Common Winter Weeds That Affect Georgia Lawns

Weeds don’t stop invading your lawn just because the temperatures drop. Beginning their life cycle in late summer, these weeds grow in the winter and die in the late spring or early summer. They will compete with your grass for water, space, light and nutrients. In order to control these unwanted guests, you must first identify what types of weeds you have. Proper identification will ensure the correct control method is applied or performed at the optimum time. Here are a few of the most common winter annual weeds that affect Georgia lawns. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) This fast growing, bright green, winter annual is the most common grassy weed in the world. Growing up to 15 inches tall, it thrives in cooler weather. It’s pale, boat-shaped tipped leaves contain thousands of seeds, making its re-seeding rate extremely high. Usually found in Bermuda grass and bentgrass, annual bluegrass is the most problematic winter weed. Common Chickweed (Stellaria media) This invasive weed hosts insects and plant viruses. Growing anywhere from 2-8 inches, chickweed stems have a band of hairs along one side, smooth leaves, and small, white flowers. Fond of shaded areas, it spreads slowly in the winter and then quickly when grass seeds begin germinating. Dandelion (Taraxacum)  One of the most easily recognizable weeds, the dandelion’s bright yellow flower transforms into a white seed head, then spreads it’s seeds in windy conditions. Dandelion weeds have zig-zag leaves and a hollow flower stalk filled with a white sap. Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) Growing to 12-16 inches, the broadleaf weed henbit is one of the most common winter annuals. It is easily spotted by its rounded, flat leaves, hairy stems, and tubular, purplish flowers that blossom in winter. Speedwell [...]

Common Winter Weeds That Affect Georgia Lawns2023-03-08T17:02:31-05:00

Basic Barefoot Services

There are only a few more weeks of winter to go! Then it will be our favorite time of year again… time to tend to the lawn! This is an overview of some of our organic lawn care services. Choose from our specially designed programs or mix and match services to build a lawn care regimen that works for you! Aeration Aeration is the process of mechanically removing small plugs of soil from the lawn to improve growth. Lawn thatch is the layer of dead turf between the green vegetation and the soil surface that must be removed to maintain lawn health. A thin layer of thatch is desirable because it helps insulate roots from extreme heat and cold but it can also stifle growth. Aeration breaks up compacted Georgia clay, allowing air, water, and nutrients to move to the root system more efficiently. It prevents compaction and promotes new root buds. With repeat aerations over time, your lawn will be healthier, easier to maintain and have fewer pest problems. Organic Pest Control Fire ants, fleas and ticks are all pesky bugs that like to make their homes in our lawns. Ridding your lawn of these pests before spring is a wise decision to make but doing so with dangerous synthetic pesticides can be just as unsafe for you and your family as an angry fire ant pile. We use pesticides derived from organic elements like citrus, natural oils and vinegar that are effective, safe for your lawn and safe for your family. Barefoot Organic Premium Compost Compost is “black gold”. It is the best source of organic matter and beneficial micro-organisms for your yard. Our compost program consists of two annual dry and wet [...]

Basic Barefoot Services2020-11-09T17:54:49-05:00

Why to Go Organic This Year

This year, why not make a resolution that’s good for you and good for the planet by resolving to live a more natural life? Once you’ve changed out your soaps and household cleaners and done away with all processed foods, you ought to think about what kind of natural life you’re leading outside of your home. Aren’t you worried about your family’s proximity to the nasty pesticides and fertilizers annually poured on our lawns? There are many reasons to switch to organic lawn care. The three most important, however, center around health – the health of your body, the health of your lawn and the health of your wallet! Organic lawn care is healthier all around. Go organic for 2014! Protect Yourself  Much can be said about the dangers of synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. Much more is yet to be determined. The precautionary principle is advocated when the long-term effects of something are hard to prove or unknown. We believe that if the long-term damage of a given pesticide cannot yet be determined, we shouldn’t wait to find out all the problems it creates. We aren’t sure what health problems conventional lawn care chemicals will cause after many years of exposure, but if you follow a precautionary principle and avoid these potentially harmful chemicals, you can preserve biodiversity, prevent environmental contamination and preserve human health. Fortify Your Soil Synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides can devastate the complex system in and around the soil called the “food web.” Food webs are intricate and fragile with each organism and process depending on the other. A healthy organic soil is teeming with insects, fungi and countless microorganisms living and dying and nurturing the grass. If any one [...]

Why to Go Organic This Year2020-11-09T17:54:49-05:00