Sustainablity Solutions Weed Management

Sustainablity Solutions Weed Management

( SPONSORED CONTENT)— Those of us living in the country have some things in common. We all like our space. We like to grow things. We consider ourselves stewards of the land, so we want our operations to be sustainable – from both an environmental impact and a business point of view. One way to do that is with an Integrated Pest Management( IPM) program.

An IPM gives you a way to manage pests in a more sustainable approach. The goal is minimal impact on people, animals and the environment by using a combination of prevention and control methods.

Start With Smart Pest Prevention Steps

The first two aspects of an IPM program are arguably the most important:

Identification. This step lets you target the weed, saving you time and money. To do this, identify the weed and look up its basic lifecycle and biology— this can also help you make the best decision on how to control it.

Prevention. Remember that“ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” thing? It’ s true. Controlling weeds before they produce seeds is vital to your IPM. Grow a thick, healthy stand of turf and plants to help block weeds. Mulch and landscape fabric can help block weeds around the lawn. And timed right, pre-emergents will stop weeds before they even start.

Use Physical Methods to Fight Weeds

With those two steps complete, it’ s time to eliminate these invasive plants. An IPM program has four primary methods of control:

Mechanical Control. Physically remove or kill the weeds. In gardens and crops, this can include tilling, burning and applying barriers. In the lawn and flower gardens, proper mowing and mulching is beneficial, and if you need more exercise and sunshine, you can always pull weeds by hand.

Cultural Control. Crop rotation and cover crops can disrupt and suppress weed growth. Ensuring you have plants properly spaced also helps control problem plants by promoting a thicker canopy. That canopy theory holds true in the lawn, too, where thick, strong turf crowds out weeds. Keep your grass healthy with proper irrigation, healthy soil and the correct fertilizer.

Biological Control. Let nature’ s creatures fight it out. Introduce and protect the natural enemies of your target weeds and pests. This includes fungi, beneficial insects and bacteria to curb weeds. Grazing is considered biological control, too, but keep an eye on those goats.

Chemical Control. The key to successful incorporation of chemical herbicides into an IPM is targeting. Remember that first step: identification. To choose the right herbicide, you must first identify the weed.

Target Weeds Without Harming Plants

In most cases, a selective herbicide— one that controls specific weeds without harming other plants— is the best option. If your lawn has only dandelions and clover, a broadleaf herbicide such as Trimec Lawn Weed Killer from Gordon’ s will suffice. If you’ re dealing with crabgrass in addition to broadleaf weeds, Trimec Crabgrass Plus Lawn Weed Killer may be a better choice. For a wider range of weed issues, Trimec Platinum All-in-One Weed Control offers broad coverage.

Spot spraying is a key part of a successful and sustainable IPM plan. Instead of applying product across the entire lawn, spray individual weeds. This approach provides effective control with less herbicide and helps prevent herbicide resistance by applying product only where needed.

When using chemical herbicides, always read and follow the label— it contains all the information needed to apply the product safely and effectively. Wear the required protective equipment and follow prescribed application rates. To help prevent weed resistance, rotate modes of action. This information can be found on the label, either by Resistance Action Committee group number, mode-of-action description or listed active ingredients.

A Greener Way to Grow

Sustainability is important. Adopting an IPM approach requires a new way of looking at how you kill weeds and bugs in the long term. But when you see your operation chugging along with less impact on the environment, you’ ll see that it’ s worth it.

36 AcreageLife August 2025 AcreageLife. com

AcreageLife. com August 2025 AcreageLife 37