant Infertility

Weeds are allelopathic plants and can cause zones of infertility around their roots, helping them take over valuable resources such as sun, water, and nutrients.

Sometimes, they can stop your plants from germinating.

Examples of allelopathic weeds include pigweed and thistle.

Are Some Weeds Harmful to Humans?

When it comes to dangerous weeds, their effects on humans can vary.

For example, stinging nettle will cause mild itching and rashes, while poison ivy and poison oak can cause swelling and blisters.

You also have deadly nightingale, which despite its name, isn’t deadly, but it can cause loss of balance, hallucinations, and convulsions.

Poison hemlock, however, can be fatal if ingested.

However, weeds such as dandelions are completely harmless. In fact, this weed is edible! You can use the greens to make salads and the roots to make wine.

Are All Weeds Harmful to Plants?

We’re not here just to give weeds a bad rep - some weeds are not harmful at all!

There are weeds that are beneficial to the ecosystem, such as dandelions and goldenrod, which attract bees and butterflies.

Weeds such as clover can help improve soil quality, and ground ivy can help control pests.

Weed Management

Whether you are dealing with your personal garden or a large area of crops, weeds can rapidly take over lawns, fields, pastures, and prairies.

In order to address the harm caused by weeds, Marksmen has been mitigating these hazards for 30 years using the latest in herbicide application technology.

Here are the herbicide application options we offer:

Total Vegetation Control

In many areas, it is necessary to keep the ground free of any vegetation, such as areas around facilities and infrastructures.

Total vegetation control involves controlling weeds at their most active growing stage using non-residual herbicides that kill unwanted vegetation upon contact.

For season-long control, this may require 2-3 applications.

Selective Vegetation Control

Alternatively, a herbicide application can be used to control specific weeds that are a nuisance and noxious.

This leaves the surrounding vegetation, such as grass, intact while providing control over unwanted vegetation.

This way, you can maintain desired growth of the vegetation you want to keep!

How is Herbicide Applied?

Herbicides can be applied using a variety of methods, such as boom spraying, misters, and blanket wipers.

The boom sprayer is the most common type of equipment used to apply herbicides, especially when it comes to farming.

This sprayer includes a nozzle that splits the herbicide into small droplets that are sprayed through the air to the target.

Misters are also frequently used to apply herbicides to large areas quickly, but their application method is not as precise as a boom sprayer.

For example, a wind that is too light or high spraying speeds can lead to overdosing and wasted herbicide.

Blanket wipers use a vertical strip of material attached to a horizontal frame to wipe the surface being treated, making direct contact with the weeds. 

For smaller jobs, backpack sprayers can also be used to cover less area.

How Long Does an Application Last?

Different herbicide products have different lengths of residual activity. Some will keep weeds at bay for a full growing season, while others are only effective for a few months.

There are different herbicides designed for different needs, so how long they last depends on the length of control you are looking for.

Following the application, how quickly the results are noticeable depends on the type of herbicide used, but most will cause weeds to drop and wilt within 2-4 days, with deterioration happening within 7-10 days.

Click here to check out our FAQ to answer more questions!

Weed Management Myths & Facts

We understand that you may be concerned about the safety of using herbicides and pesticides for weed control.

To help you take the guesswork out of herbicide applications, let’s put some myths to rest:

Myth: Herbicide is Harmful to Humans and Animals

While all chemicals are potentially harmful to humans and animals, the resulting health risks depend entirely on exposure and dosage.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has stated that there is a lower potential for harm when it comes to herbicide exposure.

However, it is important to consider the type of herbicides being used in the application. For example, Marksmen Vegetation Management uses only safe and effective herbicides!

Myth: Organic Herbicides Are Just as Effective as Herbicides

It’s true that organic herbicides, such as clove oil and cinnamon oil, can be effective, but they do not work as well as herbicides.

Also, some organic herbicides can actually contain ingredients that are harmful to plants - and some are even harmful to animals!

Myth: Post-Emergent Herbicides Work Better Than Pre-Emergent Herbicides

When it comes to weed management, there are two types of herbicides that can be used: post-emergent and pre-emergent.

Post-emergent herbicides kill the weeds after they have come out of the ground, while pre-emergent applications kill the weeds while they are germinating.

Both types of herbicide applications serve their purposes depending on the situation, but pre-emergent herbicides are the most effective treatment.

Post-emergent herbicides require multiple applications and can create a greater risk of injury to your lawn or crops.

Weed Management Facts

Now that we’ve addressed herbicide myths let’s look at some herbicide facts!

• Blanket treatments are more effective than spot treating. You may think you are saving money by having your property spot treated, but you may end up spending more to address breakthrough weeds versus having a complete treatment done once.

• You can DIY your weed management, but it’s not as effective. Of course, there are many ways you can try to eradicate weeds yourself. Vinegar is actually a valid way to kill weeds! However, it will only kill part of the weed, not its root, so your problem will keep coming back.

• Faster is not always better when it comes to weed control. Quicker is not always better when it comes to herbicide applications. Most “fast-acting” herbicides will kill the weed’s leaves but not its roots. Slower-acting products may take time to produce results but are more effective when it comes to destroying the root.

Annual Weed Management Programs

Because pre-emergent herbicides are preferable for weed management, having an annual herbicide application program is your best defense against unwanted vegetation.

Marksmen’s annual program mixes herbicides from four different groups to give you total control and reduce the chances of weed resistance.

With our annual program, our crew will only visit your location once during the entire growing season to get the same results that often take other companies three times to achieve.

One annual herbicide application can save you money while reducing your ecological footprint and mitigating safety concerns.

We recommend setting up your annual herbicide application program in the early spring or late fall, depending on your schedule.

Why Hire a Professional?

While it is possible to combat unwanted vegetation on your own, there are innumerable benefits to hiring a professional weed management company:

Herbicides

As tempting as it is to grab a herbicide product from your local hardware store, using commercial herbicides on large spaces can harm the environment.

Plus, hardware store herbicides are often not properly formulated to address the weeds you are trying to eliminate.

Professional weed management companies have the knowledge, expertise, and herbicide formulas to ensure these products are effective and properly applied to your property.

Equipment

Economically, it doesn’t make sense for you to invest your money in equipment you will only use once or twice a year.

Instead, you can hire a professional with commercial equipment!

Marksmen utilize a commercial fleet with up-to-date and regularly maintained equipment that meets the requirements set out in the IVMAA code of standards and good practices.

Warranties

Look for a professional weed management company that offers a warranty program.

For instance, Marksmen’s warranty program guarantees satisfaction by cleaning up any residual weeds free of charge!

This comprehensive warranty also covers uncontrollable elements that can negatively impact results, such as heavy rainstorms.

Experience

When you spend years dealing with weed control, it’s a sure bet that you know your stuff!

Weed management professionals understand weeds - how they grow, why they grow, and how to get rid of them.

They know when to spray and what herbicide products work best based on your unique landscape and situation.

Overall, hiring a professional to deal with your weeds takes the guesswork out of eliminating unwanted vegetation on your property!

Our Weed Management is Always on Target!

Marksmen Vegetation Management is dedicated to protecting our green spaces and your interests through our professional weed management services.

From specialized equipment to the unique ability to track your vegetation control in real-time, you can trust the team at Marksmen to get the job done!

Contact us today to learn more about our weed management services. We look forward to hearing from you!