To know them is to loathe them. They’re the pesky plants that pop up after much-needed rain, and then somehow survive in bone-dry soil and searing sun. They’re hearty and know how to thrive on next to nothing — it’s what makes weed control a constant battle.
But they can be beat, we promise. We’ve rounded up a few tips to help you win the war against weeds.
Is that a weed?
Look closely, some of these familiar weeds (like Desert Broom and Salt Cedar) can mimic the plants installed by your homebuilder. Here are some frequent offenders that we see growing in the community.
- Cheeseweed
- Crabgrass
- Dandelion
- Desert Broom
- Dodder
- Nutsedge
- Prostrate Spurge
- Salt Cedar
- Skeleton Weed
Before they pop-up
Pre-emergent herbicides stop seeds from germinating in the soil, inhibiting the roots and preventing growth. Your neighborhood parks and common areas are treated with pre-emergent.
When you head to your nearby nursery or home improvement store, look for products with trifluralin or oryzalin, or hire a service to apply the product for you.
Products work best when applied before the rainy season. So, in Arizona, that means either before the summer monsoon in June and July or before the winter rains arrive in October through January.
During a takeover
If the weeds have already started to sprout, you’ll want to use a post-emergent product.
Our landscape partner DLC Resources recommends using an herbicide with diquat (like Spectracide products) in the winter months. These be found at most home improvement stores or nurseries.
In spring and summer, they recommend sticking with a systemic weed control product, but be sure to avoid getting it on your plants or turf. It won’t kill the weed instantly, so wait to pull it out after treating so the remaining roots have time to absorb the spray.
You can also check with your nearby nursery for alternatives to the chemical-based products that can get the job done.
Pull ‘em out
Plucking weeds by hand is the easiest way to get rid of a few weeds here and there, but lots of desert weeds can be spikey, prickly, and downright gnarly. Plus, with some weeds, pulling them can perpetuate the problem, triggering them to shed their seeds. If you have a large area with weeds, you’ll want to use an herbicide to control the growth.
Resident responsibility
In Blossom Rock, you’re responsible for taking care of the weeds in the parkway zone (the area of landscape between the street and the sidewalk).
If you live on a corner lot, don’t forget to maintain the landscape along the side wall as well.
Keep in mind, if you don’t maintain the weeds in your yard, you may receive a compliance letter that could lead to a monetary fine. If you need a little help or extra time to get them under control, just let us know.
More resources
Check DLC Resources’ online learning center. It’s full of info on everything from weed control to monsoon prep.
Questions?
Your Blossom Rock Community Life team is here to help. Email us.