Dan Hartung wrote in message ...
tenplay wrote:
My large backyard is constantly infested with weeds. It is mostly grass
rather than lawn. I can't use herbicides because my backyard borders a
wild bird sanctuary and lake. What do you suggest for getting rid of
the weeds? I have used a handy tool called the Weed Popper, but it's
tines are too far apart and often miss the roots of the weeds. Also can
weeds like dandelions reroot themselves if they are left on top of the
ground? Thanks for any advice.

90% of weed control is a healthy lawn. Mow the grass a little higher
next year, especially in the spring, and you may eliminate a fair number
of the weeds that way alone.

Dandelions shouldn't reroot themselves but the risk of reseeding is high
unless you remove them from the property. We yard-bag ours and send them
to a city compost facility.

You should also have a weed fork and use that on your hands and knees
(alas) to get the root out.

Is there a source for the weeds such as the sanctuary? Perhaps
establishing a buffer with a planting bed, maybe a berm, will help.



While I agree that a healthy lawn with good turf is the best way to
keep weeds out, the truth is it's nearly impossible and certainly
impractical to get there from an existing poor turf that is full of
weeds without using chemicals.