Yarrow is a common weed that grows fast by spreading out its roots. The roots then develop to new plants and cover up large areas within a very short period. Yarrow will grow even in the most infertile soils and is very hardy. It produces yellow, white, or pink flowers, which form clusters and have hairs.
Yarrow is also used as an ornamental plant and makes a garden attractive with its beautiful flowers. However, it can be quite invasive. It can spread to the lawn and take it over, making it look ugly, or in worst cases, killing the grass. If you have yarrow problems in your lawn, here is a guide on how to kill it with ease.
1. Dig It Out
Dig out the plant using a garden hoe. Ensure you get rid of all the roots. If you leave them in the soil, new plants will emerge from them within no time. Digging out the entire roots may take time if the invasive is widespread, but it is worth it.
2. Remove by Hand
Removing yarrow plants by hand will be effective if they are small in number. This will be inappropriate for widespread invasion, as it takes a lot of time, and is exhausting. Irrigate your lawn using a sprinkler before pulling the plants out. Irrigating makes the ground moist, making it easy to pull them out. Be careful not to break the rhizomes of the plant, as leaving parts, or the entire rhizomes will lead to the emergence of new plants. If it gets hard to pull out some plants, use a hoe to dig them out.
3. Use Chemical Herbicides
Yarrow can be very resistant to some chemical herbicides. Fortunately, there are strong herbicides that will get rid of them for good. Follow the usage instructions when using the herbicides, to achieve better results. There are selective and non-selective herbicides. Selective herbicides will only kill the yarrow and leave your grass thriving. Non-selective herbicides will kill both the yarrow and grass in your lawn. Use the non-selective herbicides if you don’t mind replanting your grass, or your lawn has significantly been invaded to the extent that the weeds have overtaken the grass.
You might have to apply the chemical more than one time to get rid of the weeds entirely.
Is the Growth of Yarrow in Lawn an Indication of Infertility?
Weeds will only grow where there are favorable conditions. Their seeds are spread by wind to lawns, or they may be lying dormant in the lawn and will germinate when they get the right growing conditions. Weeds don’t love properly maintained lawns. They thrive in poorly maintained ones. Yarrow thrives in poor soils, with inadequate water.
Tips to Protect Your Lawn from its Invasion
1. Mow Your Lawn Correctly
Apart from making at awn appear tidy and attractive, mowing your lawn correctly offers several benefits, one of them is preventing the growth of weeds. When you mow high, the grass provides shade to the soil, which prevents the growth of weeds.
2. Water Your Lawn Adequately
Proper watering encourages the grass to develop strong roots, that discourages the growth of wood. Grass that is not well-watered will be weak, and weeds will quickly overtake it.
3. Feed Your Grass Properly
Feeding your grass with the right fertilizers will help it grow healthily, and weeds will not compete with it.
4. Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn using an aerator helps the grass develop a strong root system, promotes air circulation, and infiltration of nutrients. The grass will thrive, and will not be overtaken by weeds.
5. Ensure the Soil Has the Right PH
Grass will grow well when the soil has an optimum PH. Use a testing meter to test its PH. Most grasses do well in a PH of between 6.5-7. If the soil is too acidic, apply lime to increase it. If the PH is too high, applying acidic fertilizers or sphagnum moss will lower it.
Other Common Weeds That May Invade Your Lawn
1. Crabgrass
Crabgrass mostly affects poorly maintained lawns. It grows from seed and spreads very fast. Crabgrass may eventually take over the grass in a lawn, as it grows very aggressively, just like yarrow. If you practice proper lawn maintenance such as proper feeding and watering, you will not have problems with crabgrass.
Overseeding a lawn prevents the growth of the weed too, as the grass root system will be dense, and crabgrass will not get a growing space. The best method to deal with the weed is to prevent its growth. If your lawn has already been affected by crabgrass, use chemical herbicides to get rid of it.
You can also apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent its growth.
2. Nut-sedge
Nutsedge is also invasive and hard to get rid of, as it has a resilient root system. When you dig it up or pull it out using your hands, you are very likely to leave some rhizomes in the soil, that will develop to new plants.
The plants will further spread, needing you to get rid of them frequently. Killing It using herbicides is the best method, as it will kill the entire plant. Frequent overseeding of a lawn greatly prevents its growth, as the dense root system will take all the space, leaving none for the growth of nutsedge.
3. Smooth Bromegrass
Smooth bromegrass is also hardy and will grow even in areas with extreme weather conditions. Its roots are in the form of rhizomes which spread underground, making it invasive, just like nutsedge and crabgrass.
Although many consider smooth bromegrass as a weed, it can also be used as food for livestock. However, it can easily take over your lawn. Use certified herbicides to get rid of it. Mowing your lawn low also discourages its growth to a great extent.
4. Dandelions
Dandelion is one of the most common lawn weeds. Dandelions have deep roots that make it very difficult to pull it out by hands or using garden hoes.it has yellow flowers and its leaves are toothed on the outer parts and are hairless. It grows up to 30 cm tall. Many consider it as a weed, although it is edible.
The best way to deal with yarrow and other invasive weeds in a garden is to prevent their growth. If the weeds have already taken root in your lawn, get rid of them and practice proper care of it, to prevent their growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yarrow is edible. It is used as a spice in the preparation of various dishes, as it has a sweet flavor.
Yarrow contains some toxins that make dogs sick when taken in large amounts. However, it has a bitter taste that prevents dogs from overeating it.
Yarrow is a perennial, meaning it will always grow, year after another.
Yarrow will grow in almost any area, including dry ones. It is hardy and tolerates drought.
The foliage of yarrow resembles that of fern and may produce yellow, white, or pink flowers. Its flowers grow in dense clusters at the upper part of the stem.
Here is a video about identifying a yarow plant:
