One of the most underrated ways to keep your home pest-free begins in your front yard. Many of the creepy-crawlies that call Arizona home are often found in the weeds before they move into the house. Letting weeds grow wild in your yard encourages infestation by virtually building a bridge right into your home. Pests including mice, termites, and ants may use these weed patches as shelter or even a food source during some times of the year. Today our spotlight is on some easy steps you can take to control your weeds and the population of pests that they enable.
1. Water Your Plants, Not Your Weeds
Water in Arizona is a precious resource, and you don’t want weeds getting a drop of it! You can put the drought of summer on your side by using a few tried-and-true methods to deprive weeds of water while ensuring your plants remain green and healthy. Irrigating drip or soaker hoses are usually a better method of watering that the traditional dump or spraying methods. Not only will you save on your water bill, but less water will get to the weeds. This can mean as much as a 70 percent reduction in weed germination.
2. Identify Noxious Weeds
Arizona is infested with invasive species of both animal and plant varieties, and sometimes they go hand-in-hand. The presence of certain noxious weeds on your property may contribute to equally persistent infestations of invasive species. Before you begin your weed control regimen, identify any noxious weeds/ These hardy invaders may not respond to weed control efforts that usually are effective in the Arizona region.
3. Cultivate Carefully
One of the most effective ways to keep your yard free of weeds is to cultivate them as carefully as you do your desired plants and flowers. Topping weeds is a method of ensuring that weeds will never drop seeds in your yard without the need to tear up every dandelion by the roots. Just like your other plants, weeds may be either annual or perennial, and a once-a-year beheading may work for some while others will be ready to germinate again in a matter of weeks.
4. Mulch Early in The Growing Season
Arizona’s weather may seem pretty consistent, but weeds are in their own little world. Weeds have a growing season just like your garden and flowerbeds. Mulch deprives deep-rooted weeds of the light they need to begin to sprout. It is best to catch them before they do because they can be very difficult to pull.
5. When All Else Fails, Spray and Pray
While you don’t want to over-rely on herbicidal sprays, some weed infestations can only be controlled with this method.
We hope you find these tips helpful and that you can rid your property of weeds and the pests that love them. If you need more helpful tips you can contact the experts at University Termite and Pest Control of Arizona today!
