New to lawn care - weeds out of control. What should I do?
Hi,
I’m new to lawn care and could use some advice. We landscaped our backyard last summer, and now the yard maintenance is on me. I’m struggling to get it right so far.
The biggest issue is that weeds in the non-lawn/mulched areas have gotten out of control. I’m trying to figure out the best way to eliminate them before I re-mulch the yard.
I tried using Spectracide 128 oz. Weed and Grass Killer Ready-to-Use Sprayer from Home Depot, but it didn’t seem to do much. I may have applied it incorrectly, or maybe it just wasn’t the right product for the job.
A few questions:
- Should I be pulling the weeds first, spraying, or both?
- Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after spraying before adding new mulch?
- Is there a better product or process for clearing weeds in mulch beds?
- Should I use landscape fabric, cardboard, pre-emergent, or just a thicker mulch layer?
- Any advice for preventing them from coming back?
For context, this is a landscaped backyard with lawn, trees, shrubs, and mulch beds. I’m trying not to damage the plants/shrubs while clearing the weeds. We live in lake tahoe, CA.
Appreciate any guidance. I’m very much learning as I go.
