Strategies for keeping selfheal out of your yard: Exploring 3 methods to control the pesky purple-flowering weed
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Selfheal, a purple-flowering perennial weed, can pose a significant problem for lawn owners. Last year, the author's lawn suffered from a severe selfheal infestation. But fear not, as there are several methods to effectively control selfheal and keep your lawn lush and green.
Sophie King, the Gardens Editor at our platform, who joined the team in June 2024, is always on the lookout for the latest garden trends and enjoys sharing growing hacks for every space. Sophie, with her love for gardening, has tried growing various vegetables and flowers.
Mowing
Mowing your lawn regularly is the first line of defence against selfheal. Frequent mowing prevents the weed from flowering and setting seed, thereby reducing its presence over time. However, don't scalp the lawn when mowing, as it provides more room for selfheal to take over.
Scarifying
Scarifying your lawn in spring or autumn is essential for dealing with a selfheal infestation. This process removes moss, thatch, and debris, improving airflow and reducing favorable conditions for selfheal to establish. Scarifying creates space for grass roots and reduces areas where selfheal can settle.
Sophie King recommends the Wolf-Garten's Scarifying Roller Rake Head and Handle from Amazon for scarifying the lawn.
Overseeding
Immediately after scarifying, overseed thin or bare patches in the lawn with a quality grass seed mix. This encourages thick, healthy grass growth, which competes with selfheal and reduces its opportunity to spread.
Weed and Feed
Applying a weed and feed product formulated to target broadleaf weeds like selfheal while nourishing the grass is another effective method. This combination helps weaken selfheal while promoting stronger lawn growth, making the lawn more competitive against weeds.
Westland Aftercut Lawn Feed, Weed and Moss Killer is an example of a product that kills selfheal while giving grass a nutrient boost. When dealing with a large infestation, using a garden-friendly herbicide can target selfheal without damaging grass.
A Word on Clover
Clover can be a problem in a lawn, but a few patches here and there are great for pollinators.
In conclusion, a combination of mowing, scarifying, overseeding, and weed and feed methods helps maintain a robust, dense lawn that can outcompete selfheal, keeping the weed under control effectively. Happy gardening!
[1] To effectively control selfheal in a lawn using these methods, lawn care experts recommend the approach outlined above.
Sophie King, the Gardens Editor, suggests incorporating home-and-garden activities like scarifying with tools such as Wolf-Garten's Scarifying Roller Rake Head and Handle to manage selfheal infestations in one's lawn, thereby maintaining a lush and green lifestyle.
Tending to one's garden not only involves dealing with unwanted weeds like selfheal but also nurturing desirable plants such as clover, which benefits pollinators.
